27 registered members (Fdemetrio, Dave Rice, couchgrouch, beechnut79, AntonyRobWells, Gary E. Andrews, Everett Adams, CTthomas, 3 invisible),
and 1,071
guests, and |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Loss
by Fdemetrio. 12/09/19 02:50 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the Just Plain Folks forums! You are currently viewing our forums as a Guest which gives you limited access to most of our discussions and to other features.
By joining our free community you will have access to post and respond to topics, communicate privately with our users (PM), respond to polls, upload content, and access many other features. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free; so please join our community today!
|
|
#1112889 - 08/11/16 02:29 PM
Small Bars - Economically Viable ?
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
niteshift
Top 50 Poster
|
Top 50 Poster

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
Sydney, Australia
|
Hey All,
I was interested in the small bar scene in your town/city. Are there many, some or few ? And do you support them ?
Sydney used have quite a few, and provided venues for local musicians, and an interesting night life.
Then we had the introduction of pokie machines in pubs, and it was easier and cheaper for publicans to replace their stages with gambling lounges.
This lead to beer barns as the only place you could find local music, and combined with "lockout laws" which don't allow you enter a venue after midnight, to stop alchohol fueled violence, has put a serious dent in an industry which used to be worth $19 Billion per anum.
The local and state Governments tried to counter their own legislation by introducing and encouraging a Small Bar Licence, which is relatively cheap to purchase, at about $500 per yr. all up.
Problem is, it's for a maximum of 60 patrons, and you must also provide "suitable or substantial" food. Add to that, in some cases hefty rent and paying for 2x sets of 3-4 hrs live music per night, statutory taxes, levies and insurance, a licensed security guard, free iced water ( I kid you not ) and my "back of the used envelope analysis " suggests it's pretty hard going to make a buck.
The government wishes for a greater number of "small intimate venues", so I think it's well supported, but perhaps not economically viable.
There is a push to increase patron numbers to a max of 120, which I think would be much more economically viable. It's really due to the patrons, who will "pre-load", buy 1 drink if any, drink all your ice water, listen to the band, and then leave for the next venue.
So how and does it work in your city ? Is it worth the hassle and do you enjoy a small bar culture ?
cheers, niteshift
|
|
|
#1112895 - 08/11/16 04:12 PM
Re: Small Bars - Economically Viable ?
[Re: niteshift]
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
niteshift
Top 50 Poster
|
Top 50 Poster

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
Sydney, Australia
|
PS - an ancillary note, there was a local musician who wrote a song about the pokies destroying both the live music industry, and lives in general, called "Blow Up the Pokies". Live version .... just after it was released .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4-4HRIuqMU&list=RDC4-4HRIuqMU#t=185Studio version .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogj5ztTE0zwAnd then 10 yrs later with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.... at the Opera House. I guess it takes 10 yrs for a songwriter to sway industry and government perception. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZAhbhfcrhgThe line "so the trains run on time" relates to the huge influx of gaming revenue which provided for a better train service. You'll note, that when the song was first released, the clubs wouldn't hire him, and in some cases banned him, probably because he was speaking the truth. I had the unique privilege of seeing this song performed live to an audience of 1 1/2 ( myself and my 2 yr old son on my hip ) on a vast sound stage pre-release. Upon completion, and fade out, my son started clapping. To which he got a thank you and a very gracious bow from the performer. The song moved me very much, and as they say.... out of the mouths of babes..... cheers, niteshift
|
|
|
#1112919 - 08/11/16 08:12 PM
Re: Small Bars - Economically Viable ?
[Re: Wyman Lloyd]
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
niteshift
Top 50 Poster
|
Top 50 Poster

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
Sydney, Australia
|
Hey Mike, Understand what you're saying. When I used to play, then it was hot sweat and dirty and full on. And then afterwards, a nice dive bar, with smoke filled rooms and a relaxed vibe. In between all of that, I used to go sit in the fancy bars of the best hotels.... why ?, because always appreciated the piano player, being one myself. It took me to another world. I was sort of known as a rough guy, but could sit there and appreciate the music. One well known player, whilst playing, asked me to play one night. I had all the rock chops, but only knew one song suitable for the venue. So, I played it. It went Ok, and then this great player invited me over to his place, and taught me how to play the blues . Why ? Perhaps he saw I was interested, in both his own playing and my own. So, I played, and we talked about music in general. His words were "you play for an AUDIANCE and that's your main concern. You don't do it for YOU, you do it for the audience in which you play for. If you're a real musician, you can wing it anywhere. Great advice. Hey John, yeah pretty cool being a "banned person" 10 yrs previous, and then playing with the Symphonic is something. I knew the arranger would come out in you.  Hey Wy, yep I understand the small town mentality, and that has come from a previous isolation. With folks doing what they're doing these days, I'd bet if you looked around your town, there's be some fine musicians just looking for somewhere to play at a venue near you. cheers, niteshift
|
|
|
#1113495 - 08/18/16 01:13 PM
Re: Small Bars - Economically Viable ?
[Re: 90 dB]
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
niteshift
Top 50 Poster
|
Top 50 Poster

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,520
Sydney, Australia
|
Hey Vic and Bob, Thanks for the comments guys. Heck ! From one side of the globe to the other, it all sounds a bit dismal.  Damn shame, as in my day, that's where you learned your chops, and if you weren't half bad and could attract a crowd, then you moved on to bigger venues, and the top guys went on to play nationally and internationally. Is there even a career path anymore for those who are serious ? Maybe it's "I got discovered on Utube "  cheers, niteshift
|
|
|
|
We would like to keep the membership in Just Plain Folks FREE! Your donation helps support the many programs we offer including Road Trips and the Music Awards.
|
|
Forums116
Topics119,581
Posts1,127,068
Members21,237
Average Posts Daily31
|
Most Online3,244 Nov 8th, 2019
|
|
"It is amazing how much there is to learn when we think we know it all!" -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|