RTP-area local music and culture

[local506 AT earthlink.net]

I wrote the prior reply before seeing this one from Ross.  Once again,
I agree wholeheartedly.

Selling merch - yes, too many bands don't make a strong effort at this.
We've had several CD release parties where you have to search to find
someone to buy the CD from. Keep in mind, most people want to look at a
CD before buying it...and it's very awkward to do that one-on-one in
front of the stage with an actual band member.  So selling it from the
stage pretty much limits you to the people who are firmly decided. 506
has a dedicated space for merch, bands should use it.  Heck, on slow
nights our door guys can help cover this..

One of the issues with the local music scene - and its good problem to
have - is that the supply of good music outweighs the demand to see it.
Or better yet, outweighs the capability to see it.  I could book the
club seven days a week on great local music - but unfortunately, people
can't afford the time or money to support that.  The goal of these show
is not to take away income from bands, but to build up demand so that
bands can progress more quickly.  Once ample demand exists, the bands
should charge for their shows.

>>>I suppose a particularly statistics-obsessed clubowner
could & would track bands vs. cover vs. night-of-week vs. headcount vs.

revenues at the bar vs what's on TV that night vs .   You'd want to
find a clubowner with a pre-existing rotisserie baseball  fetish or
something . . .

Guilty as charged.  I do track some of that stuff plus what's at the
Cradle AND what sporting event I'm competing with.  For example, after
losing battles with the World Series and some UNC football and hoops
games, I bowed out of the bidding for Enon who were looking to play the
night of a 9pm UNC game.  I think they're playing somewhere else
locally, but I didn't want to take the risk of losing again.  Nothing
sucks more than having to pay a band more than the door actually makes
- I've done that enough already!

For me, the magic number is drinks per person - how the bar did
relative to how many people came in.  There are nights where a band
with twenty people outdrinks a band that draws 100.   Since I only make
money off the bar, that's important to know.

The one thing to keep in mind about these shows is they aren't free for
the club.  506 still has to cover the cost of a soundguy, which is the
biggest cost of producing a show.  That, in addition to the normal
overhead.  But, I'm hoping on a free night the bar can cover that cost
and then some.

glenn / 506