Country Music Dying at Gillies in L.V.

Clay Maxam · Post by **Clay Maxam** » 2 Oct 2000 7:37 am

Here's a link to a notice from Randy Anderson who has one of the best C/W bands in L.V. but not if this stuff keeps up.
http://hometown.aol.com/Rabandrab/BoycottGilleys.html

Best wishes to you all.
Clay

Rick Collins · Post by **Rick Collins** » 2 Oct 2000 8:08 am

I have heard that Gilley's is moving into the new Aladdin Hotel. Can anyone confirm this?

Rick<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Rick Collins on 02 October 2000 at 09:10 AM.]</p></FONT>

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 2 Oct 2000 8:14 am

Yes Clay,

It is a sad, but true fact of life that "age discrimination" abounds and flourishes in this country. Most of the people who openly abhor racial discrimination openly and with malice discriminate against age. I have had it right here on the forum. And some of it with "malice of forethought"

I feel very sorry for you and your loved ones of having to endure this injustice.

God be with you friend,

carl

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 2 Oct 2000 9:34 am

Well there are two issues here. The first, about the age discrimination, is sort of similar to the fact that many bars don't use country bands because they draw a lot of line dancers, who tend to not drink (at least that's what they say out my way). The point is, the bar owner has to draw the people that give him the business, and if he feels that younger folks pay more and drink more, then it's a business decision. The TV networks do the same thing by orienting the telecasts around desirable demographics, i.e. people who will buy the advertiser's products. I just don't know if this is what you should call discrimination.

The second issue is that it is very poor business practice to give four days notice when cancelling a gig. In regular firms, there is normally two weeks notice. At least that would have given you a chance to book something else. However, this should not come as a surprise in the bar club scene, where the owners and the bands often act very unprofessional. The nature of the business and such, I guess.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 2 Oct 2000 11:07 am

Clay,
My question is what kind of music did they do? They look young enough. I don't think it's discrimination, by what I read.
The 4 day notice is real bad. I also feel sad for the group, but I'm sure they'll find another gig soon! Theresa

Clay Maxam · Post by **Clay Maxam** » 2 Oct 2000 12:10 pm

Hi Theresa...
Gilley's club manager was referring to the age of the clientele as opposed to the band.
Randy's band has a very large following but like me......a goodly number of them are a bit past the half century mark.

And as
Jeff mentioned most of us have learned that we don't need $50.00 worth of bottled joy to have a good time. I'm sure Randy will find another gig to fill the void but I believe this to be indicative of the trend around the country. As we've read here on The Forum before.
Best wishes.
Clay

Boomer · Post by **Boomer** » 2 Oct 2000 1:11 pm

Clay - I don't know the rest of the band; they look like they would pull the 30-65 crowd pretty well. I do know Scotty (guitarist/fiddle who admirably filled Shane Sutton's shoes at "Country Nights") and if he is considered to have too many years on him to pull a young crowd, its time to look for fetuses to start playing Vegas. Best, Boomer

Clay Maxam · Post by **Clay Maxam** » 3 Oct 2000 4:55 pm

Hi Boomer....
That Scotty is just awesome. So much so that
he was picked up by Wayne Newton a few weeks ago when Waynes other guitar player left the band. I've not had a chance to talk to Scot since he went with Wayne but I hear that he has been given the opportunity by Wayne to do some vocals, etc. And of course as a picker, he does not take a back seat to any.
Best wishes.
Clay

Boomer · Post by **Boomer** » 3 Oct 2000 5:36 pm

Right on, Clay. I was managing a kid out in LV at the Nugget, and had the opportunity to go over to the Aladdin to see the "Country Tonight" show on many occasions, with Buzz Evans on steel and Scotty on vocals/guitar/fiddle. It was hog heaven for me. It doesn't get much better than that. Best, Boomer