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Why Are Soul Venues Shutting Down?


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Just wondered if anyone had thought about the smoking ban as a reason for attendances down.We don't smoke ourselves,but a lot of people do,has it made a difference?

I don't think so, at Soulfusion it's very pleasant outside (when weather permits!), and some of the best gossip and backchat went on outside when I was at Oxford, Warwick and Coppertops recently to name but three.

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Guest Soultown andy

Just wondered if anyone had thought about the smoking ban as a reason for attendances down.We don't smoke ourselves,but a lot of people do,has it made a difference?

Its actualy working in our favour now,because the new civic isnt as big as the old one.We can have about a 100 or so smokeing outside at any one time which is takeing the strain off the main room and allowing us to make sure everyone gets in.

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Just wondered if anyone had thought about the smoking ban as a reason for attendances down.We don't smoke ourselves,but a lot of people do,has it made a difference?

Why would a smoking ban affect attendance's to a venue :thumbsup: If you have a genuine love of the music, enjoy hearing/dancing to it, the record bar, socialising... a small thing like smoking shouldn't have any effect... wink.gif

Karen

Edited by sanquine
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I was wondering if any likely cause was simply down to the 'age demographic profile' for rare/northern/quality soulies :thumbsup:

Just that little bit older than the previous year and while there'll always be exceptions , I'm guessing going out on cold, wet, dark nights and travelling any distance over the winter period doesn't have the same priority as it used to have!

Personally I'll go anywhere at any time as long as you wrap me in a travel rug and give me a thermos flask of hot tea biggrin.gif

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It's all to do with the fact that the music is around 45 years old now - i.e. almost ancient. It's incredible that it's lasted this long and is a fine testament to the wonderful records. Will people be interested in numbers in ten years time if the northern soul scene remains mainly 60s based? I think not.

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Guest Trevski

Winsford's closure was nothing to do with numbers, just the venue being knocked down.

Others, however may be due to the overpopulation of returnee's now getting fed up with the same old stuff.

The more upfront venues have weathered the storm, and numbers are now picking up in York, Morley Carr etc, doing very well.

It was only a couple of years ago, on here, we were getting arguments every other day from oldies fans shouting the odds, with their "keep the faith" oh so fervent atititude. Gone a lot quieter now. Perhaps the second rate oldies venues, playing a bunch of boots, have slipped away, the better run ones survived, The wannabe promoters have realised it's a far harder job than just getting your mates to play a few tunes, and those that have been doing the business quietly for years are still there.

No bad thing, all in all, imho.

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Perhaps, as the song goes...."Only the strong survive"......Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm sure there are "promoters" out there who can elaborate???

Can only speak from the Winsford point of view. Yeah five years back it was a struggling nighter but it was turned round with a lot of hard work and quite a considerable amount of money.And ended up as one of the best nighters in the country. It closed last week because the council owned building and land that it occupied was worth millions and when a developer came along and made the council an offer they could,nt refuse.That was the end of Winsford nighters. Pure economics as far as the coucil are concerned. Five nighters a year plus whatever else was run there could not compete financially.

Steve

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Winsford's closure was nothing to do with numbers, just the venue being knocked down.

Others, however may be due to the overpopulation of returnee's now getting fed up with the same old stuff.

The more upfront venues have weathered the storm, and numbers are now picking up in York, Morley Carr etc, doing very well.

It was only a couple of years ago, on here, we were getting arguments every other day from oldies fans shouting the odds, with their "keep the faith" oh so fervent atititude. Gone a lot quieter now. Perhaps the second rate oldies venues, playing a bunch of boots, have slipped away, the better run ones survived, The wannabe promoters have realised it's a far harder job than just getting your mates to play a few tunes, and those that have been doing the business quietly for years are still there.

No bad thing, all in all, imho.

the "oldies crowd" as you put don't populate "soul source" so much anymore...always getting slagged off by the "hip n' modern crowd"...actually not much of a crowd really...and never will be, and thats what the truth is.... that sort of average second rate poo will never be as popular...ever, period... :thumbup: (odd few are ok though? :thumbsup: )

as for venues shutting down ? has it ever changed ?....one closes another opens, apart from councils or club owners stopping nites, it seems to me as soon as the dance floor goes empty..(and guess why ? )...the punters will drift away...seen it happen a few times round here, that does not go to say the dark side does not have a place or people wanting to listen, just not at "northern nites"....unless they have a seperate room big enough for the " up front hip crowd"...

i guess the "oldies are dead" crys will be going up now... so pop to stoke next week, ( come n' say hello too) or the shed in Notts tonight, or Nuneton saturday (wont be there cos im not well ...cough, splutter )... now check it's pulse... it will not be weak i can assure you :thumbup:

pete ,.....defender of the faith, baggie trousers n' all that !

