The beauty of the unknown
A couple of weeks ago, The Velo Fellow in Greenville, SC announced its closure, citing rising costs after 14 years of supporting musicians, artists and everything in between. This was one of the most special places weāve ever played.
That, coupled with the shocking, yet-to-be-confirmed but likely realistic shuttering of Rockwood Music Hall, also announced a couple of weeks ago, has motivated me, Ben, to say some choice words (hold your horses everybody).
Iāve found myself eschewing the beauty of the unknown in favor of customer reviews. Listening to popular playlists instead of recommendations from friends (still need to make my way through Patti Smithās āHorsesā). Forming my perceptions of things, places, and people based on what Iām being fed (irrelevant fact: one minute of scrolling here emits ~1.5g of CO2).
And after years and years, decades even, of participating in this grand experiment, I am starting to see the effects. We all are.
For the longest time, I was both fascinated and appalled by Jon's disinterest in doing anything social media-related. As joint business owners in this band, his lack of involvement often (frankly) pissed me off and made me think there was always something more that we (he) could be doing.
But let me ask you this: how many of you have had your lives truly impacted by a post from the band? How many of you have had your lives truly impacted by a call from Jon?
Many of these apps prey on our innate lack of confidence. Our fear of the unknown. Music venues, community centers, libraries and farmersā markets thrive on the opposite - on our decisions to take a chance on something of which we have no prior knowledge. You make the best with what you get. Sometimes it sucks. Sometimes itās awesome. Life is full.
No oneās at fault for these closures; not even the tech companies I am passively demonstrating disdain for. Itās how things have unfolded. Iām just here to remind you that you are more capable than what they tell you. Big shows will get bigger and small shows will get smaller. Things come and things go. The value of every experience comes from what you make of it.
So go for it. And make these communities alive.