House of Blues Eyeing DC

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by bjmoore:
 

Originally posted by DeathFromAbove1979:
 [qb]Also, if they put it at the Old Convention Center, there are 3 metro stops within 3 blocks, so as long as the city kept the metro open late, parking may not be as big an issue because people can metro in easily.
 This may not be such a bad thing. [/b]

"uh yeah, hi, this is joe blow at house of blues ... ummm, we're expecting a couple of thousand people to come to our club, and we were wondering if you could just go ahead and run metro for a few more hours every night now"
 
   :roll:

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

See what happens when you let House of Blues take over?
 
 

Originally posted by le sonick:
 
 
 edit:  i checked, its not..same show and its $145!!!!!

[sweetcell]

part of this inflated price is due to the fact this is a new year's eve show... all venues do this.  even the 930 club is in on the take: the Greyboy Allstars are playing both dec 30 and 31, yet the shows cost $35 vs $55 (i suspect this is fueled in part by greater demand for entertainment that night so one can charge more, and bands and staff wanting more to work that night)

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

ANCs may be a pain in the ass, but they represent community power at its most basic.  May they royally fuck up House of Blues ever coming to the District.
 
 Some of you guys keep saying "competition is good" like it's some kind of mantra, without any idea of what you are talking about.   What huge national chains do is come into a new market and pulverize the local businesses with the help of their infinitely deeper pockets.  In effect they then create a partial or total monopoly, which enables them to jack up prices.  Monopoly is bad.

[twangirl]

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
  What huge national chains do is come into a new market and pulverize the local businesses with the help of their infinitely deeper pockets.

My theory on our already-decimated Chinatown is that within 5 years it'll be nothing but that arch, and a P.F. Chang's. Oh and Hooters will still say Hooters in Chinese on the front.

[vansmack]

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
  Some of you guys keep saying "competition is good" like it's some kind of mantra, without any idea of what you are talking about.   What huge national chains do is come into a new market and pulverize the local businesses with the help of their infinitely deeper pockets.  In effect they then create a partial or total monopoly, which enables them to jack up prices.  Monopoly is bad.

Well put.  This isn't the Black Cat moving to a bigger space or Snailhook working the rounds with small shows in the area building up a nest egg to compete with the 9:30 for 2500 person shows.  That's competition.
 
 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....

[MindCage]

Originally posted by twangirl:
   

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
  What huge national chains do is come into a new market and pulverize the local businesses with the help of their infinitely deeper pockets.

My theory on our already-decimated Chinatown is that within 5 years it'll be nothing but that arch, and a P.F. Chang's. Oh and Hooters will still say Hooters in Chinese on the front. [/b]

I've already been saying this for the last 2 years. Ever since the movie theater and all the other stores took over. The only thing that's Chinatown is the arch and maybe the express NYC bus    It's going to be a sad day when Chinatown Express Restaurant goes bye-bye, but thankfully not when that CVS goes. That has to be the worst one ever!
 
 I will admit, that theater is nice and convenient compared to that old dinosaur at Union Station. I can do without Clyde's and Strike.
 
 MindCage
 Mindless Faith
 Deep6 Productions

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

Chinatown's always been a blink-and-miss-it kinda place, but I do remember back in the 1980s you'd be leaving the 9:30 club around 3 or 4 am (on a two band night both the opener and the headliner often played two sets, into the early morning).   You'd pop uptown to Big Wong or somesuch place up on H Street, and it would not only still be open, but totally packed with Chinese families who did shiftwork, eating their middle-of the night lunch.  A little green tea and an incredibly good, cheap Chinese meal were often just the ticket after a long night of sweat and loud music.

[DeathFromAbove1979]

Originally posted by bjmoore:
   

Originally posted by DeathFromAbove1979:
  Is there any word on when it'll go up? i read that it says they're going to build it, but the deal isn't signed.. i've seen big bands do theatre's but they don't come through DC. My Chemical Romance is playing The Norva, down in Norfolk, sometime this month but they aren't coming to DC. not that i'd see them, but they're a pretyt big band and it seems like they don't want to play the 930 club, also The Raconteurs have done a string of shows down in Norfolk, Charlottesville, and at the Patriot Center [opening for dylan], but they still didn't hit 930. Maybe the House of Blues is a good thing for "bigger" acts. i think it would be a shame to see it steal acts from 930 and i LOVE 930 oh so much, i don't think this would end 930 but it would hurt it. i'd still go, but if The Raconteurs played the House...i'd go.

