930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: bellenseb on August 04, 2006, 10:17:00 am
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Can't say I'm too surprised. Really nice guys, not so workable business model. It was always a case of small shop/no speciality that made the store not worth going out of the way for.
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Van Ness is no place to set up a record store.
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did you guys hear that Smash in Georgetown is closing, too?
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my understanding is that from the ashes of Revolution may rise a phoenix, though in a slightly different form. Think McDonalds, Cleveland Park. Last I heard it was supposed to be some sort of cafe/record shop. The plans may have changed though...
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Losing Smash would suck.
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Originally posted by bellenseb:
Can't say I'm too surprised. Really nice guys, not so workable business model. It was always a case of small shop/no speciality that made the store not worth going out of the way for.
yeah, its a pity - bumped into Nayan and Fred last night at the S-K gig and they told me.....but yeah, CD sellings a tough business to be in right now.....I used to go there quite a bit but have found myself relying more and more on emusic
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Well we are definitely losing Smash. A friend of mine's father owns the building that Smash is in and they said they are calling it quits. That place has been so great to me over the years :(
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this sucks, i really like that place and still have three stamps left to get on my $10 off card.
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It looks like Tower is in big trouble too.
The one in Tysons is probably dead anyway since Best Buy is moving right next door to them.
No CDs for you (http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?dist=newsfinder&siteid=google&guid=%7BF8BE9A74-8310-4D34-9867-EB19DDFB3AAF%7D&keyword=)
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Originally posted by eros:
It looks like Tower is in big trouble too.
The one in Tysons is probably dead anyway since Best Buy is moving right next door to them.
No CDs for you (http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?dist=newsfinder&siteid=google&guid=%7BF8BE9A74-8310-4D34-9867-EB19DDFB3AAF%7D&keyword=)
I know this is crass but.... YEAH another chance to buy deeply discounted CDs at a overpriced record store....
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Originally posted by brennser:
Originally posted by bellenseb:
Can't say I'm too surprised. Really nice guys, not so workable business model. It was always a case of small shop/no speciality that made the store not worth going out of the way for.
yeah, its a pity - bumped into Nayan and Fred last night at the S-K gig and they told me.....but yeah, CD sellings a tough business to be in right now.....I used to go there quite a bit but have found myself relying more and more on emusic [/b]
well the majors are fueling the death of indie stores by not giving them the discounts passed along to the best buys of the worlds that buy in larger quanities. cds that those chains sell at loss leaders to bring people into buy fridges, etc. some indie stores are able to buy new releases at a big box store cheaper than they can at wholesale. couple that with the fact that indie stores can't extort the majors into paying for endcap placement of cds which helps pad the bottom line of the big guys.
luckily stores like Newbury Comics are trying to fight back by working with indie labels, but still can't get the price breaks Amazon gets...
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There was a great article in the Southwest Airlines magazine (Spirit?) this week. It was about the problems of indie record stores and how some of them are actually keeping up with, and in some cases beating, the majors retailers. A couple of the biggies were Easy Street in Seattle and Amoeba in Calif. Good article if you catch a flight somewhere.
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I will next thursday.
Originally posted by thegazelle:
There was a great article in the Southwest Airlines magazine (Spirit?) this week. It was about the problems of indie record stores and how some of them are actually keeping up with, and in some cases beating, the majors retailers. A couple of the biggies were Easy Street in Seattle and Amoeba in Calif. Good article if you catch a flight somewhere.
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A pity about Smash. I haven't been in there in a few years, but I used to love that place when I was a youngin'. I bought so much shit from the first location across the street.
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Originally posted by kcjones119:
this sucks, i really like that place and still have three stamps left to get on my $10 off card.
You still got time. We will be having some good sales through the month...if your on our e-mail list, you know the deal...we still have some nice vinyl gems at a good price, et. al.
I hope the guys do follow up with a re-opening in a better area.
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I feel bad for the DC market always losing their music stores. It's understandable with the rents, other overhead and limited income factors.
That would be great if they can work a new location into a cafe environment. Besides that being a great combination for a cool place to hang out and shop all at once, it would also give them a potential real income while sustaining the music side. Nowadays, I believe that some kind of combination business such as that is one of the ideal ways to meet expenses and make a little profit in such a high cost of living area. Sure, there are music exclusive businesses within the Indie market and it's possible but think how many times articles like that highlight the exceptions rather than the norms. Can't say that I know for a fact that it's out of the norm but it sure appears that it's not the easiest thing to do in the DC market.
