The July 15th "F*ck the Fire Dept" Fest, Skybar's finale...slots avail for a few more bands... Options

[RiffRaff]

Like some people have said, maybe you ought to take it up with owner of the club who doesn't feel like bringing the club up to code with a sprinkler system.

That would be too reasonable.

[Othniel77]

And the nominees for worst statements in a post ever are:
for your sake, let's hope the bands playing have lots of friends, because you blew it, honey.

Whatever...
If 99% of the populace thinks I'm a good person, and 1% thinks I'm an asshole, majority rules.

You don't need to like me.

You don't need to agree with me or my way of doing things...that's fine.

You don't need to come to my show (although you're certainly welcome to), and you have every right to scream up and down about how much you think my venue sucks because it's not "one of the big 3", not in Cambridge, I don't book emo bands, that people only recall Skybar in its previous incarnation and can never get past that. You can even rant about what an evil person I am because I don't look like Christie Brinkley and I don't go around kissing everyone's posterior and playing nice...or a myriad of other excuses.

Those are all valid points (to some).

Honestly, I don't care. All I really give a damn about is rock and roll and promoting the underground. I enjoy working with bands....being the advocate for the little guy...doing things a little differently.

They called strong women like Ani DiFranco and Joan Jett bitches too...does it matter?

In the end, I'm still a hard worker and an honest person with good heart that wants to help the scene. I may have an unconventional 1980's way of doing things, I may come on a little too strong at times (I'm an Aries...we're hotheaded by nature!), and you may not agree with me.

Hero to some....villain to others...the right to be free, the right to be me, the freedom to express without repress...that is what I think we are all looking for....(maybe we are not so different after all)...

[RiffRaff]

Whatever...
If 99% of the populace thinks I'm a good person, and 1% thinks I'm an asshole, majority rules.

You don't need to like me.

You don't need to agree with me or my way of doing things...that's fine.

You don't need to come to my show (although you're certainly welcome to), and you have every right to scream up and down about how much you think my venue sucks because it's not "one of the big 3", not in Cambridge, I don't book emo bands, that people only recall Skybar in its previous incarnation and can never get past that. You can even rant about what an evil person I am because I don't look like Christie Brinkley and I don't go around kissing everyone's posterior and playing nice...or a myriad of other excuses.

Those are all valid points (to some).

Honestly, I don't care. All I really give a damn about is rock and roll and promoting the underground. I enjoy working with bands....being the advocate for the little guy...doing things a little differently.

They called strong women like Ani DiFranco and Joan Jett bitches too...does it matter?

In the end, I'm still a hard worker and an honest person with good heart that wants to help the scene. I may have an unconventional 1980's way of doing things, I may come on a little too strong at times (I'm an Aries...we're hotheaded by nature!), and you may not agree with me.

Hero to some....villain to others...the right to be free, the right to be me, the freedom to express without repress...that is what I think we are all looking for....(maybe we are not so different after all)...

Ok, who wants to go first?

[ChurchyMcFingers]

Like some people have said, maybe you ought to take it up with owner of the club who doesn't feel like bringing the club up to code with a sprinkler system.

Didn't really think of it this way before, but shit this (^^^) is dead on... Basically, what this booking agent is proposing is that the city should let the Sky Bar grandfather out of the fire codes so she and "her staff" can keep their jobs and the "scene" that she is so hellbent on keeping alive can all risk their lives every time they come out to their club.

Nice. Really makes a band want to promote their show and drag as many of their fans out to your club.

[Bad Jack Olson]

They called strong women like Ani DiFranco and Joan Jett bitches too...does it matter?

Please tell me I'm still asleep and this is some hilarious dream.

[RiffRaff]

You know if you just back off and apologize for such an asinine campaign slogan and say you will change it, that may actually INCREASE attendance to your final night.

[shadowcell]

Stop digging!!!, your grave is defenitly deep enough!

[coughlin]

I'm entitled my opinion, just like you are entitled to yours.
I'm not against firefighters...just against bullshit that is costing me and all my staff our jobs. Not cool. Cops, politicians, and city officials should just mind their own biz and let rock and roll remain free and unfettered. Because some moronic hair band shot off pyrotechnics in a nightclub 3-5 years ago, my ass is going to out of work and another great venue supporting non-mainstream genre bands is eradicated.
We need to band together and build the scene.

yep, you are.
but let's suppose these laws were in place pre-Station fire (and that inspections were handled properly), and no one died that night.
would that be "bullshit / not cool" because it inconvenienced someone?

(also, it was never determined whether permission was granted for the pyro, so while someone's certainly to blame, it ain't necessarily the band.)

it's a little too convenient to throw slogans around at a time like this.
i assume you're including skybar's owner as part of the "we" who need to band together.

[anatomicallyincorrect]

Didn't really think of it this way before, but shit this (^^^) is dead on... Basically, what this booking agent is proposing is that the city should let the Sky Bar grandfather out of the fire codes so she and "her staff" can keep their jobs and the "scene" that she is so hellbent on keeping alive can all risk their lives every time they come out to their club.

Nice. Really makes a band want to promote their show and drag as many of their fans out to your club.

I think she's angling to book the Derderians' next club.

[EricDoberman]

Like some people have said, maybe you ought to take it up with owner of the club who doesn't feel like bringing the club up to code with a sprinkler system.

The club has a full liquor license, a capacity of around 200 persons, and is located in the most densely populated city in Massachusetts. If it had been properly run over the years $40,000.00 would be a nuisance expense at worst.

[bobkonk]

Please tell me I'm still asleep and this is some hilarious dream.

[Othniel77]

You know if you just back off and apologize for such an asinine campaign slogan and say you will change it, that may actually INCREASE attendance to your final night.

