IMP to Operate Lincoln Theatre

Look I'm not saying Seth and IMP aren't the greatest thing since rice-a-roni…. just saying you know the black community ain't going to like it if the Lincoln Theatre turns into an annex of the 930.. its got to have some links to its history, culture, tradition etc.. and those are all B L A C K…

This is a place Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Sarah Vaughan all played…

its just stupid not to book any black acts when you're reopening it to signal some kind of link to its past…

hutch wrote:
Look I'm not saying Seth and IMP aren't the greatest thing since rice-a-roni…. just saying you know the black community ain't going to like it if the Lincoln Theatre turns into an annex of the 930.. its got to have some links to its history, culture, tradition etc.. and those are all B L A C K…

This is a place Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Sarah Vaughan all played…

its just stupid not to book any black acts when you're reopening it to signal some kind of link to its past…

Well, good or bad, U Street sure as hell ain't black anymore.

Yada wrote:

hutch wrote:
Look I'm not saying Seth and IMP aren't the greatest thing since rice-a-roni…. just saying you know the black community ain't going to like it if the Lincoln Theatre turns into an annex of the 930.. its got to have some links to its history, culture, tradition etc.. and those are all B L A C K…

This is a place Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Sarah Vaughan all played…

its just stupid not to book any black acts when you're reopening it to signal some kind of link to its past…

Well, good or bad, U Street sure as hell ain't black anymore.

ain't that the truth…and that is part of the issue…when a community feels its heritage being trampled on, right or wong, they get ticked off…I'm not even saying that is what is going on here as one article like the one reproduced here doesn't mean anything… I'm sure the fact the Howard Theatre opened up will mean this isn't much of an issue..

its kinda weird the way DC now has a "Chinatown" with hardly anything about it that is Chinese and a U Street with hardly anything tying it back to when U Street was the black Broadway or whatever.. but then again U Street was a dump since the riots..

hutch wrote:
Look I'm not saying Seth and IMP aren't the greatest thing since rice-a-roni…. just saying you know the black community ain't going to like it if the Lincoln Theatre turns into an annex of the 930.. its got to have some links to its history, culture, tradition etc.. and those are all B L A C K…

This is a place Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Sarah Vaughan all played…

its just stupid not to book any black acts when you're reopening it to signal some kind of link to its past…

Sometimes you post things that don't make any sense. IMP is trying to book shows that make money.  WHy the racism, hutch?

Maybe Seth should just book Santigold so Hutch and the City Paper can shut the f up. 

atomicfront wrote:
Maybe Seth should just book Santigold so Hutch and the City Paper can shut the f up. 

I didn't say they need to book anything.. or wasn't trying to…I said they need to book a black act, out of five initial non-black acts, if they give a shit about what the black community thinks.. its not malicious on IMPs part or racist or anythign like that..of course not.. its just tone deaf.

If they don't that is fine.. personally I think its poor from a PR perspective..you can't tell me in a city that is close to half black that there aren't any black acts that can sell well…

I don't see anything racism here.. not on IMPs part or anybody else (except the article writer).. and i don't believe in throwing the racism word out there needlessly..save it for some real racism dude…

its just stupid is essentially what i'm saying…

What is a black act?

Is this guy a black act?

Looks pretty black to me.

hutch wrote:

atomicfront wrote:
Maybe Seth should just book Santigold so Hutch and the City Paper can shut the f up. 

I didn't say they need to book anything.. or wasn't trying to…I said they need to book a black act, out of five initial non-black acts, if they give a shit about what the black community thinks.. its not malicious on IMPs part or racist or anythign like that..of course not.. its just tone deaf.

If they don't that is fine.. personally I think its poor from a PR perspective..you can't tell me in a city that is close to half black that there aren't any black acts that can sell well…

I don't see anything racism here.. not on IMPs part or anybody else (except the article writer).. and i don't believe in throwing the racism word out there needlessly..save it for some real racism dude…

its just stupid is essentially what i'm saying…

I am not saying IMP is racist. I am saying you and the City Paper are racist. 

James wrote:
What is a black act?

I think that's just the colloquialism - perhaps a sloppy one - for a group that has garnered broadbased appeal for an audience whose demographic skews towards African Americans, rather than Anglo Americans, Latinos or Asians.

