76 replies to this topic

[Tender Lad]

Since moving to town six years ago I've done sound at a bunch of venues that are now all gone (The Green Room, The Mason Jar, Billy Gordon's, The Bash on Ash, The Jackson hole.) The one thing these places had in common (exept The Jar) was how the sound systems seemed to be just thrown together. This caused me many headaches, because stuff kept getting bumped into or walked on and would stop working. There is nothing worse than going into a club to do sound and something doesn't work, this actually happened every time I was at The Bash. Dealing with multiple sound people is a bitch also because most have there own way of setting the speaker EQ's and basically fuck up a good sounding EQ that has been established because they think they know better.

A clean install of the system is essental, it will reduce your chances of downtime due to shit not working. Clean cable paths and amp rack hookup and mixer location hookups with also keep things running smooth. I've seen a lot of places with rats nests of cables and amps laying on the ground near where the bands are, this always leads to shit getting broken.

You don't need to spend a fortune on your system when getting started, but you do need it installed properly and have your sound people on the same page (try avoiding the touring sound guys as they can be excessively loud and are usually dicks.)

[donald]

I would like downtown also, Grand Ave is picking up and just being in the area where first fridays is will give you a good crowd at least one night a month

I loved the Emerald Lounge, divey bar, yet it was a cool place to hangout. I love the modified too, not the greatest p.a. it isn't a bar, and when it opened I don't think it was deemed to be in the best location, but it has stood the test of time and is one of my favorite places to go to see a show.

You can tell what places ripped you off, and even if they have a good p.a. or are close by, I would rather go somewhere else where the staff seemed to be on your side. (I am tired and probably not making any sense) Ross from the Alley is awesome, I like going there just to say hey, and I feel like he considers me almost as family rather then just another guy he can get to pump money from. Leslie at the modified is awesome and supports local music and she busts her ass, and we all love her for that too. Then you have places like Alice Cooperstown, I just get a weird vibe there, I wanted to like it cause I totally dug alice cooper when I was a kid but something just doesn't seem right there, totally different vibe for me. Was never big on the big fish pub, and swore never to go there again, haven't been there in years although I heard it's changed owners. We used to think the Mason Jar was just a way for Franco to launder money, but if you were in a band and wanted to play, as long as you had drugs, a hot girlfriend, or could promise alot of people you could get a show. Now it's a gay bar. Such is life I guess.

man, I am blabbering tooo much
Good luck with the venue and wish you the best of luck.

[fatguyaz]

Donald...awesome, i'm glad i wasn't the only one that thought the Jar was a front for something totally shady. I always imagined Franco in his clogs driving a diaper truck or something.

[chadk]

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

i couldn't dissagree with you more, i hate seeing a show with 4 bands that obviously have the same record collections, boring. i enjoy a variety of music and would like to see more diversity at shows.

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

i couldn't agree with you more, while i would like to see more diversity, it's a little pompus to think that your entire set should dominate an hour or more, unless you are the minibosses of course. ah exceptions, exceptions, i also have a short attention span

Then you have places like Alice Cooperstown, I just get a weird vibe there, I wanted to like it cause I totally dug alice cooper when I was a kid but something just doesn't seem right there

yea like that it's a sports bar more then anything else. i bet they make more money on game days then any night with a band

[Brodie]

I think there are great suggestions here from everybody, but I think the point about this being set up in the East Valley is being missed.

Except for the Clubhouse, SubCulture Cafe, and the Marquee, there are no venues outside of Phoenix (no viable ones that come to mind, anyhow). There's lots of folks out this way (I say THIS way because I had to leave the warm embrace of Phoenix Rock City and moved into a place in Tempe a few weeks ago... I miss ya, downtown!).

When you're in high school, and you live in Mesa/Gilbert/Ahwahtukee/Chandler, it's not always possible to make that trek to Phoenix and stay for as late as shows usually go. This would serve the East Valley audience and open up a market that has been less tapped than the downtown scene.

[Tony]

Ross from the Alley is awesome

amen.

he's consistently been one of the nicest and most supportive people i've dealt with.

[chadk]

I think there are great suggestions here from everybody, but I think the point about this being set up in the East Valley is being missed.

Except for the Clubhouse, SubCulture Cafe, and the Marquee, there are no venues outside of Phoenix (no viable ones that come to mind, anyhow). There's lots of folks out this way (I say THIS way because I had to leave the warm embrace of Phoenix Rock City and moved into a place in Tempe a few weeks ago... I miss ya, downtown!).

When you're in high school, and you live in Mesa/Gilbert/Ahwahtukee/Chandler, it's not always possible to make that trek to Phoenix and stay for as late as shows usually go. This would serve the East Valley audience and open up a market that has been less tapped than the downtown scene.

i disagree, the clubhouse and the marquee, big fish, last exist, yuka tap room, are all places where you can get a drink and see bands.

downtown phoenix has monroes and the paper heart where you can see bands and get a drink. all other music venues in phx are typically art galleries.


and none of the venues have the capacity of marquee or clubhouse.

drinks whether or not you like it bring people out.

i still think downtown phx would be the best place

there will always be somebody ready to cash in on college town kids by setting up shop whether they flop or not.

that seems to be the story of tempe in my experience, a venue bails, then another one pops up.

i haven't had this experience in phoenix other then the emerald which has been replace by what?

as far as kids driving to phx from suburbs, i may not drive far distances now for shows unless it's like the hot snakes or something, but when i was a kid i would drive to boulder or colorado springs to see shows, i may have had to leave a bit early or risk being grounded, but i would go. my parents didn't like the idea of me going to some warehouse district to see a show, but that just made it cooler, shit i even drove to casper wyoming to see jawbreaker, 7 hours, and thats nothing compared to mig who will drive for 24 hours or some crazy shit.

point being, kids will go if they really want to. or they will grow up wanting to move to phx because thats where all the cool shit is.

[Brodie]

I didn't think of that. But, hey, I don't mind drinks!

Yucca Tap Room is pretty cool, I saw the Earps there over the summer.

I despised the Big Fish Pub, but I haven't been there since new management took over, I don't know if it'd be better now.

I know Last Exit, but I've never heard of a show going on there.

By the way, the discussion on Nil's thread at AZPUNK is pretty interesting...

[chadk]

word i'll check it out

[unluckycharm]

I know Last Exit, but I've never heard of a show going on there.

I saw the Posies there in September.

[chadk]

the best thing i heard from azpunk, was to add a pool for skateboarding during shows.

talk about a liability, but damn that would that be sweet

[Naz]

random suggestion:

serving food during the daytime might be a good way to make sure the place is always generating business. Depending on the layout of the place you get, you could restrict it to a front room, or if you don't mind moving tables, just use the main venue room. Or just have some tables set up in the back, and along the sides, but still keep a nice big area open near the stage.

A cool place where I'm at, is set up so i can show up early, grab a burger and a drink and talk to the bands that will be playing later in the night. Then they close up the kitchen right before the show and everyone rocks out.

[weener]

1. It must be called "The Impenetrable Fortress of Awesomeness."

2. Don't bother with ASU kids. I'm serious. Unless you sell $200 jeans and bubble tea at your venue, 99% of ASU kids will avoid it like the plague. They will even go to the great length of walking into the street without looking both ways if it means getting away from your venue quicker.

[jhealy]

[/QUOTE]Unless you sell $200 jeans and bubble tea at your venue, [QUOTE]

what is bubble tea?

[weener]

Something ASU kids love.. I've never had it. It probably cost like, $4 a glass.

Edit: Woo! 2000th post! I am a Jedi Master!!!!!