My better half and I are considering retirement in the Knoxville area. One of my concerns is re-establishing a musical network. After 33 years in the Chicago area, I have several hundred musical contacts in my address book, and regularly get calls from six or seven bands for gigs. I know it will take time to get plugged in, and if we make the move I plan to do the usual things - join a community band, reach out to local college programs, theater groups, etc. I'm not too into the small jazz combo thing. Mostly I play in big bands and horn oriented rock groups / show bands, although I did cut my teeth in the mid 70's playing with country rock bands. Our "horn section" consisted of sax, fiddle and pedal steel guitar!
I guess my concern is how much of a market there is. On a recent visit, we stayed in Pigeon Forge, the "Branson, Missouri" of TN (Dollywood). It seems like all the dinner shows have pre-recorded music, and only one bar on a six mile strip of entertainment options had live music - a country duo. The other concern is what seems to be a lack of music stores and qualified instrument repair persons, which is usually a good networking opportunity as well. From the research I have done, it appears you need to go to Nashville (180 miles) to get your horn fixed.
Does anyone here have any familiarity with the area and the music scene?
I guess my concern is how much of a market there is. On a recent visit, we stayed in Pigeon Forge, the "Branson, Missouri" of TN (Dollywood). It seems like all the dinner shows have pre-recorded music, and only one bar on a six mile strip of entertainment options had live music - a country duo. The other concern is what seems to be a lack of music stores and qualified instrument repair persons, which is usually a good networking opportunity as well. From the research I have done, it appears you need to go to Nashville (180 miles) to get your horn fixed.
Does anyone here have any familiarity with the area and the music scene?