Life without Coasts

I can thank the US Army for many things....

• turning me into a man
• giving me access to different continents and cultures
• teaching me skills that have served me well

However, the number one thing the Army did for me was teach me that there is no such thing as "can't". I've listened to this argument that musical artists have to end up on one coast or the other in order to be successful. Honestly, I'm so sick of that I just want to hurl.

With the music industry on it's ear (no pun intended), most, if not all the rules are being rewritten. I'm more motivated than ever to be a major contributor to reestablishing KC as a musical hub that rivals the coastal cousins of LA & NY. I quite literal don't buy into that it can't be done. The Sprint Center is already having an impact, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm really talking about leveraging everything from new art & music education facilities to smaller outdoor venues to sponsoring national competitions to lobbying for the renovation of areas within KC specifically for supporting an emerging music industry that includes housing and non-corporate commercial interests (small farmer's markets, artisan crafts and other entertainment).

This city's proud musical heritage has somehow, someway become watered down, hijacked by self-interest groups, manipulated by a controlling few and part of a corporate machine.... none of which will launch us out of our current paradygm and into the stature of coastal scenes. I'm really talking about establishing a new heritage that is organic in nature and built on substance rather than just being the next shiny object. The cohesion must start with organization of the currently existing grass root efforts and the establishment of common goals and objectives for the short-term. Winning the hearts and minds of the diverse and sometimes fickle KC area population must bear fruit from both a word of mouth perspective and also from a positive press perspective. Getting to the point where people want to be part of something transforming is the initial catalyst that will energize growth.

Once some level of critical mass can be established, then an agenda can be pursued through political channels for favorable outcomes regarding funding, zoning, taxation and other threshold items that would need to be addressed for the next level of growth. Getting regional and national tourism dollars should be treated as an anticipated impact rather than an accidental impact.

Through networking, I'm finally starting to meet and establish rapport with some of the people I believe will aid in this endeavor. My vision is that Kansas City be mentioned in the same breath as LA, NY and Nashville for music destinations and economies.... and so the work begins.