How things used to be...

Well my goodness, that was some night!  I had a full house at my weekend gig.  Not for me, you understand, but there was a birthday party going on.
The room was heaving with folk, and I must admit to looking back to times when every gig was like that - people out at their local to have a good time, a drink and a bit of banter, and to enjoy the live music.  People used to actually prise themselves away from the telly and go out!  Shock!  
These days, what with the price of booze and, well, pretty much everything, most of Joe Public is content to sit in of a Saturday night, with their Smart Price Vodka and 17p cola drink, a big bag of cheap crisps and order a take away when they get the munchies.  No waiting for taxis, no getting ready, no waiting to be served at the bar, no queues at the kebab shop/chinese etc.  No exorbitant taxi fares home (particularly at this time of year).  And if you feel tired, you don't have to wait about to tell your friends.  they are right there (or a facebook post away).

Why would people even go out of their doors these days?

Well there's actual PHYSICAL INTERACTION. Speaking to people with your MOUTH and listening with your EARS.  No smiley faces and LOLs, no "likes" or "shares".  Just talking to people, with no electronics involved.

Are we becoming a nation of computer nerds?  I must admit that I, for one, am happier to communicate when I can say something then edit it before it is "out there" for people to see, comment on and usually disagree with. And emailing or PM-ing someone is a lot less scary than a phone call.  

So what should we do?  

I have no easy answer to this.  

Maybe the powers that be should make Saturday night TV sooo boring that people actually want to go out for some stimulation.  Maybe they should bring back the discounted happy hours in pubs and clubs.  Maybe we should be trying to attract punters?
There are always going to be those who are idiots.  You get them everywhere.  The ones who drink their bodyweight in happy hour drinks then throw up or cause a fight.  Maybe they should stay home... Some people just need a reason to go out.  

Maybe we could socialise our way out of the recession by simply going out and spending a few hours at our local pub.  We could enjoy the live music again, have a few drinks on promotion, have a laugh.  

I think I may have just found the answer.  Ban all the reality TV shit and get the public back into their own reality!  Life!