ATTN: MUSICIANS!!!

[metalworx]

We are trying to get a project up and running for the Fall of 2009. This post is to "test" the waters so to speak of interest. Outlined below is our project:

MetalWorx
Located in Western Massachusetts
12,500 sq ft Concert Space
1000 person capacity
Professional Stage and Sound/Light System
Food Court
All ages
Band promotional space for cd/clothing sales
Open to all Genres of Music

Battle of the Bands stretching 8 weeks

Amateur and Professional Divisions
5 genres of music chosen
10 bands chosen for each division
CASH AND PRIZES for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place

The 40 bands chosen to participate in this battle of the bands will have a chance to really promote their music and earn tons of cash and prizes. If your band is chosen, there is a $100 entry fee per band.

If you would like to have your band considered for the battle of the bands, message me for the mailing address. Promo packages (cd/bio of the band) will be used in determining who will be chosen for the battle.

We look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts and opinions to make our project happen.

Sincerely,
MetalWorx, Inc.

Email:

[e-mail]

[Johnny 5]

This could be really cool. Keep us updated on this. But don't you think $100 is a bit steep for a band? I know this isn't free to set up, but maybe thinking about another way to raise money. Cover charge, merch, etc?

[crazyjunkie]

Jan 28, 2009 13:20:56 GMT -5 Johnny 5 said:

This could be really cool. Keep us updated on this. But don't you think $100 is a bit steep for a band? I know this isn't free to set up, but maybe thinking about another way to raise money. Cover charge, merch, etc?

I agree. $100 per band is very steep. Cover charge, merch, etc would work to lower that cost.

Also, another idea would be to charge each band something like $20 per week. Every band pays the initial $20. Only the bands that are chosen for round two have to pay an additional $20 to enter round two. Only the bands that are chosen for round three have to pay an additional $20 to enter round three. Etc, etc, etc.

That way the bands that get eliminated first don't feel like they just wasted $100. And the bands that keep making it through the rounds will gladly pay each week for their chance to make it to the end, simply because their chances of winning are going up and it would be nearly impossible to resist throwing in the towel.

Let's say you start with 40 bands, and 5 bands get eliminated each week. The total income you would make is:

Week 1: 40 * 20 = $800
Week 2: 35 * 20 = $700
Week 3: 30 * 20 = $600
Week 4: 25 * 20 = $500
Week 5: 20 * 20 = $400
Week 6: 15 * 20 = $300
Week 7: 10 * 20 = $200
Week 8: 5 * 20 = $100

Total: $3600

That's close to the $4,000 you would make by charging $100 per band, but those who stay in the contest end up paying more than those that are eliminated, which seems more fair. Add a $5 cover charge every week and you'll easily make up the extra $400.

The bulk of the money in this scheme is made up front, so if at any time you realize you've made enough already to cover your operating costs, you can lower the weekly fee or eliminate it altogether.

[metalworx]

Interesting spin on the entry fees. I actually like the idea. I'll definitely bring it up to the frontman of this project, I'm handling all the promoting and getting the word out. From what i see on this board, there isn't a, as you guys call it, "A" level place to play.

The main goal of this project is to give musicians a place to play, in addition to the battle of the bands we want to hold. So for those days when there are no battles scheduled, we want to book for local bands. This is a place that will be open YEAR ROUND. And will be a first rate place to play...no dives, banquet halls, walking through bars and climbing 3 sets of stairs.

Which brings up a question, does anyone know where i can find a list of local bands to send out announcements to? The thing that hinges this project is INTEREST. If we have a HUGE AMOUNT of interest, its going forward. SO the key is to get as much buzz going about it as possible.

-rj-

[Johnny 5]

There's a huge list of bands on this very site! www.ctmamusic.com/bands

[metalworx]

Okay guys - It looks like the project IS going forward. We are working out the red tape stuff, building, town commitees...etc.

Now here is what i need from you. Since this club is being built BY musicians FOR musicians, I want your input. The building is just a shell at the moment, we are taking care of the stage (which is Fricking HUGE, BTW) total design layout, etc.

I need input on what you like about places you play, what you hate, what makes it easiest to set up, nightmares you've encountered while trying to get set up, basically if someone handed you an building and said "have at it" what would you build, etc. The whole kit and kaboodle, so to speak. We want everyone who plays here to want to come back, we want packed crowds. So even those people on here who may not be in a band and are just supporters, that means i want your feedback as well. Dudes, i'm so excited, this is going to be huge!

Johnny 5, thanks for the input about the bands on this site. I'm making up promo material to start sending out as soon as i can get some layout stuff organized.

-rj-

[Johnny 5]

I think it's really awesome that you're coming here to ask our suggestions. I have TONS of ideas about what I think makes a music club work. I'll put together a list in a bit. But there are also lots of other people on here that know what works and what doesn't also and I'm sure they'd love to contribute too!

[Johnny 5]

Ok, list of things I've always wanted to see in a rock club:

1) Good sound and lights. Doesn't have to be top of the line gear, but adequate. Not just a couple of random 15" mains and some cheapo subs. But a decent set up, including a sound board that can do multiple monitor mixes (more than 2 or 3). And of course decent monitor speakers

2) A competant sound guy. Too many places have a decent set up but then try to save a few bucks on the sound guy who proceeds to destroy the band with sub par engineering. Thus making every effort to put on a good show in vein. The show is only as good as it's sound person. Hire someone who KNOWS what they're doing, not some arrogant jerk who SAYS they know what they're doing.

3) A decent sized stage. Which looks like you may already be doing. Just make sure you can fit all kinds of sized bands.

