It's been feeling lately that people are searching for the next great thing. Either on the Internet or in Music, it's clear that we're a tad bit tired with the same ole same ole. Thirsty, I believe Jon Stewart said, of course he was talking about politics, but that's another story entirely.
The fact remains that it's been 10 years since the web first hit browser-vision, turning itself onto the masses. While The Internet had existed long before then, I consider the advent of Netscape to be a principle catalyst in the modernization of web browsing. Coincidentially, it's the same time that The Grateful Dead ended their long strange trip with the passing of Jerry, but that's also another story.
We have now evolved to a point of a decades worth of exploration, and the findings are apparent: The fundamental, inherant, basic prinicple core mission of the Internet (and all things, for that matter) is to
Bring People Together. Be in through ideas, confrontation, information, discovery, reading, hearing, watching - the web connects people like nothing else.
Recently, this concept has spiraled into the realms of the Social Networking World (or Web 2.0) which has taken exponential leaps and bounds. The essential quality of a Social Network is that the content is supplied by the participants. Consumers become producers, sharing is the norm and information flows freely between those connected. This is not a novel concept, as the web itself is a participatory haven, but we are just now seeing this exposed and organized in all sorts of fun ways...although typically and inevidably for dating.
One of the most appealing qualities of the Live Music experience is that deeply rooted within the experience itself is the overwheling desire to tell other people about the feeling which is produced from seeing a really great show. When things go right, I mean really right, something happens. Time stands still and everything gels, if only for an instant. Enthralled in the moment, a sense of
motivation takes over and we are compelled to share and communicate this idea to all we know and love. Maye it's the unclassifyable nature of live music or the general good times abound...whatever it is, its inherant remarkability would make even
Seth Godin proud.
I have been enamored by this concept for a while now, and look forward to applying even more connectivity to the already evolving JamBase. I think where it can all go from here is in creating a true democratic information web where everyone has a voice and can influence the whole through their own expression.
Imagine if by simply organizing your own musical experience, your favorite bands and your concert calendar, that you were instantly able to inform all of your friends and connected peers of an upcoming event worth attending. You wouldn't have to contact them all individually or craft an email, they would be in the loop through their underlining connection to you and your own motivation to keep yourself in the loop. In kind, you'd be looped by their actions, forming a more perfect union of web symmetry.
I'm happy to say that this exists today in the form of
JamBase Friends and
JamBase Groups.
Not only can you see the shows your friends are going to, but you can see when one of your Friends Favorite Bands are playing in your Local Area. It's like your bud from Boston called up to tell you to go out tonight, but instead of them contacting you, you can tell them afterwards what a great time you had on their recommendation, without them even doing anything! It just need a little more work and little more participation to perfectly gel. But once it does, we'll all be going to see live music...together.
I truly hope we can create a forum where fans can share musical ideas and information with their friends easily, allowing discovery to be the norm and connections to occur naturally. In honor of synchronicity and the positive outcomes of the experience, we are guided by an idea to experience something greater than ourselves, and it should be easy, simple and real.
That's what I'm after.
If you're interested in helping by participating,
start a group,
invite your friends and test the concepts of connection around live music events. Then tell me how to make it better.
Let's see where it all goes from here...
We trekked over to the new Jerry Garcia Amphitheatre in McLaren Park today for the official naming ceremony. Mayor Gavin Newson was on hand, tye-dyed sock and all, along with Jerry's family, brother, daughter, Mountain Girl, the Sabecs from the Jerry Estate, a bunch of city officials tons of fans and some fabulous musicians including Jefferson Starship, Grapefruit Ed, The Mystery Cats, Jerry Rigged, Michael Joel Ahern, David Gans and Wavy Gravy performing as master of ceremonies.
