When’s the band gonna start?
Monday, July 31, 2006
It’s probably happened to many of you. You’re e-mailing with a friend in Houston or Nashville or Atlanta, and you send him a link about a great band playing there that night. He responds “It says 8 p.m. I missed it!” You joke that he must not get out much anymore. He writes back “No, shows actually start early and end early here because most people have to work.”
That’s a true story, but here’s the shocking fact: Baton Rouge is a late town. Bands often begin their sets after 11 p.m.—and that’s just the opening act. But why is this the case? And is there any way to turn back the clock?
“Almost without fail, bands want to play later,” says Red Star owner Frank McMains. “People don’t come out for early shows unless they are old. I wish this was not the case, but bars tend to be dead until around 11. It is crazy, but what can you do? Fighting your audience is not a wise battle.”
Some clubs in more metropolitan cities, those with a larger creative class, schedule live bands between 9 p.m. and midnight for the older set and rely on a deejay or house music to keep the younger crowds in the bar until close.
Thing is, concerts in town will be advertised as starting at 10 p.m., but everyone knows 10 p.m. in Baton Rouge really means 11:30. It’s a bar’s favorite lie. But it’s a lie everyone has caught on to. It comes off like the chicken-and-the-egg conundrum. Are bars dead before 11 p.m. because people know bands won’t start before then, or do bands start after 11 p.m. because that’s when people like to go out?
Regardless, whether its intentional or not, many venues in Baton Rouge are beginning concerts so late they only fit into the schedules of college students, part-timers and those with evening jobs. Surely there’s an entire untapped market of young professionals who would turn out for quality live music if bands ended shows at 11:30 instead of starting at that time. People with work responsibilities in the a.m. are hesitant to trade productivity for a night of local music.
Data from our recent Best of 225 poll shows more than 58% of respondents, most between ages 25 and 40, picked “don’t know” when asked to choose a favorite local band among the top vote-getting nominees: Chris LeBlanc, The Benjy Davis Project, The Eames Era and The Terms. It’s likely that 58% hasn’t seen any of these bands because they’ve never wanted to be out past 1 a.m. when they wake up for work at 6.
Chelsea’s Café owner Dave Remmetter was cognizant of this when he moved his LSU-area bar and restaurant to a more mature Perkins Road neighborhood near Southdowns and City Park.
“I’d love to start shows earlier, but we serve dinner till 10 p.m., so it’s hard,” Remmetter says. “When we have two or three bands, we try to start no later than 10:30. For most venues, the momentum has been built for 11 p.m., and it would be hard to reverse it. But it wouldn’t hurt them.”
Even the hardiest concertgoers have a difficult time juggling nightlife and work life.
“I personally manage to do both, but I have an insane ability to perpetually ‘go,’” says 27-year-old Aimee St. Amant, who works full-time at the Louisiana State Museum. “But, yes, I have turned shows down because I didn’t want to suffer the consequences of being out so late on a week night.”
More troubling than late concerts affecting someone’s social agenda is the notion they are holding Baton Rouge back culturally. Asking the city’s young professionals to choose between a productive morning at the office and supporting live music the night before is not the best equation for a thriving downtown entertainment district. With a few exceptions, late concerts keep midweek shows smaller and contribute to downtown being a weekend-only destination for many. It’s all a cycle. Baton Rouge may be set in its ways, but how do the touring bands braving the country in Econolines feel about such late starts?
“When big bands come through they are usually cool with it, kind of a change of pace,” says Aaron Scruggs, a booking agent at the Spanish Moon. “Some bands that have been driving all day are a little weary at first, but they understand. I think it’s a signature for our city.”
Comments
Posted by paranatural on August 2, 2006 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You summed it up beautifully. I'd really love to see a place out there where the bands started at 8 or 9, play a few hours, and let out so people with real jobs can see them too. Too many times have I gone out to go see a band somewhere and end up having to leave as they're still setting up because I have to be up in the morning for work.
Posted by destinfun on August 2, 2006 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can tell you from past experience that BTR wasnt always this way.... I can remember in the 70's and 80's that if you weren't at the bar in a chair by 9:00pm.... you could forget about getting a decent seat.... there is no reason why live band venues shouldn't be after work / before 9ish places....
If we are going to be a cosmopolitan city, then we need to move towards doing what they do.... this isn't NOLA .... we aren't a 24 hour city.... not even a 4:00am city.... there is no reason why we need to wait til 11:30 before being entertained.... besides..... staggering nightly activity helps to keep the local gendarmes guessing!
Posted by spanishmoon on August 3, 2006 at 12:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A big reason for most of our shows ( spanish moon) startly late is due to long drives. 8 out of 10 times a touring band is driving from Atlanta , Ganiesville or Austin. They wont arrive until 8ish followed by load in sound check, next thing you know its 10:15. We like to start all of our shows @ 10:45. Its the laws of Rock n Roll!!!
Posted by jstuckey001 on August 3, 2006 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have noticed it's mainly in downtown that bands start real late. For the rest of Baton Rouge, band times usually begin at nine. I love live music and some of the best playing is in that section of the city. Since the rebirth of downtown I have been going and I enjoy the atmosphere. Too bad it's set for younger kids who like to party. I am 35 and don't really believe I fall into the classification of young urban professional.
Posted by CJ40 on August 6, 2006 at 3:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a band that has played the early gig on Saturday nights at SoGo Live. Long Neck Society has played the 8:30 - 11:30 slot with success. Thanks to Abe for trying something new. Too bad the casino is kicking them out of their downtown venue.
