Hey Jasper. Great letter to the Barleycorn. At least you tried.
Sounds like the Chairman and the others who have a say are too set in their ways. Also... eventually all those old people will stop coming or pass on. Something has to change!
It might be true what you say about the Barleycorn dying but do not despair! I do not think your final statement is going to happen. I don't think that there will be no venues that host playing original music... someone will be doing it somewhere.
I have seen amongst the friends and classmates of my teens kids who love to play instruments. Music will never die. But adapt or die is 100% correct! You were going into the budget breakdown, there should be a reward for someone to push the Barelycorn on social media too!
There is so much a person CAN do to help that WILL work.
But if they don't listen... What can you do?