OPPORTUNITIES for young local musicians are growing as more Bathurst watering holes open up their doors for budding talents.
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Sydney-raised advertising student Sarah Evans has found endless chances in Bathurst to show off her musical gifts, when compared to her experience in the big city.
"It's definitely a less saturated environment for live performers," Sarah said.
Sarah made her debut performance at Church Bar in 2017 and she's continued to play over the years at other nearby venues.
"I didn't ever consider gigging when I was in Sydney," she said. "It was only when I came here and people encouraged me to, because there's heaps of gigs available."
It was the Church Bar's entertainment manager Max Simmons who pushed Sarah to play at the venue,.
He says he which tries booking up-and-coming student talents through word-of-mouth.
"We're just looking for anyone new and enthusiastic," he said.
Paramedics student Miranda Rodgers has had a similar experience after studying at a Performing Arts High School in Sydney, where she still struggled to find opportunities to perform.
"In Sydney it was hard for me who wasn't very confident," Miranda said.
"When I came here I was pushed into it and suddenly I was recording things, playing heaps of gigs and earning money for something I actually like doing."
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Together Sarah and Miranda perform at events including Church Bar's 'Live at the Church' monthly jam, and they find it better to play with fellow students.
"You don't think you sound as good when you're on your own, but when you're playing with friends it's more fun to vibe off each other," Sarah said.
Event organisers understand the attraction of booking younger performers because of the enthusiastic crowds they bring.
"It's rare that I don't have at least one friend to come, have a drink and get around it," Sarah said.
As both performers get more experienced and closer to the end of their studies, to them it's important to get younger students filling in the gaps that past musicians have left.