Posted by hudsonlong on October 6, 2006 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People will tend to come to shows whenever they're advertised to actually start. you see, they have these things called watches nowadays.
some of them are even digital with lighted numbers that
make it easy to tell when the band is going to start.
and it doesn't really matter if the person is 21 or 101.
the watches don't actually know how old the person is.
that's the beauty of it, you see.
people can look at their watch and see that
THE BURNING SINDERS are playing down at
the RATHER SMALL HOLE IN THE WALL at precisely 7 pm say?
And by reading their perhaps 'trendy' timepiece (either on their wall on on their wrist) said audience member can determine exactly when to leave his/her abode and be able to witness the experience first hand at the proper time of day!
amazing but true.
you advertise a start time (late or 'early') and folks are able to determine for themselves when to be there!
Posted by Glenn on December 23, 2006 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Watches.. that's clever.
The fact is, people don't show up for early shows. It's been tried.
Let's not forget that more than half the year it's 80 degrees or up until around 9pm.
Like Frank says in the article, there's simply no demand.
However, if you want to see your favorite band at your favorite venue play earlier, just ask for it. If somebody really wants to see us play early, we'll make it happen. If you want some early shows at your favorite venues, get some people to bug the managers at it will happen.
Believe me. The club owners want to please their clientelle.
Glenn
The Way-High Men
Posted by guitarbob on February 27, 2007 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i thought that too, until a year ago...we played a set at 5pm and in lakeland for a decent size audience.. people will show up for an early show if they like the band and you advertise enough, the sad thing is that most bands around here take the attitude that the people are goin to show up at 12 regardless because thats when they go there....if that were the case then theyd be at that bar/club regardless and your part of the scenery, however this is not true if you have people that like to hear you play they will be there when you play
Posted by billtone on May 14, 2007 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are a few places that have early band venues.
Superior Grill and La Caretta, both in mid-city. Both start about 6:30 or so and finish by 10 or 11, mostly Th-Sat. They don't usually have your cuting edge artists and a lot of it is covers, but every now and then you get some originals from the likes of Tom Coerver or Kirk Holder. There are a lot of good musicians in this town, but unfortunately there are only so many venues for original music and most of the crowds are only sophisticated enough for the run of the mill cover band. I was actually asked to play some "back that a** up music" as a request...to a 3 piece rock, blues and originals band!
Posted by david on May 21, 2007 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unlike some of the narrow minded people who posted comments, Some people have the ability to love the cover bands as well as the original type music. I totally disagree with the comments about Superior Grill and La Carreta not having great artist. When some bands play at La Carreta and Superior Grill they start at 6:30 but they run out of tables and chairs at 3:00 pm, people are waiting 3-4 hours to see their favorite "cover band"!!! If that does not tell you that some venues and customers are having a great success with early hours, I dont know what will.
Posted by hudsonlong on June 13, 2007 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
still think earlier shows would bring out more folks.
not talking a big move. 9---12 should do it.
i dare you BR, try it for a month.
it couldn't HURT anything, right?
it's not like we're gonna DO AWAY
with the hordes that are presently
zooming into the city to hear original
bands at night or anything.
Posted by hudsonlong on July 8, 2007 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you GOD: BOUDREAUX'S and THIBODEAUX'S (214 3rd st.)
has an earlier start and it's WORKING wonderfully. (even in the summer)
they have a super little one man cajun/zydeco band
playing from 6--8:30 and then really good roots oriented
bands play from 9---12.
and the place is rockin'.
keep up the fine example of what BR needs most!
Posted by hudsonlong on July 8, 2007 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SUPERIOR GRILL
6:30---10
Bands regularly playing early
Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Posted by oldperson on July 22, 2007 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I sometimes wonder if late start times are the bar version of age discrimination. Old folks like me are seen to lower the cool factor -- so why cater to us?
Some of us oldsters would like to go out, hear some music and get home before midnight -- even on weekends, but it's not feasible in BR. This is too bad since we have MONEY to spend on food and beverages -- and even cover charges!
And believe it or not, we like to hear original music AND cover bands. We cut our party teeth on cover bands back in the day. The thing is, we still like to party and we still like to go hear bands, but the local music scene makes it WAY too hard.
I remember M's Fine & Mellow Cafe had earlier start times and full houses. They also had a good mix of ages from teenagers to oldsters -- and they even had jazz!
Phil Brady's has been successful with Ned Fasullo starting at 8 and going until 12 with SRO crowds.
Why doesn't some enterprising club-owner-wannabe try that business model on for size? With good music and good food and a strong advertising campaign, I''ll just bet the place would be successful.
Posted by thehaight on July 29, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I find it suprising that no one has looked at this from the artist's perspective. Most bands, especially bands that play original music aren't making enough money to quit there dayjobs. They have to work too. That very fact seems to have been overlooked. Bands have every background of person. Younger, Older, Young Professional, Older Professional, The Waiters and Waitresses. The list goes on and on. These same people have another job. The job of playing entertaining music which is a lot more work, in and of itself, then most people care to admit. Try cutting back the time and you may lose attendance. Which for musicians is very bad since they normally get paid a percentage of the door. I for one believe that if a group of people is willing to work to pay the rent during the day, rehearse all week long for a show that happens on the weekend, and allow personal relations to suffer because of their art than the least we can do as music listeners is suffer a little with them. Besides, It's all part of the experience. You tell everyone the next day at work that even though your struggling through your day you saw a great show last night and had a good time. They don't even have that. They went to bed early the night before and although they're a bit better rested I bet they're also a little jealous. So Baton Rouge, no disrespect but maybe it's time to quit whining, buck up, and see some shows. Regardless of how early or late they start.
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