76 replies to this topic

[chadk]

i thought the ASU crowd was more about walking across the street with out looking both ways

[Tony]

if you look at a lot of the venus that have failed, one of the things they have in common is a lack of built in business/foot traffic. say what you want about alcohol being secondary, but that's probably the best way to make money, especially if you give 100% of the door to the bands. you'd need to have a draw or a business when those bands aren't playing to make it work. at least that's how i would see it. whether it's art, liquor, food, or whatever.

granted, nothing is guaranteed (long wongs).

i went to a show at neckbeards and unfortunately my first thought was "wow, this place is not going to survive". which is a shitty thing to say, but it just didn't strike me as a sustainable business. i happen to feel the same way about the clubhouse. i don't mean to piss anyone off or get blackballed from there or anything, but they seem like a venue that exists only for music - so the only people that go are there specifically to see a band. i don't know anyone who says "let's go to the clubhouse tonight and maybe somebody cool will be playing" (unlike the old nita's or long wongs). again, i'm not trying to knock them, in fact i'm a little surprised it's been open as long as it has.

anyways: location, location, location, location. and a good sound system.

[thebiggameover]

or old theaters are great,

nobody is using the maystone theater at ray and priest.....

SMOKING INDOORS. please god. i hate the fact that you have to go outside to smoke at the clubhouse....

[guitarduane]

i agree with fatguy. we played shows that were supposed to be this way and we would tell our friends before hand to say they are there to see us. then they would come in and say they were never asked. and of course after we were paid i would do a quick head count in my head of all the people i know that were there to see us and it never added up. and, i often go to shows that have atleast 2 bands i'm interested in, what heppens then?

i also agree with unluckycharm. old nita's was ideal. because the cover and drinks were so cheap, i would just show up not knowing who was playing and if they sucked i stayed at the bar or went outside. and the sound was sooo good. i'm not really a sound guy, so i don't know why it was so good there, but if i were opening a venue, i would find out and recreate.

[church]

lest anyone forget, old nitas was charlie levy's baby, and he was responsible for everything -- from the velvets, to the bands, to the sound -- everything

[dharma_bum]

My two cents, don't get a venue that will have too much overhead (rip nita's).

i should have been more specific. this was meant for the new nitas not the old. i agree with circle K. the old nitas was always a lot of fun and served purposes for smaller crowds and the larger and having somewhere to relax out front.

[glitterbot]

lo ca tion.

downtown PHX or center of town would be the best imo. it would have to be a pretty awesome draw for me to want to haul ass all the way to north chandler. or gilbert. or glendale. south scottsdale or tempe would also be nice.

easy parking is a plus too, although that doesn't work too well downtown.

[Kristopher]

One thing that turns me off from some shows is sitting through 45 minutes of a band that I don't like. If you include set up/tear down times, it takes at least an hour to see if the next band sounds good or not. I'm a big fan of 30 minute sets - play your best songs and leave 'em wanting more (that's what cds are for?) while allowing people like me with short attention spans to hang around for the band I came to see. Maybe if I had friends or liked to (read: could afford to) drink a lot, I might think differently.

I really liked the Emerald Lounge for how extremely low key and un-rockstarish it was. Now my favorite is the Hollywood Alley for the onion rings and pizza (although if you don't get there early you don't get to sit down because of their oversized booths).

[Hooray For Everything]

go to Tucson....

Club Congress, Plush....

start there....

or the Middle East in Cambridge....La Luna (rip) in Portland.


see why they 'work'

[Hooray For Everything]

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.

yeah........word...

I hate going to see a country-ish band, and having to see a joke band, and a punk rock band first...

obviously friends of the promoter....

we never even try to get on a bill unless we think we will be appropriate......i hate that shit....


and no TV's........and no stupid music between sets...if a country band is playing, don't play Dokken....and no soundguys who don't know jack about how to mix a wide range of styles....not everyone wants that big Metallica clicky or hip hoppy drum sound....sound guys whith ponytails are always bad news.....dreads, too.....

[mashed tates]

uh, i really like seeing a bunch of weird bands play a single show. i also like playing them. so long as people aren't all pissed that the bands don't sound the same. i always thought that if i could see four good bands, no matter what style, it would be awesome. really, i'm more annoyed when all the bands "appropriately" fit with eachother because it makes it harder to appreciate each individual act.

it is hard for me to ignore the nagging feeling that following other venues' lead really won't necessarily help too much. i think there are many similarities in venues that do work and venues that don't. i don't think there's a formula whatsoever. modified is just great, and it has no games, and the sound isn't as good as nita's was or anything.

i would just suggest thinking about what you really want your venue to be about and base it all on that. i think the one thing all successful venues have in common is an obvious personality that makes them great. the smell and modified are both good examples.

there will probably be a place with more games, cheaper alcohol, better location, or better bands on any given night. with that said, just do what feels best and hope that people agree with your taste and like it...and consequently support it.