$6 Yuengling?

Is free food the pitch they'll make to try to get the Magic Numbers?

Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:

Originally posted by Arlette:
That's one way to look at it, but the people who are old enough to drink are adding much more to your profits than those who are not. In fact, if your venue is like most in the country, ticket sales barely cover the band guarantees and your profits come from alcohol sales. So, by increasing drink prices and not charging extra to those who cannot drink you are penalizing the people who contribute the most to your financial success.

Didn't you hear all bands play at the 9:30 club play for free and box of yummie cookies…

Originally posted by Roadbike Mankie:

Originally posted by sonickteam, forum nice guy:
have you noticed that i stopped coming?

And so did I…even before I moved away.

But I'll guess that it isn't primarily because of the prices… maybe you're just getting into middle age like me and don't want to stay up as late, and you realize that the hassle/enjoyment ratio for you isn't favorable or whatever

Nope, not assuming that at all. Just stating that those who are old enough to drink and who are "idiots" (count me among them) enough to pay that much for beer are most responsible for the success of the club. Those who only buy tickets contribute the least. It's never a good business model to not favor your best customers.

I respect Seth's philosophy of not charging more because of age, but I think your best customers should be given the most consideration.

Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:
You assume that everyone who is 21+ is idiot enough to pay 5 or 6 bucks for a cup of beer. Not true.

Originally posted by Arlette:

Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:

Originally posted by Arlette:
Why doesn't the club have a surcharge for those under 21? Most clubs do these days. Seth, you're missing a capitalistic opportunity.

being a capitalist does not mean that making money takes the place of right & wrong

I just think that charging people extra because of their age is wrong, and offensive

on the business side of that, we are trying to develop our future customers, not discourage them

That's one way to look at it, but the people who are old enough to drink are adding much more to your profits than those who are not. In fact, if your venue is like most in the country, ticket sales barely cover the band guarantees and your profits come from alcohol sales. So, by increasing drink prices and not charging extra to those who cannot drink you are penalizing the people who contribute the most to your financial success.

Originally posted by Arlette:
I respect Seth's philosophy of not charging more because of age, but I think your best customers should be given the most consideration.

I have to respectfully disagree with your whole premise. That's not a reasonable business model on any level. A frequent drinker card – now that could be a way to benefit regular and dedicated customers. But charging kids more for tickets does not make sense. I mean, I know why you've thought of it, but it's not reasonable as an overall business approach.

If it is, then I should pay more for every show I attend Monday - Wednesday, as I usually drink only free water at those. Next step up would be Sunday – I may have two beers, but that'll be all. But for those Friday and Saturday shows, $5 a ticket for every show for me!!!

And, as Seth pointed out, like the cigarette companies, he is developing his customer base going forward.

I didn't think of it, many, many clubs are doing it because you're almost forced to you financially. I used to run a club, here's an example:

I was trying forever to get Death Cab. Finally booked them (couple of years ago), and the price was very reasonable. However, the club made very little money from the show. Why? Because a lot of the crowd was underage and alcohol sales were extremely low. The club owner was like, "Nice try, but we can't afford these shows with so many underage people."

That same week we had Chris Robinson of the Crowes when he was doing his solo thing. Very high guarantee. We had fewer in attendance than we did for DCFC but we made a ton more money! Why? Because of the alcohol sales.

That week I started charging underagers $2.00 extra. It helped us cover our costs and break even on shows we otherwise would not have been able to afford.

I'm just saying, when a business needs to increase its profits don't always try to get more money out of the pockets of your best customers. Try to spread around the monetary damage, especially to those who are contributing the least.

Originally posted by Bags:

And, as Seth pointed out, like the cigarette companies, he is developing his customer base going forward.

You mean he's been pumping in nicotine through the AC vents? I KNEW there was a reason I get all twitchy and irritable when I'm not at the club…

and I can attest to voluntarily reducing my beer consumption at last night's Crowes show. Like $3 a gallon gas, $6 yuenglings plus tip hits my personal behavior change point. Granted, I was also trying to compensate for an above-average ticket price and the fact that I was still a little hungover from monday's Raveonettes show. But I can see more pre-drinking in the future.