4) Don't make it a rock club/sports bar. I HATE that. Go with one and stick to it. You can have a few TVs showing the game, but don't have a room where one half hates the other half because they can't hear the game or are ignoring the show. Make a decision and stick with it.

5) Make sure the lights are ON THE BAND. That's one thing that irked me about The Palace. The lights seem to be going over top of the band and you can barely see them.

6) Clean bathrooms. Period.

7) For packed shows, get some beer carts out around the dancefloor so people can still buy drinks but not have to leave the show.

8) Make sure the stage is in a logical area of the club. Don't just stick the band whereever it's easiest. A poorly placed stage can kill the experience and we all know that the smallest things can make people go to one club over another.

I could go on and on, but I'll leave it for some other people. I'll likely chime in again.

[analog]

I agree with everything Johnny said. Especially the clean bathroom part. Is this going to be strictly an all ages/juice bar club, or will you be serving alchohol?

Either way, I think having the food/drinks as far away as possible from the stage is good. It's annoying having to scream your drink orders over the sound of the band.

Adequate seating. You definitely need a place for the audience to chill when they're not rocking out.

Dressing rooms. Always a plus for the band. Not a necessity, but it's great to be able to stow your stuff someplace relatively safe and have someplace relatively quiet for the band to chill before they go on.

Adequate space for staging equipment. I hate when you're doing those big multiband shows and there's just equipment strewn all over the club. You always have to worry about your gear walking away, people breaking stuff, etc.

Easy load in. Put the stage near a door, or a door near the stage. Preferably not the main entrance. No stairs are a big plus.

Go-go dancers. I don't feel the need to explain this one.

[analog]

Oh I forgot a couple of things.
It sounds like this is a big room. Some acoustical treatment will likely go a long way in making it sound better.
Adequate power. Underestimating your power needs is a common rookie mistake when setting up a big club. Keep your food service, lighting and sound on separate services if possible, or at least on separate legs of your service.

[metalworx]

Okay, i'll give you guys some details on things we have planned as of right now, while we wait to make adjustments from not only the ideas and suggestions we get from you guys, but other musicians as well.

- As far as alcohol. To start off with (mainly to get it past the town) its going to be a juice bar to BEGIN with. Our plan is to later move it to something more like the clubs in chicago did..(i.e. All ages shows 5-9) and at 10, 21 and over so we can do the alcohol thing. Beer carts is a great idea..thanks johhny 5

- The lighting and the sound is professional. Lighting will have a truss that can be lowered and raised to fit needs and i'm trying to compile a list of the pa equipment so i can see what kinds of things we can offer. I do want to do the more than a couple monitor mixes.

- As far as food and drink, when you enter the club, you will go into the 1st part that houses the food, drink, clothing vendor stands. You have to pass through a second doorway to enter the "Yard". I won't tell you what it actually looks like, but it is REALLY REALLY cool...

- Dressing rooms. We are not going for the shoe box type of feel. There will be a private bathroom w/showers in the dressing rooms for bands that are playing.

- Clean bathrooms...oh yeah...don't even worry about it. A dirty bathroom is NOT an option.

- The stage is set at the best possible place for best sound. And you'll have PLENTY of room to move around up there.

- And this is important to clear up. THIS IS A PLACE FOR BANDS TO PLAY. This WILL NEVER BE A SPORTSCLUB. Granted we will have tvs and screens up on the walls, but they will either be broadcasting images of people on stage or videos. No games, if you want the score to the game, stay home or check the internet on your phone. Sorry if that sounds rude, i am not a fan of sports, never liked sports clubs and this is for MUSICIANS ONLY.

Okay a couple of suggestions we hadn't thought of so i will bring them up to the front man at the next get together:

Adequate seating
Storage space for your gear (that should be easy - i've got a perfect idea for that)
Go Go dancers made me laugh, but i'll see what i can do...ha ha


-rj-

- Sound guy. Check. We have two guys in mind..both are professional and do this for a living. So no worries there.



- Load in will be easy and NO STAIRS. I know that set up is difficult and that equipment is heavy, so this is a top priority of ours.

[crazyjunkie]

Make sure the bar is in the same room as the band. People hang out where the booze is located. If you have the bar in one room and the band in another, the tendency will be for the majority of the people to hang around the bar. If the sound guy is doing his job correctly, you shouldn't have to scream over the band to order drinks. I've always had the belief that the band should be loud when you're up on the dancefloor, but not so loud that you can't talk on the other side of the room.

Have a couple hooks or some kind of system behind the band that the band can use to hang their banner.

Have an adequate number of bartenders. There's nothing worse than waiting 20 minutes for a beer.

Please comp the band some drinks. I'm not saying to pay for a $200 tab, but at least one drink per person per set would be nice. If the place has a decent crowd, taking $100 off the band tab is not unreasonable.

If you make a killing that night, throw a couple more bucks to the band. I know ONE place that has done that with our band and also my girlfriend's band. (Playwright in New Haven - however they stopped having bands)

Have security near the stage at all times. I can't count the number of times we get some a-holes or drunks on stage and there's no one around to get them off.

Pay in cash or even a check that we can cash at the bar. And please don't make us fill out a W-2.

Don't have competing events at the place, like the band in one room and karaoke in another. If you're having a band, have the band. If you're doing karaoke, then just do karaoke.

Consider hiring a lighting guy too. The Red Door has one and he is constantly controlling the cans, the movers, blackouts, fog, etc. and it makes for a great, professional looking show.

Maybe have a video cam and sound recorder setup and offer the band a video recording of the show for a small fee. But do it right - don't have some mini cam setup with cheesy, saturated sound.

That's all I can think of right now...