The Heights – an Xperience Feature Column by Joe Barna

The Heights, featured column.

What is a scene, how can it be strengthened and what can you do to help?

But First…

Welcome back to my monthly article for Xperience. I hope you have found the first 3 installments to be informative, provocative and engaging. It’s been my esteemed pleasure having the profound opportunity to express my interests, passions and thoughts on a variety of topics with each individual who has taken the time to read these offerings. I’d like to send out a heartfelt thank you for your support and feedback. I promise to always be transparent, honest and forthcoming with my presentations and hope you will offer your comments whenever possible.

Now, enough of the sentimental stuff…Let’s get down to business

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a scene from the ground up? Why is live music so important in cultivating a thriving arts community? Do jam sessions really have that much of an impact on the progress and future of the performing arts in our neighborhoods? Why should I, as a musician, go out to show how much I value the efforts of others when I’m not performing? How does the non musician play an important role in the evolution of a scene’s growth?

Hmmmmmmm…Such a vast amount of information to unpack and so little time…I’ll do my best to share my thoughts on these topics. Hopefully, after completing this article, you will have a more thorough and comprehensive understanding on the importance of developing a flourishing arts scene in your community. It isn’t an easy task to answer these questions in a single article. But, as an advocate for growing a strong and respectable performing arts community I’d like to give it my best effort.

So, the first question I think we need to address is “What is a scene?”

After nearly 30 years in the business, having performed over 5000 times, traveled around the world, having been a booking agent, a promoter and having attended over 1000 live shows as a listener, I have the confidence and experience to answer this question with conviction.

My simple answer… A scene is that which transpires off the bandstand, stage or arena. It is those individuals that choose to attend and support public offerings that create a bustling and provocative live arts community. To me the performances or exhibits are the attractions. They are the products or experiences being offered in an attempt to attract those wishing to have a scene they can both be proud of and look forward to. For example, when I perform I do not consider myself as part of the scene. It’s when I go out to listen to others, view their artwork or watch a live performance where I consider myself a part of any given scene. If the attractions have no audience then by default there exists no scene. We as artists and performers create the opportunity for a scene to be constructed, but if there’s nobody there to bear witness then no scene is present.

What does it take to build a thriving scene and a live performing arts community? Well, it is a variety of synergistic elements that bind together at precisely the right moment, melting together like the vibrant colors of a Picasso masterpiece or the ingredients contained in a masterfully prepared meal. If any of the portioning is off on either account it changes the complexity and outcome. All things must be measured just right to garner the desired results.

You might be asking yourself “Enough with the fancy descriptive language…How the heck do we build a thriving scene???”

OK OK OK…First, having the infrastructure to accommodate live performances, art openings, dance recitals and other attractions is necessary. Then, you need venues willing to offer their spaces up to possibility. Next, you need talent that can retain people’s attention and excite the community in a way where they wish to see these endeavors succeed. Lastly, and most importantly, money and marketing. Why are these 2 things imperative in developing a scene? Because, no person ever attended an event they didn’t have knowledge of or couldn’t afford.

What is the importance of having a thriving live arts scene?

I’ve heard many people over the years say that live music isn’t that important or necessary. There are other things to do and music can be a nuisance? Well, you all found out real quick how important music was when during the “lockdowns” it wasn’t readily available. We as a species tend to take things for granted and say things like “I’ll just go next week.” or “I’ll catch them next time.” Missing your favorite songs, artists, bands, venues and beyond had tremendous negative effects on our mental, emotional and spiritual states over the past few years. I will not be wordy in answering why music is of such importance. I’ll simply repeat that which has been exclaimed by 80’s hard rock band Cinderella…

”You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”

Now,  Let’s talk about jam sessions and what they mean to a scene…

When I moved back to upstate NY from Manhattan in August 2015 it killed my soul not to have live jazz in Troy, no jam session and no venues to collectively gather for the jazz musician. Coming from NYC, where the session scene was so electric and thriving, I found it difficult to settle in and felt disillusioned about living back inside the beast known simply as the 518. What is one to do when there is no meeting place to springboard concepts, network with those of like minds and develop one’s craft away from the gig environment? It was a serious letdown to say the least. I quickly realized that if a session didn’t present itself soon then it was gonna be a long depressing road ahead. Gigs are a way to express oneself and make some money, but the session environment is where relationships develop, networking takes place, we are met face to face with our shortcomings and the opportunity for personal growth takes shape. There is no place to hide at a strong session. If you have social anxiety you must work on it, if a tune is called you don’t currently know you must find a way to play through it, if you are deficient in playing a certain style you’re gonna have an up close and personal lesson on how to play it. Aside from the music, sessions offer the chance to be around wonderful people off the job. They connect individuals in a way that simply playing one’s own gigs can never truly match. They present options not found by gigging and link personalities together that otherwise would never have the opportunity. They are the glue that holds music communities together and the building blocks that establish a brighter live music scene moving forward.

How can the non-musician participate in the building of a powerful arts community?

This one’s the shortest and easiest question to answer…

…LEAVE THE HOUSE

I’d be a fool to think it was that easy for everyone. Yes, there is sickness, financial limitations, family problems, job demands and other reasons many do not find the opportunities to be present on the scenes in their communities. I totally relate and sympathize…

However, understand this…Music and the performing arts heal wounds unlike any medication ever could. They open doors to meeting others like ourselves, who might benefit from our presence and friendship. Simply hearing the right song, viewing a beautiful piece of art, taking in a majestic image from the lens of a local photographer, watching the gracefulness of a regional dance performance or even listening to a solo act at a local restaurant while consuming a favorite food can bring a sense of peace in ways no other experience offers. It allows us to step away from our daily grinds, if even for a moment, to see the value in life’s offerings swirling all around us right here in our community.

There are many reasons or excuses we can use to keep ourselves isolated from the scene. It’s easier to stay home and watch TV or waste time on the computer. I get it. But, I also get this…The most valuable asset we have in this life is TIME. It is the only commodity we can never once again retrieve when spent. If you wish to build a strong, thriving, respectable, engaging, inclusive and exciting scene, put some time aside to be present. It really doesn’t take much. Just a little love, a little energy and some motivation.

Warmest Regards,

Joe