The MCR show in Norfolk is for a radio show there, they havent announced a full tour yet. DC badly needs a 2500-3500 seat theater, because I think it does detract bands and tours from hitting the DC area. Today I saw that Taste of Chaos is completely ignoring the south mid-atlantic (from philly to atlanta). I like the venues around DC, but the 930 club is still too small a venue compared to other major markets. Plus, as many have pointed out, if an HOB is built downtown, 930 can become a specialty venue and cater to up and coming bands and indie groups. Not to mention that because 930 is a pretty well-known venue nationally, there will be groups who'll play 930 over HOB because of past experience (example Conor Oberst wont play Clear Channel venues, HOB is now clear channel owned, so forget him playing HOB DC, he'll play 930). Also, if they put it at the Old Convention Center, there are 3 metro stops within 3 blocks, so as long as the city kept the metro open late, parking may not be as big an issue because people can metro in easily.
 This may not be such a bad thing. [/b]

i dont think it will be a terrible thing for 930, it might take a few shows away, but i think it will still get a decent chunk and im positive it wont turn 930 Club into the new Black Cat, and it might not take ANY business away from the Black Cat, unless HOB makes extra long freedom fries.

[PigIron]

I don't care if they come.  The HOB is just another place for shows.  I love the 9:30 and always hope the bands I want to see end up going there, but I've been to HOB and as far as I'm concerned, a good club show is a good club show no matter where it is.  Yea, its cheesy-looking, but who cares once the band comes on.  If the beer prices are OK, the view of the stage is clear, and the sound is good, I'll go to a show anywhere.  A DC HOB would likely be similar to the 9:30 (I'm guessing - HOB are different sizes from city to city) except with a flashy interior and a not-as-cool staff.  But that wouldn't stop me from seeing a great band there.

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

<img src="http://static.flickr.com/21/28394641_db0415aae2_m.jpg" alt=" - " />

[Tom Servo]

Originally posted by vansmack:
  Hey Seth,
 
 This project is still a couple years out.  This isn't an obit, but it's possibly your toughest challenge yet.  While the artists will likely have more say in the final determination of who plays the 9:30 versus who plays the House of Blues, the consumers still have a say.  So, how can we help?

IMO, it's not so much boycotting HOB as making sure that the 9:30 shows do well.  i.e. go to more shows and start bringing more friends, specifically the kind that drink a lot.
 
 If a new venue means more people go see live music (or the same people see more live music), then it doesn't necessarily hurt the club.  HOB would be taking business equally from all the other bars/restaurants/theaters that its new patrons otherwise would have been attending that night.  
 
 I do think we need another large venue in the city, but this wouldn't be my top choice.

[Sir HC]

Originally posted by sweetcell:
  part of this inflated price is due to the fact this is a new year's eve show... all venues do this.  even the 930 club is in on the take: the Greyboy Allstars are playing both dec 30 and 31, yet the shows cost $35 vs $55 (i suspect this is fueled in part by greater demand for entertainment that night so one can charge more, and bands and staff wanting more to work that night)

Everyone involved gets more for new years.  Bands often double or triple their fee, and when I used to do PAs for gigs, we would double the price because everyone else made more, why not us?

[Tonorro]

Originally posted by Tom Servo:
   

Originally posted by vansmack:
  Hey Seth,
 
 This project is still a couple years out.  This isn't an obit, but it's possibly your toughest challenge yet.  While the artists will likely have more say in the final determination of who plays the 9:30 versus who plays the House of Blues, the consumers still have a say.  So, how can we help?

IMO, it's not so much boycotting HOB as making sure that the 9:30 shows do well.  i.e. go to more shows and start bringing more friends, specifically the kind that drink a lot.
 
 If a new venue means more people go see live music (or the same people see more live music), then it doesn't necessarily hurt the club.  HOB would be taking business equally from all the other bars/restaurants/theaters that its new patrons otherwise would have been attending that night.  
 
 I do think we need another large venue in the city, but this wouldn't be my top choice. [/b]

[Tonorro]

Originally posted by Tonorro:
 
 What the District is considering is not fair and open competition.  It basically amounts to subsidizing HOB to compete with local venues that have paid their dues over the years through thick and thin.
 
 With the 9:30 club, the Black Cat, DC 9, the RnR Hotel, Birchmere, etc., we have an excellent scene here that let'us enjoy talented bands that need exposure.  No band passes up DC because of lack of a suitable venue.
 
 The music scene here doesn't need a HOB here.  The only people who would profit from it would be HOB.
 
 Seth, do you know how we can weigh in on this with the decision makers?  They need to know that this should not happen just because some big name outsider developer/promoter wants it.  They need to understand that we do not want this and we do not think it is fair.
   

Originally posted by Tom Servo:
   

Originally posted by vansmack:
  Hey Seth,
 
 This project is still a couple years out.  This isn't an obit, but it's possibly your toughest challenge yet.  While the artists will likely have more say in the final determination of who plays the 9:30 versus who plays the House of Blues, the consumers still have a say.  So, how can we help?

IMO, it's not so much boycotting HOB as making sure that the 9:30 shows do well.  i.e. go to more shows and start bringing more friends, specifically the kind that drink a lot.
 
 If a new venue means more people go see live music (or the same people see more live music), then it doesn't necessarily hurt the club.  HOB would be taking business equally from all the other bars/restaurants/theaters that its new patrons otherwise would have been attending that night.  
 
 I do think we need another large venue in the city, but this wouldn't be my top choice. [/b]

[/b]