House of Blues Eyeing DC

Wasn't there talk about opening another branch of the Birchmere in Bethesda or Silver Spring? Do we need that AND a House of Blues?

Won't some bands prefer to stay with the 9:30 out of loyalty, just like none of us are going to patronize HOB?

Originally posted by you be betty:
HOB will book the slightly bigger artists that are selling out the 9:30 or doing two night shows.

So basically, kiss half the acts at 9:30 goodbye if this happens.

Hey Seth,

All jokes/snide/ridiculous comments aside, this must be a major blow to you and your business, and I was really sorry to read this. While I'm sure you have your detractors, as far as I can tell, you've done everything right for the area and have stepped up when it looked like no one else would (I look no further than Merriweather). You've made yourself available for comment and abuse from the public, even going as far as providing the forum for the abuse. We certainly won't get anything like that from Live Nation.

I'm just guessing that you've resisted overtures and buyouts from Clear Channel/Live Nation over the years, and unlike Bill Graham Presents, SFX, House of Blues, and everyone else, you've stuck it out. Kudos to you - it speaks volumes to your integrity.

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?

steny & vansmack: i'm not sure how much bands determine where they play, i.e. HOB vs. 930. if they want to play other HOBs, they won't be able to leave the DC branch off the tour "out of loyalty". also, tours are often organized by managers and promoters, who are first and foremost businessmen. i suspect that the HOB will try strong-arming into the scene here and be aggressive with bookings in order to carve itself a space.

seth: do let us know what we can do. the 930 is unique.

Originally posted by Steny Hoyer, Pubic Destroyer:
Won't some bands prefer to stay with the 9:30 out of loyalty, just like none of us are going to patronize HOB?

Originally posted by you be betty:
HOB will book the slightly bigger artists that are selling out the 9:30 or doing two night shows.

So basically, kiss half the acts at 9:30 goodbye if this happens.

great thought, rhett. probably true, so long as the right people actually get to do the venue choosing!

I'd participate in a boycott by default, simply because I have no desire to mingle with the kind of lamers who go to chain nightclubs…


<img src="http://static.flickr.com/11/13338107_5b28542583.jpg" alt=" - " />

By the way, those of you talking about economics like you're Arthur Laffer, and already eagerly hoping that the Wal-Mart of clubs will save you a few bucks from what you're paying now, even before it's built, are completely missing the notion of price inelasticity. In layman's terms, because there are enough lamers out there who will pay any price to see their band no matter what, an additional club does not necessarily mean lower prices.

it will be many yrs before this place opens. if you go to big cities with many clubs they have to split the acts. which means the clubs have more dark nights or dj nights or local band nights. also get ready to be wanded with a metal detector. i was at hob in hollywood, between bands they showed videos of upcoming bands they were trying to promote. same videos over and over. also the music they played between acts was repeated. sound was real good though.

I see nothing wrong with the House of Blues. Having seen Nine Inch Nails in Atlantic City in March 2006 I can say that I would frequent one in DC depending on the show. Honestly, I could not imagine today's Nine Inch Nails doing a show at 9:30; never happen. They came to Nissan Pavilion (gag reflex) while on tour around the DC/Metro area. That's just one example out of many.

Competition is good for everyone, no argument there. It allows every venue to use their resources to book the best acts possible and gives the customers more options. What is wrong with that?

Originally posted by sweetcell:
steny &amp; vansmack: i'm not sure how much bands determine where they play, i.e. HOB vs. 930. if they want to play other HOBs, they won't be able to leave the DC branch off the tour "out of loyalty". also, tours are often organized by managers and promoters, who are first and foremost businessmen. i suspect that the HOB will try strong-arming into the scene here and be aggressive with bookings in order to carve itself a space.

seth: do let us know what we can do. the 930 is unique.

The ones with the say are either booking their own tours or the few who get to a point in their careers where they can speak up and say "Hey, I'd rather play at _________." This is difficult to orchestrate, though. Usually it is whoever gets them first.
Also, it should be noted that the HOB enterprise tries to book the touring band at as many of THEIR venues on the tour as possible. So you'd see maybe six House of Blues dates on a tour and a few clubs here and there. But they'll sweep em up.