I'm only guessing here, but it seems like the most likely explanation.  Capeesh?

Then the "black" refers to the audience and not the artist? Then can the artist be Caucasian him or herself?

By that definition, I'm guessing Billie Holiday is a white artist, since arguably more white people listen to her than black at this point?

grateful wrote:

James wrote:
What is a black act?

I think that's just the colloquialism - perhaps a sloppy one - for a group that has garnered broadbased appeal for an audience whose demographic skews towards African Americans, rather than Anglo Americans, Latinos or Asians.

I'm only guessing here, but it seems like the most likely explanation.  Capeesh?

grateful wrote:

James wrote:
What is a black act?

I think that's just the colloquialism - perhaps a sloppy one - for a group that has garnered broadbased appeal for an audience whose demographic skews towards African Americans, rather than Anglo Americans, Latinos or Asians.

I'm only guessing here, but it seems like the most likely explanation.  Capeesh?

So why would you want to target a specific race?  How is that not racism?  Seth books the bands he knows best.  Everyone is allowed their own speciality.  If someone thinks black audiences are underserved they can start promoting shows to to that demographic and make tons of money.  

I like the artists he has booked.  If you don't than don't attend.   I am sure if he booked the black acts that would appeal to the black community in your opinion you wouldn't attend anyway.  So the whole argument is not only racism but highly annoying.

you know i reread the city paper article

nothing racist in it.. its not the best written article..but racist? umm.. not really

talking about people's skin color doesn't make you a racist… encouraging diversity is not in it of itself racism… saying important institutions - even when they change management- should still be somehow, even if tenuously, connected to their history and tradition is not racism

what if bens chili bowl went through a real rough patch and changed management and became a taco shop? to me that would suck.. you'd hope the new management would be sensitive to those concerns… this is kind of the same for me..

there were FIVE initial acts announced..having them be the type of acts that would play the 930 is boring… it doesn't contribute one iota to DC..  before you could see them here, now you can see them there.. whoopdedoo

or maybe someone should buy the lincoln theatre and turn into the royal palace 2.. i mean if the only thing its about is making money why not?

atomicfront wrote:

grateful wrote:

James wrote:
What is a black act?

I think that's just the colloquialism - perhaps a sloppy one - for a group that has garnered broadbased appeal for an audience whose demographic skews towards African Americans, rather than Anglo Americans, Latinos or Asians.

I'm only guessing here, but it seems like the most likely explanation.  Capeesh?

So why would you want to target a specific race?  How is that not racism?  Seth books the bands he knows best.  Everyone is allowed their own speciality.  If someone thinks black audiences are underserved they can start promoting shows to to that demographic and make tons of money.  

I like the artists he has booked.  If you don't than don't attend.   I am sure if he booked the black acts that would appeal to the black community in your opinion you wouldn't attend anyway.  So the whole argument is not only racism but highly annoying.

target?

racist?

sorry my friend.. if booking a diverse group of artists that meets the needs of the community you serve is racism then we're going to have to agree to disagree and leave it at that..

Also, if he booked Wu Tang at the Lincoln Theatre, it would be all white people there.

hutch wrote:
you know i reread the city paper article

nothing racist in it.. its not the best written article..but racist? umm.. not really

talking about people's skin color doesn't make you a racist… encouraging diversity is not in it of itself racism… saying important institutions - even when they change management- should still be somehow, even if tenuously, connected to their history and tradition is not racism

what if bens chili bowl went through a real rough patch and changed management and became a taco shop? to me that would suck.. you'd hope the new management would be sensitive to those concerns… this is kind of the same for me..

there were FIVE initial acts announced..having them be the type of acts that would play the 930 is boring… it doesn't contribute one iota to DC..  before you could see them here, now you can see them there.. whoopdedoo

or maybe someone should buy the lincoln theatre and turn into the royal palace 2.. i mean if the only thing its about is making money why not?

I like those 5 acts and I would rather see them at the Lincoln Theater than 930 club.  Actually there is zero chance that I would attend them at 930 club but I might go to a couple at Lincoln Theater.  And I am not from DC so that would help DC.

Would the City Paper complain if a traditional white theater was taken over by a RAP promoter?  I am guessing not. And I am guessing you wouldn't be complaining either.  I am guessing that the City Paper writter isn't black either and he is just complaining to complain.  It is racism to say they should have more acts that appeal to black people.  Black people should go see Neko Case.  Why are black people so racist that they refuse to see Neko Case?

