76 replies to this topic

[Nil_Failstorm]

For the last couple of years I've been researching everything it takes to do business in AZ where alcohol and live music take place. All the special rules, all the hidden fees, all the legal red tape, etc.

I've seen good venues die. I've seen new venues fail miserably. I've seen how promoters do business, both good and bad. I've seen the battles between club owners vs. club managers vs. landlords. I've seen every type of band attitude from complete professionalism to getting their asses kicked in the parking lot like they deserved. I've personally experienced lots of poor management abilities in running musical venues.

So I'm finally within sight of achieving the goal of opening up such an establishment. My co-conspirator and I have 17 years in the retail, entertainment, food services, and customer services fields, and 20+ years in the local scene. So we have a good handle on the politics and economics of such an endeavor.

What I would like to know is what you guys want in a venue.


The things that we want or are working towards:

1. Sound system--we'll be starting small and working our way up, but we're always enquiring about the approaches different professionals would use, final setup can't be determined until the property is obtained

2. Location--east valley, I've been here since 1985 and westside venues don't survive. Mesa is out of the question due to the fact that they're all uptight assholes who run things over there. Hopefully Tempe, but possibly north Chandler or south Scottsdale depending on available properties. Or even south Phoenix as a last resort depending on the population density of available locations.

3. All ages venue--depending on what the state let's us do, we may have a mixed live music area (like Alice Cooperstown) or if we're forced to seperate the drinkers from the underagers, it will probable be set up similar to the old Electric Ballroom (underagers at floor level along the front of the stage, drinkers surrounding this area but at an elevated level and still having partial access to the stage itself), you can come and go at the venue (via handstamping after paying the show cover charge), none of that once you're inside you can't leave bullshit

4. Not ripping people off--(like NOT charging $6 for a beer--Mason Jar R.I.P.!!) Drinks will be fairly priced, non-alcoholic beverages will be available to the underagers

5. Cover charge--generally $5, may vary according to special events or potential touring bands, bands get 100% of the door regardless of over or under 21, it will be split according to the number of people you bring in (simple math: your band brings 20 people at $5 each = $100), all bands pay equal shares for the sound and security costs from their door money (this is the local club standard). No "bar fees" where the bands suffer if not enough people are drinking (The Clubhouse). Feel free to suggest other methods.

5. Fuck You Rockstar Policy--I won't host bands that already think they're rockstars and want to charge $10-15 for 3 local bands or who have already established themselves as having troublesome followings and tend to get venues closed down (Neckbeard's RIP); I'd rather not have such bands play at my place of business because I'd probably end up tasering one of the fuckers myself and getting the venue in worse trouble. "Who has the fucking pick axe! Come here you little bitch!" hehehe

6. A "green room" or at least an area where the bands can stash their stuff and enjoy the entire show without worrying about someone stealing their gear from the van.

7. Working restrooms!!!!!!!!


"We had the tools, we had the talent!" --Ghostbusters

[chadk]

i would like a venue in "downtown" phoenix, there is nothing going on at night other then what's at the sports stadiums, Monroes is a nice place but they are specific as to what type of music is played so are limited to variety. Most venues in phoenix are art galleries, which is rad, but we don't have an actual venue soley based on music.

i know property has sky rocketed but just picture going to a show in a "city" with big buildings.

just my 2 cents

[dharma_bum]

first of all, congrats on getting to the point of opening your own place - very cool.

since i live in the downtown area, it would be nice to have another club down here but i understand your tendency to have it within a densely populated area. My two cents, don't get a venue that will have too much overhead (rip nita's). Also, have one that is kind of split, almost like the emerald lounge (rip) where people can drink at the bar and not be blown out by the music in the other room - sort of a multifunctional drinking establishment.

if i won the powerball my club would be like............ - you could go on for days.

good luck!

[church]

a good name and a good atmosphere will set a foundation

[bob]

i think my favorite venue in the world (or my limited definition of 'world) is the smell. it's not really the best at anything. it's really big, the sound system could possibly be better, the stage is too high and it's in a way sketchy area in downtown LA. however, the folks that run it (jim) and the folks that support it (the local bands, fans, activists, etc) have the best attitude, and that's really all it takes.

let the bands set up where ever they want.

don't hire soundpeople that are jerks

and get a good set of local bands that support what you're doing and bring in people for the touring bands

alcohol, though nice, should be secondary

modified, is really tied for first as well. i don't think you can do it better. use it and similar spaces as a model. trunk space too. the mold has been set.

[chadk]

neckbeards, = poor owership (didn't fix things) mixed with poor management (blocked fire exists, didn't pay lease) mixed with stupid kids who have their parents call the fire marshal when they couldn't get in mixed with cops who had it in for the place since it opened. thats a in nutshell, i'm sure theres more but thats what i got from reading the newtimes article.

also the church would be awsome, theres a church in denver that has been converted to a club, although it was a "club" that shiny people would go to, they had a basement that was designated to the goth thing, we would go on sunday nights and do the "i dropped my contact spin around pick it up blow it off and pluck it back into my eye dance", (i'll show it to you sometime)

or old theaters are great, if you have ever seen "things to do in denver when your dead" you can see the legendary Bluebird theater, in the movie it is a porn theater, and in real life it had been a porn theater for several years, but now is a great venue

[chadk]

ogden theater

[chadk]

the aztlan theater, damn i remember seeing so many rad shows here

[chadk]

this theater is also rad

[dharma_bum]

churches and theatres would be nice. it is unfortunate that downtown phx, to the best of knowledge, has 1 old theatre. there are a lot of old churches but they are all occupied. it is too bad that no one from the shizz is a mutli-millionaire

[chadk]

[church]

> mainly because the ASU crowd is all about clubbing and shiny shirts and hair gel, both the guys and the girls <


sweeping generalization anybody?

[unluckycharm]

This is a great question.

What I want specifically, is the old Nitas back. Why? Small enough to feel cozy, but able to accomodate a bigger show (in the back). There was a separate area people could go if they wanted to chill away from the music (out front). It was usually an inexpensive cover and *very* supportive of local music. Plus it had a great sound system. Make sure you have some games there.....pool tables, video games, etc. The location was good for me because it was near the freeway.

[fatguyaz]

One thing i've always had a problem with is the "Who did you come to see" method of paying bands. This is great for locals but sucks for touring bands who don't have a following and were lucky enough to get on a decent bill with a good drawing local. The good drawing local (who doesn't NEEEED the money like a touring band does) gets the lions share of the loot while the touring band might have had a good time, but probably didn't make shit from the door.... As we all know, good times don't fill the gas tank. Unless you have one of those new hybrid cars... those run on good times, don't they? But i digress... There should be another method of splitting the money between bands. Obviously touring bands should make the most since they are on otur, but the locals are the ones that promote the shows...gotta be a middle ground somewhere.