Originally posted by ledooh:
Wasn't there talk about opening another branch of the Birchmere in Bethesda or Silver Spring? Do we need that AND a House of Blues?

Yes, it is opening next to the AFI theater in "downtown" Silver Spring. The 'coming soon' signs are up.

Originally posted by anarchist:
also the music they played between acts was repeated.

AAARGH!!

*horrified*

Originally posted by ayates:
Competition is good for everyone, no argument there. It allows every venue to use their resources to book the best acts possible and gives the customers more options. What is wrong with that?

I think it's the fact that Clear Channel (now Live Nation), in the long run, stifles competition with their constant levying of assets to buy competing promoters.

Look at the Top 25 Promoters of 2005. Clear Channel was already nearly 3 times larger than the #2 promoter. By acquiring House of Blues (#3 on the list), they are buying up their competition. My math's not the best, but they have gone from 3 times the size of their next competition to three times the size of the next four combined.

Now they are moving into markets with HoB's where they failed to buy the big promoter in town (Jam in Chicago and IMP in DC/Baltimore to name just a few). They already leverage their country wide venue power to sign acts to play their chain of venues, effectively prohibiting acts from playing venues like the 9:30.

What looks like compeition now, will be a monopoly in 10 years. The resources just aren't the same.

hopefully they wont oversell shows the way the 9:30 club does

Originally posted by fatskippy:
hopefully they wont oversell shows the way the 9:30 club does

Which show are you bitter about not getting tickets to?

Originally posted by eros:

Originally posted by fatskippy:
hopefully they wont oversell shows the way the 9:30 club does

Which show are you bitter about not getting tickets to?

wait, i thought he was implying that the 930 sells too many tickets so the shows are too crowded - which i disagree with. yes, the club gets packed but never dangerously so. seeing a "big" band in a small club means that your personal space will be infringed upon, deal with it. i've never been to a show at the 930 where you couldn't get in to the main room or find a spot somewhere upstairs. just get there earlier if you want a certain spot.

Originally posted by vansmack:
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?

One of the best ways to help is to reach out to folks who live or have businesses in the area where they're proposing to put the HOB, and work with them to put pressure on their ANC to get involved in the matter. Normally I am not a big advocate of the ANC mucking up a potential business's application for a liquor license; in some neighborhoods, the ANC is so strong that a business owner has to jump through some serious hoops to just to renew a license. But that's what ANC's are for. If you are against this business, one of the best ways to ensure they won't open (at least in that location) is to sic the ANC on them. The ANC does not win every battle nor do they decide who will be allowed to have a liquor license and who won't, but they can definitely throw so many spanners in the gears that potential licensees give up. No way would HOB open without being able to sell booze.
I'm not recommending people start stirring up the ANC just for the sake of mucking with the HOB but if you live in that neighborhood, you have every right to help shape what kinds of businesses come in. If you don't live in that neighborhood but know someone who does, or someone who owns a business down there, you can certainly tell them about the possible arrival of HOB, how it might negatively impact them and the other businesses that make the city what it is, and let them decide if they'd like to go on record with their ANC.

no offense, but i think businesses in that neighborhood would be happy to welcome something like HOB which would bring thousands of customers into the area to eat, drink, buy shit, etc … and if you hate what others have done with fucking over local businesses through the ANC (shiloh baptist v. vegetate, for one), then why would you turn around and do the same thing?

What we need is a venue that will compete with a venue the size of the Black Cat mainstage…possibly a venue with better sound system and without the 3-step process that they have at the door.

My dislike of the ANC's power comes from being on the recieving end of their scrutiny for lots of years. I've managed restaurants in the DuPont neighborhood for over a dozen years now and that's a pretty strong ANC to tangle with.

But on a more fundamental level, this is community politics, where individuals really can make a significant difference. And I think that is a good thing. It's too bad that there are not more people actively involved in their ANC's; there might be more balance and consistency in the city overall. But being able to go to a meeting or contact my Council member and voice my opinion is a beautiful thing. And if I don't live in the affected jurisdiction, I don't see anything wrong with explaining the issue to someone who does, and letting them decide if they feel strongly enough to take action on it.