Gigging In The Current Age

Hello. Warning: a bit of a gripe coming up.
I'm sure it's not only happening to me but I reckon getting a sufficient quorum of people to attend a gig is getting tougher by the day (I have been to see one or two others and there seems to be a similar pattern emerging). The first blow (or suck) came with the non-smoking rule being foisted upon every pub in the land, now at any juncture in the evening 30% of the audience is outside frantically striking a light. This means that the performer has to cope with a more or less passing trade throughout their set rather like a busker in a furnished subway. You get their attention, they go out for a quick puff, then you have to get them back again when they return to quaff and warm themselves before the nicotine nibbles at the vitals again.
Now, added to this, we have the prohibitive cost of going out in the first place - baby-sitters, taxis/fuel, bevvy, nosh etc.
I don't know about your locale but down here the pub gig is the first step into live performance for all would-be world beaters. If this carries on Britain will no longer punch above its weight on the global stage. We will be home in front of the telly sipping a cold tin of chemical wash watching someone else from somewhere else doing it. Gripe over, bon chance, Mutter.