Trying to change a system that does not support a creative ecosystem requires a lot of moving pieces.

So where do we start?

The best place to begin is where you're at.

There are a lot of touch points to make change.

Immediate Areas of Influence:

If you create events, or run venues, you can engage with the local music community, and see how you can find ways to create more support. Anything from encouraging original music performances, booking local original artists for events, fundraisers, community events, parties and weddings.

You can reach out to local event planners and venues and engage in dialogue to encourage more local original music.

You can host house concerts. They can be in homes, parks, venues, block parties and can be organized to fit into many types and sizes of spaces.

Change the narrative. Have conversations in your circle about the power of local original music. Share the stories of impact you've experienced at local performances. 

A simple and basic support, thank venues that have local original music. 

Tip and applaud local musicians.

GO TO LOCAL ORIGINAL MUSIC EVENTS AND PERFORMANCES.

Next Levels:

You can fund / financially support local original artists. This can be from a large scale down to a small monthly Patreon-style support. 

Create petitions and larger-scale conversations with the town/ county and local funding and grant-giving entities.

Shift funding from national touring acts to local artists. This will take an organized effort and voice to change some of these funding structures. It also takes changing the narrative that national acts are better and a better investment. 

Boycott events and venues that don't support local original music.

Bigger Scope:

Create connection and support regionally across organizations and artists.

Engage in regional funding structures.

Create partnerships between regional venues, and state-wide partners. 

Push for more state and national funding for local artists. Ireland undertook a pilot program to give their artists a yearly basic income, and it is proving to be a successful change, bringing a higher return on the investment than many expected.

Run for offices, and vote for people who understand the importance of local artists to local community and economy.

These are only some of the actions we can take. Our creativity offers us nearly infinite options. What other actions would you suggest?