The Beatles performed Toronto 3 times (1964, 1965, and 1966), all at Maple Leaf Gardens. Demand for tickets was large and the band was on a decent touring schedule. They wanted to get in and get out whereas performing for as many individuals as potential. Adding a second evening wasn’t within the playing cards so the one factor they may do is play two reveals on the identical day: the standard night gig preceded by a matinee efficiency. In between, they grabbed a chew to eat and held a press convention.
Matinees (often as a part of a doubleheader) had been frequent again then. All the early rock pioneers — Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, The Rolling Stones, The Who et al — did them. It was exhausting for the act however the effort made good enterprise sense. Not solely did the scheduling of a matinee double a fan’s probabilities of with the ability to see a present, however for those who had been too younger to exit at evening, there was an opportunity your mother and father would allow you to attend a day present.
Matinee concert events continued for years. I recall within the Nineties when some bands insisted on taking part in an early all-ages present adopted by a licensed occasion within the night. Punk bands had been particularly good at serving their youthful demo with early units. It was a good way to fulfill each the adults (who might avail themselves of the bar) and the children (and the venue didn’t have to fret about underage ingesting as a result of the bar was closed to alcohol gross sales).
But because the rock enterprise matured, afternoon performances slowly disappeared. Today, they’re all however gone. Unless you’re at a competition, it’s extraordinarily uncommon to search out an artist who’s keen to play a day slot.
This is unlucky as a result of as of late, it’s not simply underage children who need reveals at the moment of the day but additionally a rising variety of adults.
Look, simply since you’re on the lee aspect of 30 doesn’t imply you’ve given up on the reside music expertise. You’d like to see extra reveals however life all the time appears to get in the best way. There are the children, getting up for work the subsequent morning, and the big scheduling conflicts.
And let’s be sincere: After a sure age, you’re kinda bored with ready till 10:30 pm on a Tuesday evening for a band to hit the stage. Heck, I’m in mattress most nights lengthy earlier than that.
By not catering to the demo that doesn’t need/can’t afford to be out late, artists and promoters are leaving some huge cash on the desk. And let’s not overlook that the older demos are those with extra money to spend at reveals.
There are two options. First, gigs might begin earlier. Rather than heading dwelling or killing time earlier than a present, individuals might go straight from work. If the lights had been to go down at, say, 7 pm, every thing might be completed by 9:30. Everyone who has to stand up within the morning can get to mattress at an inexpensive hour whereas those that wish to proceed the evening nonetheless have hours earlier than them. I do know I’d see much more membership reveals in the event that they began and completed earlier.
The second resolution is to re-introduce matinees. Obviously, this isn’t sensible on weekdays, however what about weekends? Hey, theatre productions have provided matinee performances for many years. An enormous, huge chunk {of professional} sports activities are held within the afternoon. Casinos supply matinee performances. So why not big-name concert events? I’d be extra inclined to see acts like Bruce Springsteen. Does the Boss wish to play a five-hour present? Fantastic! Just begin at 3 p.m. so I might be dwelling to wind down earlier than mattress.
Jamie Lee Curtis just lately ranted concerning the lack of matinees. Appearing on NBC’s Today present just lately, she vented “Why are there no matinees? For instance, I love Coldplay. I would love to go see Coldplay. The problem is, I’m not going to go see Coldplay if they start their show at nine o’clock and there’s an opening act. I want to hear Coldplay at 1 p.m. I think if we filled a stadium with people who want to see a matinee of Coldplay, I think we would start a trend.”
Love it. Instead of dinner and a present, it’s a present and dinner. Then it’s again dwelling to dismiss the babysitter, play with the children, cope with the canine, and get to mattress at an inexpensive hour. Not very rock’n’roll in a standard sense, however I’m OK with that.
Sure, load-in/load-out procedures and touring schedules must be adjusted, however that’s not an insurmountable barrier. Where there’s cash, there’s a means. And I’m positive many heritage acts — and there’s a rising variety of them — wish to wrap up their day earlier, too.
I repeat: This has nothing to do with being outdated, infirm, crotchety, and never loving reside music. It has every thing to do with being sensible and inclusive. The inhabitants is growing older and society wants to regulate.
Who’s with me?
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Alan Cross is a broadcaster with Q107 and 102.1 the Edge and a commentator for Global News.
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