Concerning Indie music stores, I think another thing that helps some of them is when they have a fairly manageable website where others not in the area eventually know to go and can find some specific specialty genres or items. Call it a, 'if you can't beat them, join them' move if you want. It can help to keep the business coming in. Include reviews, links, MP3s, etc., to entice the surfers in. Why do you think Insound; who also tack on a dollar or so more per item compared to most; does so well? (Although I think their website redesign kind of sucks now in comparison to their old one.)
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RIP. Great idea, but wrong place and wrong time, I guess.
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Smash! is already done but from what I've heard someone else has bought a large portion of their store stock and will re-open in another location, not sure if they will retain the name or not.
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i thought they were just relocating smash?
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Originally posted by I Dare:
i thought they were just relocating smash?
If so then it will be under new ownership.
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Just remembered last summer I had a yard sale and in the paper my wife had advertised (mistakenly) that there would be some vinyl for sale in addition to the used CD's. Well as soon as we open up shop at like 8 AM some familiar looking guy in a Clash t-shirt shows up asking about the vinyl I'd advertised. Told him I was sorry yada yada yada but the wifey made a mistake in the add.....hey you look familiar don't you own a record store??? Yeah so it was the smash guy. He did buy some cd's from me though. Can't remember what though.......maybe one of you suckas bought one of them from him!
Mostly I just miss the orginal Record Convergence location in falls church from like 15 years ago.
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Originally posted by who the fuck are you?:
Mostly I just miss the orginal Record Convergence location in falls church from like 15 years ago.
Damn that one takes me back, it's hard to believe that location closed down that long ago, I think I spent about 4-6 hours over the course of 2 days going through their 45s that they were clearancing for either 3 or 4 for a buck.
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I'm heading to Amoeba in 20 minutes. Anybody need anything?
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are you in LA vansmack? if so, going to the Mates of State in-store next week?
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Originally posted by you be betty:
are you in LA vansmack? if so, going to the Mates of State in-store next week?
Are you asking me out? How cute....
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Originally posted by you be betty:
are you in LA vansmack? if so, going to the Mates of State in-store next week?
No. I live in San Francisco, but I am going now to avoid the crowd for Comets on Fire tonight.
I am going to the Mountain Goats in store in SF on Aug 22 though if any of the passer throughs are in town...
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Don't flatter yourself.
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There's 3 ways to go to Amoeba.
(1) With your wish list (usually expensive when they have stock)
(2) With a set amount trying to get the most bang for your buck
(3) With no vested interest (always an expensive trip)
So today I chose option 2 and took $20 with me, looking through the clearance section for major deals. Each CD I bought was $1.99, and it was buy 3 get one free in the clearance today:
<img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0007OP28O.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0007ZSGXG.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000C7PR9.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00000I9VV.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000002N5Q.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0007YMVEW.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" alt=" - " />
And my two free albums, one a guilty pleasure, the other for my Nick Hornby Collection...
<img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000E6EHFE.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/66/b1/502c124128a0caca09135010._AA240_.L.jpg" alt=" - " />
And with the $5 I saved from the free Cd's, I picked up the Special Edition DVD "Not Another Teen Movie" because it cracks me up.
Not a bad way to spend $20.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
[QB] There's 3 ways to go to Amoeba.
(1) With your wish list (usually expensive when they have stock)
(2) With a set amount trying to get the most bang for your buck
(3) With no vested interest (always an expensive trip)
The first time I went to Amoeba in SF I had "no vested interest" and 2 hours later was ready to buy 15 CDs . . . and that was after showing restraint.
There's something in the air that gets you excited about the music you like, and gets you excited about liking music.
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Originally posted by Mobius:
The first time I went to Amoeba in SF I had "no vested interest" and 2 hours later was ready to buy 15 CDs . . . and that was after showing restraint.
i've made a pledge with my girlfriend to keep our visit to one hour, we'll see how that works out
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Originally posted by you be betty:
Don't flatter yourself.
you're seven years too young for him if we're using the smackie format of determing how young a lady he can date... :D
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[/qb][/QUOTE]i've made a pledge with my girlfriend to keep our visit to one hour, we'll see how that works out [/QB][/QUOTE]
Its funny b/c the place seems unassuming, but it sucks you in. If you go there to buy Ziggy Stardust, you find yourself flipping through all the Bowie stuff and thinking "I really should own everything Bowie ever put out . . . and for that matter, I need more T. Rex, and what about Mott the Hoople?" Then you realize you haven't listened to the Velvet Underground in a while and why is that and maybe you should buy all their stuff, even the stuff you already own, just b/c it seems like a good thing to do. And what about Iggy? And maybe now's the time to get the second Television album . . . and how about getting the 10 CD Coltrane box set live from Village Vanguard and listening to it in order? . . . Then you see a recommendation for MBV and find yourself looking for the Slowdive and Ride CDs you don't have . . . and on and on. Last time I was there I specifically wanted to get Sly Stone's "Fresh" and found myself seriously considering buying his late 70's stuff like "Back on the Right Track." Of course I've never thought about buying that before or after, or even downloading it.
