930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: jkeisenh on June 01, 2004, 08:16:00 am
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So, my friends and I showed up at DC9 on Sunday around 9pm, just looking for a drink-- no dancing, no DJ, just a drink. We like DC9-- it's a niceish place and has a great jukebox... it's somewhere we like to randomly go just to drink.
The place was completely empty. The bouncer (the guy we always see there) checks our IDs, and then asks for a $10 cover. Again, the place is completely empty, there's nothing going on yet, and the bouncer actually had to ask someone "are we open yet?"
WHAT?
We point this out, but there's no negotiating. $10, or go elsewhere. So we went elsewhere.
OK, note to DC9:
1. Please do not charge a cover when there is nobody there yet. You'll find it somewhat tough to get the first person through the door.
2. Please do not charge a cover for downstairs. Some of us just want a place to drink, and it's not like your drinks are particularly affordable to start with.
3. Please do not charge a cover before anything even comes close to starting-- i.e. if the show isn't on for two hours, don't try to get the cover...
4. Please realize that some of us want you to succeed, but it's hard to feel that way when we can't even have a drink at your empty bar without paying you $10 to get in.
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You may want to post that on DC 9's message board (http://dc9.2.forumer.com/index.php?s=27f061d538b2ca441ad20cb29b87dba3&showforum=2).
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This DC9 place is not the only bar in DC guilty of such greed/short sightedness/stupidity.
I absolutely refuse point blank to pay any kind of cover to simply go in a bar for a beer.....what are they thinking? Pay to go inside then pay over-inflated prices for a drink. Don't these bars realize that if NOBODY charged a cover then there would be more bar-hopping and therefore everyone would benefit, and the good bars would make a fortune and the shitty ones go under. WIN - WIN!
Thanks though Chimbley, I was planning on going down to DC9 this coming weekend but now I know there's a cover you've just saved me a waisted trip.
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Originally posted by Bollocks:
Thanks though Chimbley, I was planning on going down to DC9 this coming weekend but now I know there's a cover you've just saved me a waisted trip.
They actually don't usually have a cover, and my friends and I go there about once a week without paying to get in-- most nights the cover's for the show, so you can get into the bar (1st floor) for free but you have to pay to get up to the show on the 2nd floor.
I don't know why they were such asses about it on Sunday... but if there's anyone from DC9 that knows, I'm listening...
btw-- the overpriced beer thing is a problem at DC9, which has no cheapie/can beer. Their cheapest is like a $4 bud light-- they don't even have miller lite (the union beer).
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Was there a big-name band playing that night? Maybe they were expecting a HUGE crowd for the show? Sort of like how the BackBar or Red Room are sometimes closed to folks who aren't going to the main show? Somehow I doubt it though.
Private gig maybe? Benefit?
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It was Electrotease, which I've heard they're trying to turn into something big-n-hip, but come on. 9pm on a Sunday? Totally empty?
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You should have come to The Blue Room! :)
(Perhaps you did? - I don't know what you look like). ;)
Cheers
DJ Medusa.
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Originally posted by Medusa:
You should have come to The Blue Room! :)
funny you should say that. i haven't had the nerve to return to the blue room since an unforunate outcome of an all-you-can-drink (some would call it open bar) work holiday party that involved bouncers not even letting me back in to get my coat...
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One other note:
Note to downstairs bartender @ DC9 "YOU'RE SLOW AND YOU SUCK" He is without a doubt the worst bartender ever. This was twice I've dealt with him on two different occassions. Makes me not want to go to that place now...
MindCage
Mindless Faith (http://www.mindlessfaith.com)
Deep6 Productions (http://www.deep6.com)
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Originally posted by MindCage:
One other note:
Note to downstairs bartender @ DC9 "YOU'RE SLOW AND YOU SUCK" He is without a doubt the worst bartender ever. This was twice I've dealt with him on two different occassions. Makes me not want to go to that place now...
MindCage
Mindless Faith (http://www.mindlessfaith.com)
Deep6 Productions (http://www.deep6.com)
Easy there big fella!
Take it from me, leave the bartenders alone, even if they do suck. There may be a contract on you already though so it might be too late.
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I agree that there should NEVER be a cover just to go drink. thats just ridiculous. a dj, a band, naked women, something like that i can see, but just to get into a bar? Some clientel they must want since anyone with 1/2 a brain wouldnt go there.
When we went to DC9, the bartender was smoking and when we ordered our drink, he asked my girlfiend to hold his cigarette! She declined.
