House of Blues Eyeing DC

the original post in this thread is dripping with cred: dissing the mega-corp, quotes from seth, and mentions of the birchmere and ben's chili bowl.

when i talk to my friends in other states, they are continously amazed at how many great shows I go to. DC has a great mix of venues. i'd much rather keep going to DAR (whose acoustics are just fine, folks) than have the starbucks of clubs come in here and ruin that mix.

The best possible outcome of this would be for the 9:30 and the House of Blues to join forces and work together and put the stupid Patriot center out of the concert buisness.

Originally posted by sweetcell:
the original post in this thread is dripping with cred: dissing the mega-corp, quotes from seth, and mentions of the birchmere and ben's chili bowl.

Um… that original post would be an article from the Washington Post.

;)

There are really only a handful of decent shows at DAR and Patriot Center each year. A bigger HOB-type place would not only take those shows, but would also take the gigs of bands that are playing larger venues in other cities but playing the 9:30 in DC (sometimes for multiple nights).

I prefer the status quo.

So what can fans of the 9:30 do about all this? Is this a "done deal"? The NCRC is a private entity and can sell to whom it pleases, correct? Should we be contacting Jim Graham (although he's already voiced his objections to the proposal)?

Originally posted by Steny Hoyer, Pubic Destroyer:
So you're saying more competition will drive the prices up? What kind of economic theory is that?

Two venues of a similar size does not competition make – trust me, I'm in a business that if we had only two suppliers in one area, we would not be allowed to sell our product at market prices. (Black Cat is half the size, so brings in different bands and doesn't constitute another competitor at the BoH/9:30 level).

So one competitor comes in, one that happens to be part of a vast corporation that can utilize revenues from other areas to increase payments to artists, and wala. In order for 9:30 to get acts, it must pay more as well, and ticket prices go up.

If there were 5 venues in the 800 - 1500 capacity range, that would be another matter.

Originally posted by Steny Hoyer, Pubic Destroyer:
I just don't see the point of seeing a band in a 2400-3500 capacity venue. At that point, it's not an artistic performance, it's an event. Yuck.

Have you been to some of the great clubs around the country that size? And would you prefer Patriot Center?? If so, you can have it. These are bands that aren't going to play 9:30, they're too big. So instead you get DAR or Patriot Center, or god forbid the basketball arena at American U.

Originally posted by Christine Moritz:
So what can fans of the 9:30 do about all this?

dont go to the House of Blues. its as simple as that!!!! no matter how badly you want to see a band playing there….dont!

the ONLY way to get back at a business you dont like is to not give it your money. its real simple (yet, seemingly impossible for some people!)

Maybe their beer prices will be cheaper too.

Having only lived in DC since the late 90s, I can only assume based on past tendencies of anything historic here being torn down to build ugly office buildings, there was once grand movie theaters along the lines of the Fox in Detroit in the District? Those are the type of large venue's better suited for 3K concerts, and obviously costly to build and schedule these days.

Converting Merriweather so that the pavilion in the winter has been discussed, although among other things they would have to pave the parking lot for winter use.

Definitely some disconcerting news. :) just sayin. The Atlantic City one is a boomy shithole though.

Originally posted by le sonick:

Originally posted by Christine Moritz:
So what can fans of the 9:30 do about all this?

dont go to the House of Blues. its as simple as that!!!! no matter how badly you want to see a band playing there….dont!

My question was whether there is anything that can be done to prevent the House of Blues project from going through in the first place.

personally, i think there is enough room for another venue in DC.

not only are there lots of artists that dont come to DC or only play one night when two could be sold, but one could find that occasional "suprisingly empty great show" when a bigger show is at the opposing venue.

besides, ticket prices would probably either only increase very small, or for selected shows (figuring both venues arent going to be dicks and try to outbid each other for every band!)

and lastly, does anyone really think seth is going to get run out of dc?? i think not!!!

Lincoln Theater by Ben's Chili Bowl? I saw beck there once. Is the Fox theater seated?

Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
Having only lived in DC since the late 90s, I can only assume based on past tendencies of anything historic here being torn down to build ugly office buildings, there was once grand movie theaters along the lines of the Fox in Detroit in the District? Those are the type of large venue's better suited for 3K concerts, and obviously costly to build and schedule these days.

Converting Merriweather so that the pavilion in the winter has been discussed, although among other things they would have to pave the parking lot for winter use.

Bring back the Citadel! (my first dc show was there)

…and in the spirit of competing for bands with HOB, perhaps the 930 club will have to drop the contract clauses that prohibit bands who play a show at the 930 club from playing any other local venues for 30 days prior and after their 930 gig.

I'd support the HOB
I don't accept the argument that more competition would drive up ticket prices due to clubs having to bid against each other. Because they're already charging whatever the market will bear.. if they charged more than that they'd lose money anyway

So, why did the Boston HOB close? Did it not make money?

Nice tv commercial, badsushi.

Originally posted by Bartelby:
…and in the spirit of competing for bands with HOB, perhaps the 930 club will have to drop the contract clauses that prohibit bands who play a show at the 930 club from playing any other local venues for 30 days prior and after their 930 gig.

Yes the Fox in Detroit is seated capacity around 5K…


<img src="http://www.experiencedetroit.com/Theatres_files/image006.jpg" alt=" - " />

Originally posted by Mixed Veg:


So, why did the Boston HOB close? Did it not make money?

the one in Cambridge was the first one right?

did you ever go there? it wasnt really a music venue! it was some house. whenever i went there i thought i was going to get a plastic cup with my name on it!!!!

i think they shut it down because it was so crummy compared to what they were getting in NO and Chi-town.

they were talking of getting another one in Boston proper but real estate is just too fucking expensive!

Nation was run by the people who are now running House of Blues. Live Nation anyone? What else do they run, Nissan, right?

Look HOB's method is to book the touring band for several cities, and you have to play *their* venue in all those cities, can't just play the cool ones and play elsewhere the other times. Such things crush competition, how can an independent network of venues compete?

They want to put it way downtown, who really wants to go there? I guess it will have to be subway shows exclusively as there is no way that parking for 3000 will magically appear for some shows. I really want to see this impact report, they just mention artists wanting a larger venue, who? When, where?

This line scares me:

"It doesn't have to mean the end of local clubs."

What does that mean? It could well, it usually does, they have to change their whole market and strategy? what?