RTP-area local music and culture

[grady <grady AT ibiblio.org>]

Glenn, I appreciate this big first step you're taking, and I hope it 
will work out in your favor. (while we're talking about steps to take, 
there was a post in that thread about on-campus shows, in which the 
poster implied that under-21s can't get into bars where the rock happens 
. . . that's true at the Cave, but I thought you were still letting 
over-18s in, right? Might need some outreach there . . .)

Although I sympathize with your concern about losing business, I'm 
compelled by your scenario, below, to provide a counter-scenario:

I go to a show at Local 506. After the first band, the smoke is bad 
enough that I go outside to be able to breathe a bit before the next 
band (this is a regular occurrence for me and dozens of other people, 
btw). While I'm out there, some of us nonsmokers start talking about the 
other shows that night, at Nightlight, the Cradle, and The Cave, all of 
which are within walking distance, and all of which are nonsmoking, and 
we all take off to one of those shows.

Or maybe we skip the part where we come to Local 506 at all.

Maybe I'm biased, but that seems at least as reasonable as your 
theoretical situation. In fact, it happened to me a week ago, in the 
sense that I was sitting outside Local 506 talking to some friends, 
contemplating going in to see Filthybird, but ultimately I decided to 
walk to the Cave instead.

Do you really think that having the ability to smoke *inside* Local 506 
is the only factor keeping the smokers from fleeing? It seems to me that 
people only come to Local 506, which has a cover charge most nights it's 
open, to see bands play. With the exception of Reservoir, the other bars 
within walking distance who have bands play are all non-smoking (the 
Cave allows smoking in the back, but nonsmokers never have to go back 
there unless they want to play pool). So if the smokers leave to go see 
another band, they're quite possibly going somewhere else nonsmoking.

Or are you saying that your smoking patrons are so fickle and/or so 
addicted that they'd rather sit at the Sports Bar and smoke & drink, 
instead of seeing the band at your bar? If so, then why would they 
bother coming to the 506 and paying the cover charge at all?

People are going to go in and out of clubs. One of the great things 
about Chapel Hill is that you *can* walk from one bar to the next, and 
see many different bands in one night, if you're so inclined. I think 
the wise thing to do is to factor that into your business model as best 
you can, as I'd argue that setup is a net PLUS for everyone involved.

As you yourself stated in another post, one thing that really keeps 
attendance down is unpredictable start times. I'd add to that "and 
really long-ass lags between bands." In an environment where there *are* 
so many other clubs nearby, having predictable schedules is pretty 
crucial. Making your club somewhere inviting enough that people hang 
around between bands is helpful, too, but I'd argue that the music is 
the most inviting thing you have to offer. Making it as easy as possible 
for people to see that music, and have a great time while doing it, is 
the best way to optimize, *as long as* you're charging a cover.

It sounds to me like the bottom-line of your argument is this: people 
only buy drinks between bands. If the club is nonsmoking, then the 
smokers will go next door and buy drinks there between bands, and then 
come back when the next band plays, thus draining your profits away.

So here's a solution, since, as you say, the Sports Bar apparently isn't 
even open: Buy the Sports Bar. Open it back up. Make it a smoking 
establishment. Rake in the profits! ;-)

xo

Ross

local506 AT gmail.com wrote:

> I had so many conversations about this last night at the Schooner
> show, and everyone I countered the 'non-smoking' argument then
> understood the dilemma I face.  As I thought was understood, if no
> smoking is allowed in 506, then smokers will be forced to exit my
> business and, perhaps, smoke outside.  However, they may equally
> choose to visit one of the other bars within walking distance to not
> only smoke, but also buy their next drink,  And heck, they may have
> such a good time, they might not venture back.  And if the Sports Bar
> re-opens next door, I'm sure plenty of bands will find their potential
> audience not only not drinking at Local 506, but not listening to
> their band either.