She has a point.


<ducks>

Yada wrote:
Also, if he booked Wu Tang at the Lincoln Theatre, it would be all white people there.

The Howard does the best job of serving the community.. look at all the Ethiopian acts they 're booking..they're filling a niche that needs filling.

I'm sorry but many of the acts that are being booked at the Howard are acts that otherwise were not being booked in DC.. that is part of what adding to, and serving the community are about..

Of course IMP can book Neko Case anywhere.. she's been booked in DC pretty much every year going back forever.. it adds nothing.. it may add to IMPs bottom line which is fine… I love Seth, he has my dream job and he does it well but diversity is not his forte.. he admitted himself they have no clue about latin rock and really don't care (those last four words are mine: if they cared they'd get a clue).. fine, they don't have to but then they don't care about serving the latin community or rather the constituency for latin shows in DC.. that is fine.. no biggie.. the Howard will book those shows ..


Diversity is just not IMPs forte.. nothing illegal about that..nothing racist .. nothing bad..

but you better damn well know its going to be pointed out and people are going to notice.. and you can call those people all racists or you can think about it for a second

hutch wrote:

Yada wrote:
Also, if he booked Wu Tang at the Lincoln Theatre, it would be all white people there.

The Howard does the best job of serving the community.. look at all the Ethiopian acts they &#039;re booking..they&#039;re filling a niche that needs filling.

I&#039;m sorry but many of the acts that are being booked at the Howard are acts that otherwise were not being booked in DC.. that is part of what adding to, and serving the community are about..

Of course IMP can book Neko Case anywhere.. she&#039;s been booked in DC pretty much every year going back forever.. it adds nothing.. it may add to IMPs bottom line which is fine… I love Seth, he has my dream job and he does it well but diversity is not his forte.. he admitted himself they have no clue about latin rock and really don&#039;t care (those last four words are mine: if they cared they&#039;d get a clue).. fine, they don&#039;t have to but then they don&#039;t care about serving the latin community or rather the constituency for latin shows in DC.. that is fine.. no biggie.. the Howard will book those shows ..


Diversity is just not IMPs forte.. nothing illegal about that..nothing racist .. nothing bad..

but you better damn well know its going to be pointed out and people are going to notice.. and you can call those people all racists or you can think about it for a second

I'm not calling the white guilted writer a racist, it's just an incredibly stupid article.

It's a simple argument. You have an awesome venue that hasn't had shit in nearly 15 years (maybe longer) minus a handful of random shows. That venue can continue to go south and eventually end up completely run down, outdated, and vacant. That venue can continue to go south and someone else scoops it up and turns it into another multi story over priced restaurant or bar. Orrrrrr… someone like IMP can take it on and at least use the venue for the purpose it was meant for, music and entertainment… and guess what, i'm sure "diverse" acts at some point will come through.

hutch wrote:

Yada wrote:
Also, if he booked Wu Tang at the Lincoln Theatre, it would be all white people there.

The Howard does the best job of serving the community.. look at all the Ethiopian acts they &#039;re booking..they&#039;re filling a niche that needs filling.

I&#039;m sorry but many of the acts that are being booked at the Howard are acts that otherwise were not being booked in DC.. that is part of what adding to, and serving the community are about..

Of course IMP can book Neko Case anywhere.. she&#039;s been booked in DC pretty much every year going back forever.. it adds nothing.. it may add to IMPs bottom line which is fine… I love Seth, he has my dream job and he does it well but diversity is not his forte.. he admitted himself they have no clue about latin rock and really don&#039;t care (those last four words are mine: if they cared they&#039;d get a clue).. fine, they don&#039;t have to but then they don&#039;t care about serving the latin community or rather the constituency for latin shows in DC.. that is fine.. no biggie.. the Howard will book those shows ..


Diversity is just not IMPs forte.. nothing illegal about that..nothing racist .. nothing bad..

but you better damn well know its going to be pointed out and people are going to notice.. and you can call those people all racists or you can think about it for a second

Is the Howard racist for not booking Travis, Neko Case, and Laura Marling or any band that I would ever want to see?  And if Seth's starts booking all the shows the Howard place does what will they book?