Local band creates their own gig place.
 

Some local guys recently bought/leased a dormant nighclub, cleaned it up, and set up two stages. They play and have another band on the bill. They charge admission, but it's a byob, own eats or whatever. They seem to be having pretty successful events. Anyone have something similar in their area?

If you tried that on my side of the pond the local authorities/Police would shut you down tout suite. Killjoys.

Sounds pretty cool if it works. Well done them. :)

I've done it in a local firehall and was very successful....unfortunately, not allowed anymore BYOB's due to firehall liability.

Sounds like a great way to go broke.

No liabilities, no legal issues, no overhead.... BRILLIANT!

Sounds like a great Idea. Every town could use a place like this. I would like to see it with out the Booze to attract more youngsters. Or Yungin's as they say around these parts.

Wrong on all counts. Even if your club is byob, but you still have legal liability and a need for insurance. You still have to pay for lights, heat, insurance and maintenance.

Glad to know you can't get away with it over there, too. In fact, in today's litigious climate I think you could be setting yourself up for one Hell of a fall.

I'm sure there are plenty of expenses and liabilities. Cover is 10 bucks. I think it's done more for the love of playing and giving other bands a place to show their stuff.

My good friend Tom Martin set up his own venue here about six years back and it's doing pretty well.

http://www.towerofsong.co.uk/

I just set up a thread asking if this works. Glad to see it does.

That sounds like so much fun! Our old drummer had this huge garage that we talked about doing house shows out of. Same idea, BYOB, just hangin' out with other bands and our friends, making good music. Having to pay bills and manage all those people, making sure a fight doesn't break out, seems like a little more stress than I'd want to put up with, but if it's working for them then more power to 'em. I wish we had a fun place like that, but most of the venues here treat bands like trash.

we have a BYOB place in Cleveland Ohio called All Go Signs. The night I played there was also a free jazz group and a short movie premiere. It was ridiculously hot -- that's what you get when admission is free and the place can't sell booze to pay for air conditioning!

http://www.allgosigns.com/

it was neat, though, people went out onto the roof to cool off and we all felt a little like we were part of the underground scene.

Not worth the hassles and issues IMO.

I've thought about it, but the administrative overhead just to have a good place to gig is not worth it, imo.

Now if I hit the lottery or something, I would do it in a heartbeat to grow the local music scene.

Would be difficult where I live in Massachusetts. You would need to obtain building occupancy permits, certificates from the Fire Department, obtain a business license, liability insurance, provide security, etc. Not to mention the tax implications of reporting the income from the shows.

When the Allman Brothers Band was first starting out,
they would just go to a Park in Atlanta, set up and start playing.
They didn't even need a "venue".

It might be possible to rent a gazebo, community bldg., shelter house at a local park
and stage your own event.

That would be illegal as heck, here.

I played at a state park for a friends son's graduation party. Alot of shows get shut down by the cops but how many people can say they got shut down by the DNR?