House of Blues Eyeing DC

[Seth Hurwitz]

folks...
 
 I very much appreciate everybody's thoughts, and always marvel at the unassisted insight that most of you have into our business
 
 the Post had gotten hold of a very old bit of info & ran with it...I will let everyone know if it becomes a true matter of concern
 
 for now, if you want to write the Mayor's office, that would be appropriate
 
 it's a free country and I, as much as any good capitalist, would never suggest that any company doesn't have a right to pursue whatever business plan they see fit...my only gripe would be if the DC government helped them do it to the detriment of those that have been here without that assistance
 
 thanks again

[anarchist]

the music venue is only a small part of the scenerio.  the main part is the hotel + retail space.  when the new convention ctr went up there were many entities vying to build the facility.  it never materialized. i think dc gov was also going to build one.  it is not unheard of for local govs to give tax incentatives to outside entities to lure them in.  writing the mayor and telling him not to build a $120m hotel/retail space/music venue so that a local promoter can make a a fraction of what the hob facility will bring in is a waste of time.  maybe seth can build a hotel. one of those boutique hotels.  $500 a night. i don't know what dc charges for hotel tax. but alot of cities/states charge as much as 25% of base hotel rate.

[PunkabillyDaddy]

While the HOB plan may or may not come to fruition, this is a good opportunity for you (9:30 owners) to reconnect with your loyal fan base by revisiting the exclusivity contracts that prohibit some bands from playing both DC and Baltimore shows. This has upset a large number of B'more fans. I have been coming to DC from Baltimore to see shows at 9:30 since Joyce was the bartender and The Factory was the biggest band in town. However, it would be nice to have the option to see more bands in either city. You'd be surprised at how many of us old punks from B'more would come to more shows up here if given the chance.  Look at the crowds at Sonar shows like Social D.
 
 I love and support the 9:30 and I have great respect for it's historic impact on the scene but ultimately, the music, not the venue, is what brings us out. As true fans we will go wherever the music leads us.

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

Even notwithstanding the club, the idea of the DC government giving incentives for a corporation to come in and build hotel and retail space is absolutely ridiculous, given the booming real estate market and the huge glut of hotel space, and worth writing the Mayor all in itself.  DC officials often act like a bunch of hayseeds meeting their first city slicker when it comes to making deals with big business, witness the way they bent over for Major League Baseball.

[Seth Hurwitz]

Originally posted by PunkabillyDaddy:
  You'd be surprised at how many of us old punks from B'more would come to more shows up here if given the chance.

so...let me just see if I have this straight...
 
 if more shows played Baltimore, you would go to more shows in DC

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

"up here" refers to Baltimore if you're from Baltimore. He wants and would go to more shows in Baltimore, which he is claiming is made impossible due to alleged exclusitivity arangements.
 
 

Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:
   

Originally posted by PunkabillyDaddy:
  You'd be surprised at how many of us old punks from B'more would come to more shows up here if given the chance.

so...let me just see if I have this straight...
 
 if more shows played Baltimore, you would go to more shows in DC [/b]

[DemonD82]

since Nation closed, I've noticed a lot of shows go to Baltimore instead of DC, which traffic wise is a pain in the ass at rush hour to get to.  another DC venue would likely bring more bands I want to see closer to town

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

They have a House of Blues in Chicago, and the concert scene there still manages to thrive.
 
 

Originally posted by vansmack:
 

 If you liked what Clear Channel did to the radio stations from 1996 on, you're gone love what Live Nation does to the DC concert scene.... [/b]

[nova_nola]

Not that this would be the case here, but when HOB moved into New Orleans (with the help of the local gov't) the local folks got screwed.  In particular, friends of mine who run a bar next door that used to sell food and have little bits of live music from time to time.  HOB moved in with a restaurant and bigger shows and bunch of rules regarding what types of businesses could be in their area.  No food, no music, no competition from neighbors.
 
 I've only been to the HOB down there a few times and won't actually go back.  I've only been to one 9:30 Club show that I thought was over sold, but the HOB shows are ridiculously oversold.  Oversold like lift your feet and not only will you not fall, you'll move with the crowd.  No HOB for me.

[anarchist]

the party is over kids.  live nation owns house of blues.  the current city paper has an ad for the upcoming who concert (didn't they do a farewell tour 25yrs ago?).  the ad states the producers are imp and live nation.  $ makes strange bed fellows. check the ad.

[Seth Hurwitz]

the people that buy those tours for Live Nation were kind enough to include us in the next Who show, after they felt we did a good job on the Virgin Festival

Originally posted by nova_nola:
  Not that this would be the case here, but when HOB moved into New Orleans (with the help of the local gov't) the local folks got screwed.  In particular, friends of mine who run a bar next door that used to sell food and have little bits of live music from time to time.  HOB moved in with a restaurant and bigger shows and bunch of rules regarding what types of businesses could be in their area.  No food, no music, no competition from neighbors.
 
 I've only been to the HOB down there a few times and won't actually go back.  I've only been to one 9:30 Club show that I thought was over sold, but the HOB shows are ridiculously oversold.  Oversold like lift your feet and not only will you not fall, you'll move with the crowd.  No HOB for me.

Please go home to your beloved New Orleans.  I'm sure they are missing you greatly.

[Sir HC]

Originally posted by Steny Hoyer, Pubic Destroyer:
  "up here" refers to Baltimore if you're from Baltimore. He wants and would go to more shows in Baltimore, which he is claiming is made impossible due to alleged exclusitivity arangements.
 
   

Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:
   

Originally posted by PunkabillyDaddy:
  You'd be surprised at how many of us old punks from B'more would come to more shows up here if given the chance.

so...let me just see if I have this straight...
 
 if more shows played Baltimore, you would go to more shows in DC [/b]

[/b]

So (s)he is saying that I would go to fewer shows at the 930 if there were more shows in Baltimore (which the 930 usually doesn't promote)?

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by Sir HC:
  So (s)he is saying that I would go to fewer shows at the 930 if there were more shows in Baltimore (which the 930 usually doesn't promote)?

doesnt IMP hold some sort of stake in the booking (and therefore profiting) of concerts at Sonar?
 
  Sonar, a good venue, would be a good place to make up some lost 930 money.  i'd certainly go there more if there were less hip-hop and hard rock shows there. (Hinder just isnt my thing!)

[Sir HC]

Originally posted by le sonick:
   

Originally posted by Sir HC:
  So (s)he is saying that I would go to fewer shows at the 930 if there were more shows in Baltimore (which the 930 usually doesn't promote)?

doesnt IMP hold some sort of stake in the booking (and therefore profiting) of concerts at Sonar?
 
  Sonar, a good venue, would be a good place to make up some lost 930 money.  i'd certainly go there more if there were less hip-hop and hard rock shows there. (Hinder just isnt my thing!) [/b]

From what I understand, some are IMP helped, probably not the DJ shows.