9-11-26

i feel like there is too much going on,, too many flyers on the counter at work, no one’s going to read all of that, i watch them walk past it.. people think “more” looks better, and they’re right!! more “LOOKS” better. to the untrained eye, a pile of “professionally” printed magazines and business cards and promotional tickets looks: 
* bustling 
* thriving 
* inventive
* sustaining 
yet somehow, they’re still there after weeks, no tickets taken, no flyers moved by anything other than wind in the door (???) . i think that upon training your eye for further inspection you see a TON of the SAME thing .. and it becomes overwhelming, so you don’t really sift through it. i feel like this is NOT actually bustling, thriving or inventive. I strive to seek inspiration in all things, and even I am at a loss here… 

too many shows, we have a couple hundred show-goers AT MOST , and to split them up week to week, day to day amongst even more than one show, you are divvying into smaller and smaller crowds. i only know a few people are going to go to more than one show A WEEK. there are dedicated scene members, of course, they are real and valid in their love of what st. louis has. however, I myself speak for myself and only myself when i say i am dissatisfied. I find that ive been chipping away at something since i was a kid, playing a LOT of shows, but i feel like im not really getting further in any which way. I find there’s too much happening. sooooooooooooo many people can’t or won’t come to shows, they don’t know about them, the details disappear, get lost amongst other details, there is TOO MUCH happening!!! shows are falling through the cracks because there’s just too much noise. it’s not just on social media though, i tell people directly and they get confused or lost in the details too, because there’s too much hitting them. it becomes who is loudest, who is booking who, who has the biggest bill crowd.. there is a LOT happening, and I feel like i am seeing a lot of the same thing, and i am at a loss here… 

I know this is a sour post, so i am sorry. i don’t want to hurt anyone and/or their feelings. I appreciate the drive people have and will NOT deny the passion i see. I will just say, i feel a lack of conciseness is plaguing a lot of what i see in st. louis, as well as the world at large.. 

I am going to do what feels best for me, whether the general populous feels inclined to join or not.

 I will schedule things slower and more infrequently, prioritizing conciseness and accessibility for myself and the people that i want to play for. I don’t wish to ruffle feathers or prescribe my beliefs onto others, so i am sorry if any of this sounds too pushy. 

let me know if you have any thoughts at goomanstl@gmail.com