So, an hour limit can be good. Just like a 6 beer limit can good.
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Originally posted by HoyaSaxa08:
Originally posted by Mobius:
The first time I went to Amoeba in SF I had "no vested interest" and 2 hours later was ready to buy 15 CDs . . . and that was after showing restraint.
i've made a pledge with my girlfriend to keep our visit to one hour, we'll see how that works out [/b]
I have a list as long as my arm of stuff to buy. It's gonna be bad.
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Coming from LA in December, we actually had to bring an extra suitcase to hold my cds, my dad's cds, and some fabric I had bought. I do a usual damage of 20something per trip. But it's better to stock up there when I can than spend three times as much on the same stuff here, or go crazy looking for stuff I can't find. Pack light, Grace.
And hooray for Big City Rock :)
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Originally posted by lily1:
Originally posted by you be betty:
Don't flatter yourself.
you're seven years too young for him if we're using the smackie format of determing how young a lady he can date... :D [/b]
Ah.... the ole' half yer age + 7 formula...perfect for all occasions outside the OC...
luving the new Youth Group record btw...
also, anyone heard Dirty on Purpose?? we got asked to play with them but I'm not too familiar...thoughts?
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Originally posted by Fico:
Originally posted by lily1:
Originally posted by you be betty:
Don't flatter yourself.
you're seven years too young for him if we're using the smackie format of determing how young a lady he can date... :D [/b]
Ah.... the ole' half yer age + 7 formula...perfect for all occasions outside the OC...
luving the new Youth Group record btw...
also, anyone heard Dirty on Purpose?? we got asked to play with them but I'm not too familiar...thoughts? [/b]
iTunes is doing free samplers with facebook to the delight of young music nerds like moi, and I just got a song of theirs along with one of them. I'm digging their sound a lot. Mellow stuff.
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Any truth to the rumors of Orpheus closing? Are they feeling the heat from Som and Crooked Beat?
Has anyone actually BEEN to Som, and does anyone know its hours or web site?
With Smash!, Capital City, and Revolution closing, looks like we're shrinking down to the bare essentials in the DC record store scene.
Anyone know how CD Warehouse manages to survive in Georgetown? I can't figure out what demo they're serving.
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Originally posted by bellenseb:
Any truth to the rumors of Orpheus closing?
Doubt it.
I was talking to the guy there about the gentrification of Clarendon (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/02/AR2006080201615.html). He indicated that he planned to stay in the neighborhood for quite some time.
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Originally posted by bellenseb:
Anyone know how CD Warehouse manages to survive in Georgetown? I can't figure out what demo they're serving.
I'm guessing its young European tourists because their Pounds or Euros are strong against the dollar
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What's Som?
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Som is the new vinyl-only offshoot of Crooked Beat, supposedly right near the Black Cat.
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Originally posted by Fico:
also, anyone heard Dirty on Purpose?? we got asked to play with them but I'm not too familiar...thoughts?
Do it. You won't regret it. A little noisier than your band but not that far abroad either.
They played the Black Cat's backstage a year ago (or maybe even longer since I don't think Doom was even in town then) and I really wanted to go but wasn't able to make it. Meanwhile, I convinced Dr. Doom to go and he was very happy with their show.
They are from NYC and are just now getting a fair bit of hype.
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Originally posted by Jaguar:
Originally posted by Fico:
also, anyone heard Dirty on Purpose?? we got asked to play with them but I'm not too familiar...thoughts?
Do it. You won't regret it. A little noisier than your band but not that far abroad either.
They played the Black Cat's backstage a year ago (or maybe even longer since I don't think Doom was even in town then) and I really wanted to go but wasn't able to make it. Meanwhile, I convinced Dr. Doom to go and he was very happy with their show.
They are from NYC and are just now getting a fair bit of hype. [/b]
Yeah we booked the show...sound issues permitting I think it shall turn out to be a really fun night :)
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is it gonna be here? that is a good lineup :)