New Baker Center Booking Manager. More of the same Indifference from O.U.
By Matthew Toledo - 1/10/2008
An article in the Athens NEWS today both caught my attention and raised my ire a bit. The things written in the article, entitled "Baker Center moves towards more diverse entertainment," only served to strengthen my long-held opinion that Ohio University has absolutely no desire to support local, home-grown music. In fact, if they could, they would rather squash it. Don’t get me wrong. Over the years, many people connected with Ohio University have done there best to support music born of local talent. There was the student-run Brick City Records, the cable show "Jukebox", and ACRN's broadcasts of live local bands from the old Front Room and ACRN's South Green concerts. Bruce Dalzell is still plugging away with his open stage at the new Front Room. However, O.U. is like most large organizations where the left hand can function independent of the right.
Let me paraphrase the comments Baker Center assistant director Chad Barnhardt's made in the article…
"The local scene has nothing to offer, so we're going to bring in jazz acts, country acts, and a frickin' Lynard Skynard cover band in the hopes of preventing students from attending any of the dozen or so local acts chugging away at the 6 or more music venues in town every single weekend. Brian Ostrander, the previous booking guy, booked a lot of big-time-small-time indie bands from around the nation. He occasionally included a local band or two on the lineup. However, I feel that even this pittance of a percentage was too great. We're going to try and slide the ratio of local to import talent down to zero. In fact, we're going to construct underground pneumatic tubes to shuttle students to and from Baker Center directly from their dorm rooms. In this way, students never have to leave the protective bubble of Ohio University."
Obviously I'm exaggerating. There was no mention of anything pneumatic. I just like typing that word. Still, I am a little bit bitter and frustrated. Why? I'll explain.
Over the years, I've told everyone who would listen that Athens has arguably the best local music scene in all of Ohio. (check the video to your right) I've played Cincinnati. I've played Columbus, Cleveland, Pomeroy, Dayton, and Toledo. Athens has more things going for it than any of these other towns. The general message coming from Ohio University for the last decade has been that the local music scene has very little to nothing to offer O.U. students.
No where else in Ohio do all the elements combine to create such a supportive environment for local musicians. From the ground up, Athens is a music town. There are music programs in the schools. There are scholarship foundations, like the Johnny B. Fund, designed to provide instruction and instruments to those who can't afford it. There are cheap houses with basements where people can practice. Athens is a walking town so concert goers can stay late and, should they use poor judgment while at the bars, walk home without getting a DUI. There are several organizations designed to support and promote local talent like Arts West, The Aquabear Legion, and yes, the Athens Musician Network. Heck, there is even talk of providing some sort of insurance plan to local musicians who don't have insurance.
Then there are booking promoters in town like Scott Winland and Tim Peacock who still believe in local talent. They each have their own promotion businesses that require them to bring in out-of-town acts, but for goodness sake; they still let locals on the bill so that the students will get a chance to see what this town can offer. The bands they choose to open-up these shows are not always the local party band. Scott and Tim aren't afraid to book the "weird" local bands which often time turn out to be the next big band down the road. In doing so, these promoters are literally grooming the crowds, training them to break out and experience the true Athens.
Imagine how much better this town's music scene could be if the University and the local government fully supported our vast pool of diverse local musicians. With their backing, Athens could easily become the Austin of the Midwest. This town could be known for something else besides time-change riots and topless women during Halloween. Heck, this town could be eventually known for something else besides it being the home of Ohio University.
So, Chad,. I know you didn't mean your comments to sound as unsupportive of the local music scene as they did. You've simply done what most booking folks in your position have done for over a decade. You've forgotten that life exists beyond the campus limits. I invite you to browse the gigabytes of photos and videos here on the AMN. Even better, please start an AMN blog, go out to see local shows that you normally wouldn't, and report back what you've found. I think you'll find what I know to be true: this town has a scene like no other--and that's a good thing.
P.S. Cover bands? Lynard Skynard? Come on!!!!
