So the UK culture secretary recently told representatives of the arts to show the “value of culture to our economy.”

[Yes, that’s the only reason why music, film, art, comedy, theatre and everything in between are important- how much £££ are they bringing in?]

In response, the (English) Arts Council produced an independent* economic report that shows for every £1 of subsidy, SEVEN POUNDS go into our GDP.

You can read about the report in more detail here**. In brief though, I’m sorry Mrs Miller but,

What next? I’d like to see a similar study done in Scotland. Edinburgh’s often negatively compared to Glasgow (when actually far more apt comparisons would be to Cardiff, Oxford, or even Liverpool*** in the UK) but what it craves more than anything is a shift in attitude from those in power. A shift that would prevent venues and nights crunching to a halt because (for one embarrassingly common example) someone had the audacity to buy property next to these places and then complain about the noise.

I and many other people I know spend a lot of time and effort on doing what isn’t immediately (if it all) profitable, purely because we’re passionate about it. Despite the evidence above, the maxim “there’s fuck-all money in the arts” is still extremely useful for warding off charlatans who promise a big payday in the distant future if you’d just pay-to-play, spew thousands of pounds on gadgets and ephemera, or base your entire self-worth on whether some fud in a smart jacket thinks you might have talent.

Something we can do to fight those attitudes- mix with different crowds of people. Go to venues and nights you’ve never been, maybe because none of your friends go and you don’t want to be alone. You won’t be. Elaborating on why this is a good strategy will take another post. However, an excellent place to start (SEGUE KLAXON) would be Lach’s Antihoot Radio Show night. Details of that after the footnotes:

* Important detail.

** The Telegraph is usually sympathetic enough towards the main party of the UK coalition that it’s nicknamed the ‘Torygraph’.

*** I know! Even being home of the Beatles doesn’t protect it from this shit!

I’m playing bass with Henry’s Cellar Bar’s Dive Bar Band tomorrow night! I’ve been to this night a few times now (even before I joined the Dive Bar Band) and it’s really great. Read the Facebook event for more info + how to get cheaper entry.

OK, I’m out.

P.S. Dog On A Swing are doing well- more news when it comes.