Live Venues getting slim.

It was years ago that I talked to Ahmad Jamal, and the musicians with him who were headed to Japan. They told me they couldn't make a living here in the States. While that was for jazz, it may apply to other genre's of music as well

It's also much more difficult for touring artists to get visas now, than it used to be. The amount made available is very limited.

Spiritualized, I've just got a note that Auktyon had their visa request denied! They've been touring US almost every year and had Medecki, Martin and Wood joined their performances. There was several venue events scheduled accross few US large cities New York, Chicago, Philadelphia.

Before this happened, I only thought that it's just a gossip about artists facing difficulties getting a visa.
Why the performing artists visas are being limited? Is our government now controlling illegal immigration of artists not returning back? If that's true I feel terrible especially knowing the fact that I'm paying taxes for these dumb immigration reforms.

Check this out...

http://www.auktyon.com/

After 9/11/01, the whole VISA review process was overhauled. This included a reduction in the number of VISAs made available each year for touring artists. The qualification process is also more difficult.