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That's really odd. There's never been a cover for downstairs before that I've seen or heard of. ???
Don't discount DC9 -- something was definitely going on Sunday that was way out of the usual. I feel your pain, though, I would have been ticked as well. Lucky for me Blue Room is my Sunday night hangout! ;) Chimbley, you should come by. Probably a whole different crowd on Sunday, and the vibe is fun but relaxed.
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Originally posted by chimbly sweep:
they don't even have miller lite (the union beer).
no beer of bob? unacceptable
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Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
That's really odd. There's never been a cover for downstairs before that I've seen or heard of. ???
Don't discount DC9 -- something was definitely going on Sunday that was way out of the usual. I feel your pain, though, I would have been ticked as well. Lucky for me Blue Room is my Sunday night hangout! ;) Chimbley, you should come by. Probably a whole different crowd on Sunday, and the vibe is fun but relaxed.
Yeah, I've been to DC9 several a time myself, and never been charged a cover downstairs. I might have complaints about the drinks being weak as all, but still no cover.
What is the Blue Room's bar like? I've driven by that place several a time but never stopped in. Larger selection of liquors then DC9 or 9:30 club? It looks like a pretty chill place on it's website, maybe I'll have to try it some weekend.
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Originally posted by elj:
What is the Blue Room's bar like? Larger selection of liquors then DC9 or 9:30 club? It looks like a pretty chill place on it's website, maybe I'll have to try it some weekend.
Regarding DC9, there is a larger selection of (hard) liquor at The Blue Room.
Regarding 9:30 Club, I'd say The Blue Room is equivalent to what the 9:30 has on offer, but The Blue Room does perhaps have a few more different brands of scotch/bourbon (DJ Strange likes Lagavulin).
In case anyone is wondering about beer ... there is none on tap at The Blue Room - all are bottled or in cans - there's a good selection: The Blue Room has Guinness, Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale, Anchor Porter, Anchor Steam, Orval, Framboise Lambic, Heineken, Pilsner Urquell, Corona and Sapporo (there might be more but this is what I remember from memory right now). :)
Cheers
DJ Medusa.
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Originally posted by Medusa:
Regarding DC9, there is a larger selection of (hard) liquor at The Blue Room.
Regarding 9:30 Club, I'd say The Blue Room is equivalent to what the 9:30 has on offer, but The Blue Room does perhaps have a few more different brands of scotch/bourbon (DJ Strange likes Lagavulin).
In case anyone is wondering about beer ... there is none on tap at The Blue Room - all are bottled or in cans - there's a good selection: The Blue Room has Guinness, Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale, Anchor Porter, Anchor Steam, Orval, Framboise Lambic, Heineken, Pilsner Urquell, Corona and Sapporo (there might be more but this is what I remember from memory right now). :)
Cheers
DJ Medusa.
Thank you. That was incredibly helpful.
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Originally posted by Bollocks:
Take it from me, leave the bartenders alone, even if they do suck. There may be a contract on you already though so it might be too late. [/b]
Take it from me, I know easily 2 dozen bartenders in just the city alone, I don't give a crap. He sucks big time. The worst I've ever encountered. I think I've gotten served quicker at an open bar with 1 bartender working and 100 patrons waiting than from this lone jackass behind the bar with 5 people waiting. One shouldn't have to wait almost 10 minutes to get a simple beer order. (2 of the same kind)
MindCage
Mindless Faith (http://www.mindlessfaith.com)
Deep6 Productions (http://www.deep6.com)
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Originally posted by chimbly sweep:
Totally empty?
Could this possibly be why? If the place is empty, they probably didn't want to miss the opportunity to make a buck. Not trying to be mean, just speaking in a hypothetical, business-mind manner. (again, not saying they did, but it's been done to me before, elswhere.)
Hey, but what is up w/ not being able to move around from a table (at DC9) and order a beer at the bar, or receive one from a friend? I know, many places like to keep the drinks on one tab and with one server. I'm happy to tip a kind server, but it was kinda silly to watch one night. Not to mention be "shamed" for accepting a beer from a friend who held a separate tab.
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Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Silk:
Hey, but what is up w/ not being able to move around from a table (at DC9) and order a beer at the bar, or receive one from a friend? I know, many places like to keep the drinks on one tab and with one server. I'm happy to tip a kind server, but it was kinda silly to watch one night. Not to mention be "shamed" for accepting a beer from a friend who held a separate tab.
Sounds like bad business management to me.
First off, you have to lore the customer in to make a buck. If you can't do that, you won't make one red cent.
