Some time back, InTake Weekly ran a story on the people behind the show and band flyers that residents see not only in Broad Ripple, but in the city of Indianapolis as a whole-that is, the ones we used to see in Broad Ripple.

Word has gotten to me that there has been a recent problem in the tearing down of show flyers in the village area. The story floating around promoters and flyer makers/designers is that almost directly after they make their journey through Broad Ripple in the cold winter weather posting flyers for upcoming shows and events, they are MIA by the next day.

There have been some suggestions as to who the perpetrators behind this are, but no concrete evidence exists. My question is-why in the heck would anyone want to tear down these flyers in the first place?

First of all, residents of Broad Ripple need to realize that the area is home to a plethora of music venues and cultural events that NEED this type of promotion. This includes rock bands, hip hop artists and jazz musicians whose shows (which bring a large amount of revenue to the area) depend on these flyers.

Second, after reading said article in InTake, I realized that numerous people put time, effort and money into designing these flyers prior to posting them all throughout the Village-which also takes a large amount of personal time and energy. It is because of these people that (whether you like it or not) Indianapolis has a thriving and ever-growing music scene, with its heart lingering around Broad Ripple.

I myself play guitar in a rock band (I won't shamelessly mention the name) and I cannot count the number of times that I have been wandering about Broad Ripple and come across a flyer for one of my shows in the past and thought, "I REALLY love the person that did this." (Yes you, whoever you are, I really, truly do love you). Because frankly, I am not the most visually creative person and could probably never make anything nearly as interesting looking as some of these flyer-designers.

On the same note, I cannot count the number of times that I have been walking that same walk and have seen a flyer for a show that I had no clue about but would have missed if I had not seen that flyer.

So what's the use in tearing them down?

Do people think they look trashy? Do people actually think that people are actually going to stop putting these flyers up if they continue to tear them down? I mean, honestly-I am trying my best to write this editorial without using any curse words or playing the victimized early twenty-something that just wants to have fun and drink a few beers while watching a good rock band.

Fact of the matter is, Broad Ripple is an area where music is king-and at one point, I was pretty sure that it would remain that way. But I am currently having my doubts.

This is my call-out (AGAIN) to people to speak up and join the neighborhood association. Here is my BIGGEST warning, by the way, and I won't be frank with it: if you want to keep music in Broad Ripple, if you want to continue putting flyers up for your band and any other show you are promoting, get online and join NOW.

For the sake of everyone's curiosity as to why this is so urgent-there are plans to tear down Spin Nightclub, formerly the historic Patio Venue and build another sports bar.

Come on music lovers. Stop complaining and do something. -AP