If only I could win the lottery

I love live music. I cannot completely describe the feelings I get when I go to concerts. Whenever my friends and I have a few bucks to spare, we like to go catch one at whatever venue is hosting a good set.

The problem for us now is that gas prices are climbing. Working sparse hours and also having to account for other expenses, it is becoming less and less viable to go to concerts.

This bugs me about our town. There is hardly a good place to have concerts. I have seen a few live bands- whenever a local band plays in Carl Miller Park I try to catch it, the journalism department at school always hosts a Battle of the Bands that attracts 4 or 5 Boise bands and the occasional one from the high school, and I've seen my favorite band (Boise-based Christian Rock group "A Rotterdam November) twice at concerts put on by churches.

But other than those, there is no real place to attract acts.

Here is what I wish I could do: I would love to start an organization that builds/renovates old buildings to create venues for towns without them. All ages concert houses to bring in music that otherwise bypasses these places.

It makes me ache that I can't just up and do it right now.

When I told my boyfriend Ryan about this, he let on that he also had an ambition- sponsoring local bands. I.e. helping them with booking, getting studio time for them. Jumping into the music industry isn't as simple as having talent- you have to market yourself, present a sample of your music (and if it's poorly recorded, it's even harder) and generate a base of listeners to prove you're a good investment.

The Venue in Boise often hosts Battle of the Bands events, some of which offer studio time as a prize. What if these small-town venues could offer the same thing?

If anyone knows how I can get rich quick or contact someone who is looking into philanthropy, let me know. I've got a great town with a lot of teenagers who could use some good live music easily accessible to them.