Point well taken.
What do you suggest I change it to?

[coughlin]

They called strong women like Ani DiFranco and Joan Jett bitches too...does it matter?

someone said "bitching," but no one called you a bitch.

[RiffRaff]

Point well taken.
What do you suggest I change it to?

How about "The Sky Has Fallen"

[Bad Jack Olson]

Point well taken.
What do you suggest I change it to?

"Fuck Great White"? "Fuck John Lithgow"?

[Othniel77]

The club has a full liquor license, a capacity of around 200 persons, and is located in the most densely populated city in Massachusetts. If it had been properly run over the years $40,000.00 would be a nuisance expense at worst.

I walked into a huge mess when I took over full-time on October 1, 2006...the worst of which was that I ended up paying for equipment upgrades out of my own pocket, because I was told there was no budget for such. Also, I was not given a budget for advertising, so I ended up writing an average of 46 press releases weekly to go out to radio and assorted media, making my own flyers and printing them off at Staples, etc.

It's been a long, hard road.

My goal and plan was that I approximated it would take 18 months to start seeing a total turnaround.

I wasn't given that time, but I did well with what I was allotted.

[RiffRaff]

"Fuck Great White"? "Fuck John Lithgow"?

JOHN LITHGOW HAS DONE NOTHING TO YOU!!!

[Othniel77]

someone said "bitching," but no one called you a bitch.

If they did, I admit that sometimes I probably deserve it

[thesharpestknife]

I walked into a huge mess when I took over full-time on October 1, 2006...the worst of which was that I ended up paying for equipment upgrades out of my own pocket, because I was told there was no budget for such. Also, I was not given a budget for advertising, so I ended up writing an average of 46 press releases weekly to go out to radio and assorted media, making my own flyers and printing them off at Staples, etc.

It's been a long, hard road.

My goal and plan was that I approximated it would take 18 months to start seeing a total turnaround.

I wasn't given that time, but I did well with what I was allotted.

you're right, you are just like ani and joan...

[Bad Jack Olson]

JOHN LITHGOW HAS DONE NOTHING TO YOU!!!

HE'S FETTERING MY ROCK AND ROLL! SAVE US, KEVINBACON77!

[Bad Jack Olson]

I walked into a huge mess when I took over full-time on October 1, 2006...the worst of which was that I ended up paying for equipment upgrades out of my own pocket, because I was told there was no budget for such. Also, I was not given a budget for advertising, so I ended up writing an average of 46 press releases weekly to go out to radio and assorted media, making my own flyers and printing them off at Staples, etc.

It's been a long, hard road.

My goal and plan was that I approximated it would take 18 months to start seeing a total turnaround.

I wasn't given that time, but I did well with what I was allotted.

Again, it sounds like the villain in this piece is THE OWNER OF YOUR CLUB.

[EricDoberman]

I walked into a huge mess when I took over full-time on October 1, 2006...the worst of which was that I ended up paying for equipment upgrades out of my own pocket, because I was told there was no budget for such. Also, I was not given a budget for advertising, so I ended up writing an average of 46 press releases weekly to go out to radio and assorted media, making my own flyers and printing them off at Staples, etc.

It's been a long, hard road.

My goal and plan was that I approximated it would take 18 months to start seeing a total turnaround.

I wasn't given that time, but I did well with what I was allotted.

Just to be clear by "run" I was referring to decisions made by the owner and not you , Shred or the jazz guitar dude.

While you deserve credit for getting a special in there the prices (for the location and for an all/mostly local venue) were ridiculous for years. The bar staff was incompetent. Sound and lighting were nonexistent and that was only fixed in the past couple of years.

And the fact that you had to pay for equipment upgrades out of your pocket and were not given an advertising budget only reinforces my notion that the owner is a tightwad and a tool.

I wish you the best in future endeavors and I hope your next partner is a more honest businessman or businesswoman than the bozo who owns the SkyBar.

This post has been edited by EricDoberman: Jul 1 2007, 10:30 AM

[RiffRaff]

You weren't the owner, right? So why did you end up paying out-of-pocket?

Was it because you believed in the power of local rock and its ability to ignite a financial windfall for The Skybar?

Because that's dumb.

[Othniel77]

Thanks, Eric,

I am looking forward to the next chapter. Granted, I am saddened by the loss of yet another venue in the Boston/suburban Boston area. It means there is one less club for bands in this town to perform at.

I've talked with the owner. In the end, he just did not have the funding to go through with getting the sprinkler systems put in. Many people suggested doing a series of benefit concerts, but $40,000 is a lot of money to raise and 3 weeks' time I highly doubt would have been enough time to put together concerts of this magnitude.

I need to be at peace with this chapter closing.
The final show is my way of doing that, in a sense. Good music, good friends (old and new), and probably a few drinks. Going out with a bang before the doors close forever.....

[Othniel77]

You weren't the owner, right? So why did you end up paying out-of-pocket?

Was it because you believed in the power of local rock and its ability to ignite a financial windfall for The Skybar?

Because that's dumb.

The one thing Skybar did have going for it is that after the post-2003 renovations, everyone kept saying, "Oh, the sound is GREAT there!" I figured if that was the primary thing we had going for us, then I had better do my best to keep it that way. Mics, cables, monitors, and PA systems experience the general wear-and-tear. I felt it was in the best interest of the bands to keep them up to par, and/or to upgrade what needed to be modified.

Matthew suggested that we upgrade the lighting system, so I had my engineer, Wayne Tarbox (Loudkeeper Productions) search for deals on viable stage lighting. I had the entire lighting system revamped for $189! (Kudos to Wayne, aka Mr. Ebay Dealfinder!) Many of the bands expressed appreciation for the upgrades.

I wanted Skybar to be a place where bands enjoyed playing again and again.