Up in Grand Forks, I've made the conclusion the main Issue is people have a problem with cover charges in this town. They don't see the bar as an Entertainment place, but a place to get stupid drunk, then proceed to make a fool of themselves. That's fine and dandy, as I'm well known for making a fool of myself also, but normally in the comfort of my own home or at friends party's. Not at a public establishment.
The main reason not having cover charges ruin the state of the music in the area is obvious. It limits the amount a bar is willing to pay the bands to play. If a band has a large following they can demand more at the door this way, and the bar owner will not worry about having to pay them at the end of the night. They are almost self sustaining. Yet you look at many places and people see it as a roadblock. Well hell I can just go down the street and drink there with no charge to get something from the bar, why should I have to pay to get into a bar? is there thought. They just want booze and touch tunes. They aren't looking for entertainment just a tap to drown their mind.
I love going to a bar for a great show. Be it smoking or non-smoking. I like going to see a band that can impress me. I like having the adult atmosphere, having a nice Sam Adam's or Fat Tire in front of me, and just enjoying the show, the music, and the vibe. I go down to the city's and the bands are playing in almost every bar around. They sound awesome and have a great light show to boot!
Sadly someone up here in the bar industry needs to get an awesome light show going. Along with a proper sound system and STAGE! Not a stage in a random corner...
I'll post more on this later... I think it needs to be addressed properly at some point and time soon!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The State of Grand Forks Bar Scene
Up in Grand Forks, I've made the conclusion the main Issue is people have a problem with cover charges in this town. They don't see the bar as an Entertainment place, but a place to get stupid drunk, then proceed to make a fool of themselves. That's fine and dandy, as I'm well known for making a fool of myself also, but normally in the comfort of my own home or at friends party's. Not at a public establishment.
The main reason not having cover charges ruin the state of the music in the area is obvious. It limits the amount a bar is willing to pay the bands to play. If a band has a large following they can demand more at the door this way, and the bar owner will not worry about having to pay them at the end of the night. They are almost self sustaining. Yet you look at many places and people see it as a roadblock. Well hell I can just go down the street and drink there with no charge to get something from the bar, why should I have to pay to get into a bar? is there thought. They just want booze and touch tunes. They aren't looking for entertainment just a tap to drown their mind.
I love going to a bar for a great show. Be it smoking or non-smoking. I like going to see a band that can impress me. I like having the adult atmosphere, having a nice Sam Adam's or Fat Tire in front of me, and just enjoying the show, the music, and the vibe. I go down to the city's and the bands are playing in almost every bar around. They sound awesome and have a great light show to boot!
The main reason not having cover charges ruin the state of the music in the area is obvious. It limits the amount a bar is willing to pay the bands to play. If a band has a large following they can demand more at the door this way, and the bar owner will not worry about having to pay them at the end of the night. They are almost self sustaining. Yet you look at many places and people see it as a roadblock. Well hell I can just go down the street and drink there with no charge to get something from the bar, why should I have to pay to get into a bar? is there thought. They just want booze and touch tunes. They aren't looking for entertainment just a tap to drown their mind.
I love going to a bar for a great show. Be it smoking or non-smoking. I like going to see a band that can impress me. I like having the adult atmosphere, having a nice Sam Adam's or Fat Tire in front of me, and just enjoying the show, the music, and the vibe. I go down to the city's and the bands are playing in almost every bar around. They sound awesome and have a great light show to boot!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
More and more bands needed!
I've been working with the Grand Forks music scene for a good 5 years on an almost daily basis now, and still to this day there are still new season warriors of the music in the area coming in and talking to me for the first time. Just when I think I've heard of them all, I'm proven wrong. I like that!
I'd like to start compiling a list of bands and their contact info for a directory, or at least list of some sort. I know myself I haven't heard many of these bands before so I don't even know there names. Maybe an e-mail address so yearly an e-mail can be sent out to see if they are still active. No response gets them dropped from the list. Seems fair. Maybe twice a year knowing the constant switch and change of direction in musical tastes of people.
What do people think of this idea? is it logical? Would it work? I just feel there needs to be a central location for musicians to voice their opinion, and contact others to work together better. CulturePulse is suppose to be doing this... But apparently not yet... I was told August but there is still some of the month left.
I'd like to see more live music in the area that plays at a moderate volume. That's a big gripe with me, as I hate to make it "Stupid Loud" as I put it, but when you have drunks yelling at you, along with the people that write the checks, what do you do except put you're ear plugs in, headphones on, and run with it.
What do others think of concert volume? I know that a loud volume is a requirement otherwise it wouldn't be a good old rockin' time. But honestly, alot of times I've had to cover my ears so I don't go home with tinnitus...
Comments welcome!
-Mixer
I'd like to start compiling a list of bands and their contact info for a directory, or at least list of some sort. I know myself I haven't heard many of these bands before so I don't even know there names. Maybe an e-mail address so yearly an e-mail can be sent out to see if they are still active. No response gets them dropped from the list. Seems fair. Maybe twice a year knowing the constant switch and change of direction in musical tastes of people.
What do people think of this idea? is it logical? Would it work? I just feel there needs to be a central location for musicians to voice their opinion, and contact others to work together better. CulturePulse is suppose to be doing this... But apparently not yet... I was told August but there is still some of the month left.
I'd like to see more live music in the area that plays at a moderate volume. That's a big gripe with me, as I hate to make it "Stupid Loud" as I put it, but when you have drunks yelling at you, along with the people that write the checks, what do you do except put you're ear plugs in, headphones on, and run with it.
What do others think of concert volume? I know that a loud volume is a requirement otherwise it wouldn't be a good old rockin' time. But honestly, alot of times I've had to cover my ears so I don't go home with tinnitus...
Comments welcome!
-Mixer
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