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June 22, 2006
On Venues: Phil's Thoughts
When I asked All Marbles bassist Phil Mielke what his thoughts were about Redlands music venues his response was so brilliant that I had to share it.
Here is a somewhat abridged version of Phil’s repartee:
“It’s sorta tough to comment on. I can speak broadly
to the subject, but I think the issue is bigger than the venues — it comes down to a business owner’s decision to have live music or not, which is mostly a market thing. It’s a major gamble...
1. It’s not one DJ you can pay to come in, set up, push play have the vast majority of undiscerning tastes appeased. 'This place is kickin!' is as easy as the latest Black-Eyed Peas jam on repeat in all the major temples of cool (i.e magazines like Blender and Maxim, and on MTV and all clear channel radio stations). You know, buzz consumerism.
2. The credo that Rock n’ Roll has become is suicidal as a business model because it can’t sustain that kind of spark. It’s the vice of showbiz to think you’ve gotta outdo every other act, and that gets taken to an extreme when amplification comes to play. People don’t want to be scared out of their wits or deaf at a local show... well, some do. Many venues have rocked themselves out of a clientele.
3. A band getting and keeping a following is harder now than ever. Gas prices will keep us from bringing a Redlands group into LA on a Thursday (which is usually the tryout slots for weekend gigs). If we don’t have 40 people there, we don’t have a next gig. When it comes down to a $15 car ride and a door charge (not to mention the drinks)... what to do? Also, how about spam? How many bands have asked to be your friend on Myspace? How many Bulletins do you receive there? It’s not that word doesn’t travel fast, it’s that there’s too many words.
This makes it hard to promise the owner that good people will come and drink.
But, back to the venues. The music bookers are generally the spaciest and most burnt people that anyone will ever have to deal with. It was professional at one time — contracts, promo packs, PR, posters, clear guidelines. Many owners are tired of their music bookers because they’re not getting results. Most venues do nothing by way of promoting shows or a local buzz, and most bands don’t realize that they have to do that kind of thing themselves as well. What you get is a lukewarm show, and then you try to shake things up (as a defense mechanism) by turning up. Seeing people coming in and then leaving usually kills it for the owners.
So, there were and are some decent places.
The Vault — A #1. A variety of quieter acts and oso is a great booker.
The Boiler Room — It’s ok, but it’s turned into a bro scene, and we’ve just been hassled and threatened too many times.
The Falconer — It had an Open mic scene a while ago, but no more.
Muscle Mikes — It was a good place, but it’s now a seafood restaurant.
Taylor's — A good stage and room full of interesting locals, but the
guys from the Rockin’ Robin pretty much monopolize the stage and shows.
Market night — A good crowd, but they usually are not coming to see bands — they listen, eat and walk on. Nice way to get new people, but those people don’t usually make it out at night.
Granted, we’re (All Marbles) gluttons for punishment. For the past 5 years, we’d play anywhere. We thought the harder we try, the better we’d do. We have played in every other place within a 20 mile radius and can comment on those as well. Most are ‘eh.’ Almost got killed in Lyrics in downtown San Berdoo. We got muscled into being the backup band for one music promoter to holler ‘sweet home alabama.’ We played the “Stop Inn� for a biker gig. They were going to pay us, but didn’t. That took 8 hours of our time. Liam's is alright. Scooner's is pretty decent.�
Posted by Darcie Flansburg at June 22, 2006 2:37 PM