Lose size in your vehicle and your gas bill goes down, since it takes less gas to get you somewhere. Lose size in your fat ass, and the bar tab goes down, since it takes less booze to get you tanked. Seems simple enough.

Smaller cars and smaller people in 2006. Yeah!

One other thing, an unexpected benefit of the $2.00 extra charge for underagers: it became a badge of honor with them when they turned 21. They were very proud to be able to show off that they didn't have to pay the extra money now. Rather than discouraging your customers, they had another reason to be psyched for their 21st birthdays.

Originally posted by Bags:

And, as Seth pointed out, like the cigarette companies, he is developing his customer base going forward.

ah yes, compare yourself to the cigarette companies, that will make you lots of friends in the consumer world!

Guiny, is that you? How are things in the Bahamas?

Originally posted by Arlette:
One other thing, an unexpected benefit of the $2.00 extra charge for underagers: it became a badge of honor with them when they turned 21. They were very proud to be able to show off that they didn't have to pay the extra money now. Rather than discouraging your customers, they had another reason to be psyched for their 21st birthdays.

Better warn the bartenders. Myself and I'm sure many other will rarely if ever tip on $6 beers.

The club should really find a better way to recoup. Charge a few dollars more for tickets if you must.

To be reminded throughout the evening how overpriced the drinks are is a real annoyance that affects the overall happiness index and brings the place down.

T

I's be completely happy if they stopped selling alcohol altogether. But hey, if selling the alcohol helps keep ticket prices down, well I'll vote for that.

Originally posted by tobyd:
Better warn the bartenders. Myself and I'm sure many other will rarely if ever tip on $6 beers.

The club should really find a better way to recoup. Charge a few dollars more for tickets if you must.

To be reminded throughout the evening how overpriced the drinks are is a real annoyance that affects the overall happiness index and brings the place down.

T

Found out (the hard way) last night that even rail vodkas are $6 :eek:

I definitely will be drinking elsewhere before shows and not so much in the 9:30. Sorry Seth - I can't afford to pay for that trip you've been planning…

Personally I think the beer prices Seth charges are quite understandable because he has to cover the high cost of his bar staff……. $3.25 an hour doesn't grow on trees you know. :roll:

Seriously, instead of just whining about the prices you should all organize a protest by not paying the bar staff tips for a week, or just not buy drinks at all, which will hurt both Seth and his staff.

Action speaks louder than words people.

Originally posted by Seth Hurwitz:

Originally posted by Arlette:
Why doesn't the club have a surcharge for those under 21? Most clubs do these days. Seth, you're missing a capitalistic opportunity.

being a capitalist does not mean that making money takes the place of right & wrong

I just think that charging people extra because of their age is wrong, and offensive

on the business side of that, we are trying to develop our future customers, not discourage them

Actually Seth…charging children the same is wrong and offensive. Don't most companies usually charge children less than adults for their services?

how about those of us that want to get a non-alcoholic beverage in the club, besides the free water… in the past a soda was $3 which was a couple sips of something that costs the club pennies to serve. that cost really leaves one in the mood to tip as well

The price of soda everywhere is ridiculous. Most restaurants charge $2, but that usually comes with free refills. $3 without free refills is insane. Just stick to the free water.

I usually have one or two beers when I attend a concert. $6 + $1 tip for a Newcastle Brown Ale or Sierra Nevada is a lot, but it's only about a $1 more than Black Cat for the same beers. Yuengling seems overpriced though, I agree.

I'm for anything that results in less alcohol being imbibed at shows. The concert attendees who are plastered are usually the ones that are distracting me from the music. If fewer people are getting drunk at shows and stumbling around and getting obnoxious instead of listening to the music, I'll happily pay an extra dollar for my beer.

of course it could also cause people to show up to the show even more drunk,or baked as the case maybe, because they did it on the cheap(er) elsewhere…

Originally posted by Darth Ed:
The concert attendees who are plastered are usually the ones that are distracting me from the music. If fewer people are getting drunk at shows and stumbling around and getting obnoxious instead of listening to the music, I'll happily pay an extra dollar for my beer.

Maybe you could get the band to play in your living room so you don't have to be bothered with any other members of the human race.