I said:
It is an unfortunate but inescapable fact of human nature that if
you are offered something for nothing, you tend to assume that it
is of little intrinsic value or importance, and will pay little
attention to it. The big foundations understand this and will usually
refuse to subsidize any musical group for more than one year if they
do not charge admission to their concerts.
Tell that to people who are trying to get the necessary-but-free
tickets for U.S. Marine Band or U.S. Navy Band or U.S. Army Field Band
concerts when they are held locally!
Paid for by their taxes. Would they be trying so hard for tix if it
were just any band? Would they be trying so hard if they could hear the
band any day they liked? Or if the supply of tix were unlimited? The
price of something is not measured only in money.
There really is a basic principle of human behavior going on here, the
same one Joni Mitchell bemoaned in "Big Yellow Taxi."
The concert on the Esplanade in Boston on the 4th of July is another
example of a huge population placing a lot of value on something they
get for free.
Don't know about that one. Who pays the musicians?
The huge hordes of people visiting the Smithsonian each day is another
example.
Taxes.
The many people who use the Philadelphia Free Library is yet another.
More taxes.
And on and on and on.
And on.
Andrew Stiller
Kallisti Music Press
http://home.netcom.com/~kallisti/
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