Music lovers, promotors, and artists debate thorny issue of when to start a rock concert
Audiences and wants rock concerts to start earlier, but attitudes change slowly
By Jarkko Jokelainen
The public has voted that it wants rock concerts to start earlier. The artists do not mind not having to wait until midnight to begin. The club owners want as many people to show up as possible.
It seems like win-win situation: start the gigs earlier and everyone is happy. But this has just not happened.
The late starting time for rock concerts was a subject of debate again late last year, following a survey by the Finnish rock music magazine Rumba.
The message from five thousand respondents was clear: over 90 percent want concerts to start earlier, between 9 and 10 p.m. on weekdays, and about an hour later on weekends.
The debate was intense, but there were few changes. Audiences still have to wait as late as midnight for the main attraction to begin in Finnish rock clubs, even on weekdays.
Change is hovering in the air, however. The band Ismo Alanko Säätiö, which begins its tour today, is among the first bands to take the audience's wishes into account.
The band starts all of the shows on its club tour at 9:30 p.m., and on one occasion as early as 7:00 p.m. Only on a few Fridays do they start at half past ten.
"The reasons are entirely rational. It is better both for the artist and the audience", Ismo Alanko explains the decision. "Of course it takes a toll on the audience if the gig ends at 1:30 in the morning and you have to go to work or school the next day. And it is better for us as well, since we don't need to hang around for six hours before each show."
The idea for starting the gigs earlier came from promoter Maria Tarnanen . According to her, the band received positive feedback from a previous tour when they started playing at 7.30.
"I hope people who normally do not go to concerts show up now as well", says Tarnanen.
Rocktoimistojen liitto, an association of Finnish rock music agencies, also supports starting gigs earlier. A committee will convene next week to discuss how to make this possible.
"Our purpose is to continue the debate on the subject", says the organisation's chairman, Samppa Hartikainen. "This has already been discussed in the early 1990s, and we have received much feedback, but nothing has changed."
"Starting gigs earlier, especially on weekdays, would benefit both the bands and the customers. Club owners are also for the idea, but they also want the audience to show up on time."
The lead artist at Tavastia usually comes on stage by 11:00 p.m. and the show often lasts past midnight. Many other venues follow the example of Finland's semi-official shrine to rock music.
"This cannot be completely wrong, since the audience is typically quite abundant", says the club's director Juhani Merimaa in defence of his position. "The right starting time also depends on the style of the artist. Starting earlier works well for Ismo Alanko, since he has more of a concert-type show. On the other hand, dance and hip-hop artists like to start as late as possible, and to keep the place open until four in the morning."
"There is no single solution to this situation", Merimaa continues. "I respect the will of the artists, and they mostly get to decide when to start their gigs."
Merimaa also believes that a later starting time increases sales at the bar.
"Show business in Finland is more closely tied to the sale of beer than elsewhere. If sales drop, it has a direct impact on the status of music, and the ability of the clubs to make investments."
We have reached a stalemate.
Starting concerts earlier all of a sudden does not seem like such an obvious thing to do. Audiences are used to coming to performances late, just before the show starts. The artists do not want to start before the house is full. The club owners want to keep the audience in the club as late as possible to increase sales.
It is no wonder that the situation has not changed, in spite of the wishes of the audience.
"It is a question of changing an entire culture and custom. Even though many want gigs to start earlier, will audiences learn to show up on time?" ponders Rumba editor-in-chief Mikko Aaltonen. "The audience and club owners should try to reach a compromise."
Ismo Alanko takes the idea a step further.
"Everyone has to be in on this", the singer stresses. "If earlier starting times become the norm, audiences will soon get used to it. They show up early for stadium gigs, don't they?"
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 15.3.2006
JARKKO JOKELAINEN / Helsingin Sanomat
jarkko.jokelainen@hs.fi
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| 21.3.2006 - THIS WEEK |
 Music lovers, promotors, and artists debate thorny issue of when to start a rock concert |
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