Secondly, sounds like they are not being very customer friendly and instead thinking about what works best in their ideal work system rather than what is best for the customer. Sure, it may be great for them but if they piss the customers off, they won't return. Also, it's a social place. People go to socialize. If they are going to prevent socializing, than when people go out to socialize, they won't go there anymore to socialize if they can't socialize there with those restrictions. (Overemphasizing the obvious there.)
Lots of good gripes posted above. It's their job to work around these details. DC has lots of competition so they better be careful there. I've been there a couple times and not had any of these problems myself but sad to hear it's happening. They have a nice thing going but not so nice or unique that they can get away with too much of that crap and continue to survive. Sure the drinks are over-priced but with DC overhead, I'm not fighting that one.
One other note, the music is much better on Sunday nights at The Blue Room. ;)
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Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Silk:
[/qb]
Could this possibly be why? If the place is empty, they probably didn't want to miss the opportunity to make a buck. [/QB][/QUOTE]
Well instead of selling a few beers they ended up getting nothing. Doesn't sound like they made a buck with the person who started this thread.
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Originally posted by MindCage:
Originally posted by Bollocks:
Take it from me, leave the bartenders alone, even if they do suck. There may be a contract on you already though so it might be too late. [/b]
Take it from me, I know easily 2 dozen bartenders in just the city alone, I don't give a crap. He sucks big time. The worst I've ever encountered. I think I've gotten served quicker at an open bar with 1 bartender working and 100 patrons waiting than from this lone jackass behind the bar with 5 people waiting. One shouldn't have to wait almost 10 minutes to get a simple beer order. (2 of the same kind)
MindCage
Mindless Faith (http://www.mindlessfaith.com)
Deep6 Productions (http://www.deep6.com) [/b]
With many male bartenders in this town you need breasts and a vagina to get served...trust me, my wife and I have done research on this one.
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not sure that's true. i'm a well-endowed woman and I can tell you that many bartenders are sick of the flirty come-ons people make to get drinks.
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Originally posted by chimbly sweep:
i'm a well-endowed woman .
Hew yew dew'n!
;)
Seriously, it's not the flirting at all, just the T&V. We've been in a busy bar with friends and I've gone up and been ignored for ages, then my wife has walked up and BADABING! We thought it was just me at first so we tried it with one of the other blokes in our group and the same thing...then with another woman other than my wife and BADABING!
I'm not saying all bars, but many of them in the more crowded areas...Adams Morgan etc...BETHESDA!!! Forget it if you have a penis.
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Thought y'all might be interested in the answer to Chimbly's post (she put the same one on their BB):
"The night you are referring to was a special event that we had at the bar. It is not the norm. Normally we will not charge people to come into the downstairs bar. As it turns out, it was one of our busiest nights."
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It's not DC9 that's chargin u $10 its the Electrotease folks. In cases like this, the promoter controls the door and the club runs the bar.
This will not be the case however on Wednesday 16th June during TONGUE OUT aka SACRIFORCE #54 . Will play shit like Cinderella, Loudness, White Lion, LA Guns, RATT. You know, wack shit.
Anyhow,electrotease has been going on for about a year now at Club 5 and it's a huge monthly party. There may have been issues between Club 5 and Electrotease causing the latter to bounce to DC9, I dont know.
Originally posted by chimbly sweep:
It was Electrotease, which I've heard they're trying to turn into something big-n-hip, but come on. 9pm on a Sunday? Totally empty?
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Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
Thought y'all might be interested in the answer to Chimbly's post (she put the same one on their BB):
"The night you are referring to was a special event that we had at the bar. It is not the norm. Normally we will not charge people to come into the downstairs bar. As it turns out, it was one of our busiest nights."
Still doesn't excuse charging a cover at 9pm when the place is empty. F*ckos.
And for a real taste of what those folks at DC9 are really about, read their post about how inexpensive beer (often in cans) results in an undesirable crowd. As an undesirable, I won't be spending and $$ on drinks there myself any more.
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Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
As it turns out, it was one of our busiest nights."
Way to try to save face, Isn't gonna work.
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Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
"The night you are referring to was a special event that we had at the bar. It is not the norm. Normally we will not charge people to come into the downstairs bar. As it turns out, it was one of our busiest nights."
Busiest in bar sales or busiest with "lots of people waiting at the bar and wanting to drink?" I think it was busier for the EvilBadEvil Fashion show than Electrotease.
MindCage
Mindless Faith (http://www.mindlessfaith.com)
Deep6 Productions (http://www.deep6.com)