Edited by casper
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Guest Fatius Bumius

the "oldies crowd" as you put don't populate "soul source" so much anymore...always getting slagged off by the "hip n' modern crowd"...actually not much of a crowd really...and never will be, and thats what the truth is.... that sort of average second rate poo will never be as popular...ever, period... :ohmy: (odd few are ok though? whistling.gif )

as for venues shutting down ? has it ever changed ?....one closes another opens, apart from councils or club owners stopping nites, it seems to me as soon as the dance floor goes empty..(and guess why ? )...the punters will drift away...seen it happen a few times round here, that does not go to say the dark side does not have a place or people wanting to listen, just not at "northern nites"....unless they have a seperate room big enough for the " up front hip crowd"...

i guess the "oldies are dead" crys will be going up now... so pop to stoke next week, ( come n' say hello too) or the shed in Notts tonight, or Nuneton saturday (wont be there cos im not well ...cough, splutter )... now check it's pulse... it will not be weak i can assure you :thumbup:

pete ,.....defender of the faith, baggie trousers n' all that !

Oh dear, hip n modern, I don't fit that criteria Casper...oldies brigade...I don't fit that bill either.... Out of interest, what's your 5 favourite tracks?

Average 2nd rate poo never being as popular ? As popular as ? The top 100 ..?? To you it might be 2nd rate poo that those from the 'dark side' listen too .. the poo you choose to go and pay £3 - £4 to listen too is not worthy of a POO title :thumbup: ,but thats just my opinion :ohmy: Each to their own, we all have a choice where we go. I'd rather be at a venue with 25 other folks hearing quality sounds than a venue with 250 in listening to dire...diahor...diahorrr....

it seems to me as soon as the dance floor goes empty..(and guess why ? )...the punters will drift away...seen it happen a few times round here,

I'll guess.. is it because it's a tune you (they) don't know and haven't had time to practice and perfect your/their foot moves, backflips and hand claps to every beat and break at home before hitting the floor in front of an audience to show off... ?? :thumbup:

....venues are shutting,,, the tent had to be taken down because the damp course wasn't high enough and and it wasn't the right colour, Mr Ringmaster - sacked, too much violence while cracking his whip. Lions, tigers and bears...banned...unfair to keep them caged. High wire act...cancelled, health and safety issue,,which only leaves the clowns...and who wants to go out week in week out to watch the clowns :ohmy:

Keep the faith..and all that :shades:

In the next installment,,the soul police turn up...tune in, this time next week...

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How about promoters offering free admission to, say, under 21s.

Worth a try?

Great idea, also DJs should pay to play records, the venue owners should offer the venue for free, the bar staff should hand over free drinks to anyone still having hair, their own teeth and those that seem to have an ability to walk without the aid of a Zimmer frame.................. wink.gif

Edited by Chris L
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Just wondered if anyone had thought about the smoking ban as a reason for attendances down.We don't smoke ourselves,but a lot of people do,has it made a difference?

Well it definitely made a difference at my venue. And if you ask any publican, or club owner, I'm sure they will have been affected. In the small town where I live nearly every pub is up for sale.

I love the no smoking atmosphere, but it's deffo put some folk off.

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Guest Fatius Bumius

:thumbup: clowns yeah really funny that first time ive heard that yeah funny . :thumbup: great yeah well done yeah great must remember that for the playground on monday yeah great

Mmm, no school on Monday, it's half term :shades:

Venues are closing so that they can.....

HAVE A RE-UNION NIGHT

cheese1.gif

Edited by Fatius Bumius
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Just wondered if anyone had thought about the smoking ban as a reason for attendances down.We don't smoke ourselves,but a lot of people do,has it made a difference?

It has made me give a few nights out a miss,nothing to do with the music or the venue putting me off

just cant be arsed standing outside for half the night so i seem to be venturing out less

It hasnt been a conscious choice,just something that has evolved since the smoking ban was enforced

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. I'd rather be at a venue with 25 other folks hearing quality sounds .....

well Fatius.... i am sure you will get the oppertunity real soon ! rolleyes.gif

at the end of the day, if the new stuff was as infectious, exciting, and great to dance to as the sounds we were brought up on, then and we would all be wanting it..... just as we did then , ...don't yer think ?....the music would take us along like a storm and fill the venues .... but most of it is not, thats why it isn't, why it won't be, never will be, because it just does not , for most, cut the mustard.... empty dance floors will equal empty venues....very very quick ! :thumbup:

just going to sew some more buttons on to my pockets :shades:

pete KTF n' all that stuff...right on :thumbup:

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Guest Fatius Bumius

. I'd rather be at a venue with 25 other folks hearing quality sounds .....

well Fatius.... i am sure you will get the oppertunity real soon ! rolleyes.gif

at the end of the day, if the new stuff was as infectious, exciting, and great to dance to as the sounds we were brought up on, then and we would all be wanting it..... just as we did then , ...don't yer think ?....the music would take us along like a storm and fill the venues .... but most of it is not, thats why it isn't, why it won't be, never will be, because it just does not , for most, cut the mustard.... empty dance floors will equal empty venues....very very quick ! :ohmy:

just going to sew some more buttons on to my pockets :shades:

pete KTF n' all that stuff...right on :ohmy:

Hiya Casper,

My friends usually call me Fat for short... :thumbup::thumbup: anyway...25 at a venue, why where am I going? Hoping tomorrow night has more than 25 in :ohmy:

You judge the 'New stuff' on what merits? Have you been to a venue that has played 'new to your ears' stuff ? Was it rare ? 60's, 70's modern, crossover, R&B ??? I've been to a fair few that play something a bit different and can't remember seeing you at any? Are you just going on hearsay and rumours? Maybe some of the folks who run something a little different would make you up a CD of stuff that's played at their venues and you give it a whirl :ohmy: Stuff you was bought up on, were they all instantly danceable tunes to you? Or did they take time to grown on you? Crike, aren't I a nosey bugger ?

Have you got one of those button machines that put the buttons on for you in bulk? :ohmy: Mindya, at least when your two skirts sewn together, trousers are out on the washing line there's not much fear of them taking off in the wind if they're weighted ..... :thumbup:

ATB

KAY-TEA-EFF (in hell lol)

Di

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Hiya Casper,

My friends usually call me Fat for short... :ohmy::thumbup: anyway...25 at a venue, why where am I going? Hoping tomorrow night has more than 25 in :ohmy:

You judge the 'New stuff' on what merits? Have you been to a venue that has played 'new to your ears' stuff ? Was it rare ? 60's, 70's modern, crossover, R&B ??? I've been to a fair few that play something a bit different and can't remember seeing you at any? Are you just going on hearsay and rumours? Maybe some of the folks who run something a little different would make you up a CD of stuff that's played at their venues and you give it a whirl :ohmy: Stuff you was bought up on, were they all instantly danceable tunes to you? Or did they take time to grown on you? Crike, aren't I a nosey bugger ?

Have you got one of those button machines that put the buttons on for you in bulk? :ohmy: Mindya, at least when your two skirts sewn together, trousers are out on the washing line there's not much fear of them taking off in the wind if they're weighted ..... :shades:

ATB

KAY-TEA-EFF (in hell lol)

Di

ok Fat lol

I used to be regular where you are off to saturday, i hope you have a good nite, anniversarys usually are....i have not been for i think almost 2 years now, stood for an hour and a half (with others) waiting for a dance....if you want to break new sounds dont put em on one after another....im afraid it put me off for good.....

were most tunes instant dancers ?....i think yes for the most part, since they "fitted in" well.... thumbsup.gif

went to Doncaster a year ago to the "earl" ....what a nite that used to be, i hardly new a sound that particular nite,....and was sadly not inspired by what they played, so i have given my ears the chance.....and we did give it an hour or so.....what eventually struck me was all the dancers who got up for the most part were women, and the blokes sat n' watched..... most odd ? :ohmy:

one thing we aggree on, i too would sooner dance with 25 like minded people than stand and groan about the music...and these venues are around too ! :thumbup:

a cd would be nice, what would be better would be to break sounds more slowly at a venue..... but hey , thats just me... :thumbup:

anyway, im off to polish my polyveldts and wash my white sox,

have a good'n !

Pete, .......livin in a time warp n' lovin it !

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Guest soulboy

Why are people under the impression that to get youth into the scene we need to dilute to crappy commercial motown records?

I personally think that is insulting the younger crowds ability to have taste...it's not that they wouldn't love the more rarer stuff...it's just accessibility that's the problem...and I personally think the obvious root is to crossover your Mod/R&B with more soulful sounds in the same vein at nights...therefore exposing them to the right kind of balance

They are young...not retarded

well i for one dont want to go to a do with a load of young kids ,sorry but just not interested you can do that any night of the week .as for them having taste so would it be ok if they picked up on some crappy commercial motown record and then got in to the scene like most of us older end of the scene did ? As a small time promotor i try and give the door paying punters a good night ,that way you can build on it and get them in to the music ,ok i dont play ultra rare stuff but then i dont ego trip ,and at the end of the day if the night pays for its self thats all we want, I think it will find its own level if the younger end want to get in to it thats fine but for most people my age its more a way of life thing ,and remeber you cant force people to come to your night if its good they will come again.

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[color="#0000ff"

pete ,.....defender of the faith, baggie trousers n' all that !

Bit off topic but to be The Defender Of The Faith do you wear a cape. Is the Modern Marauder your arch nemisis?

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Went to a do' in Gloucester on saturday night. Advertised as a handbag soul night and a second Modern room. The place was rammed and in the main room were 2 DJ's playing who I have been told previously they sold their records. There were lots of Soulies in attendance , all seeming to enjoy themselves. Mel Britt came on and I said to someone I knew " Thats a big record" Reply "Its a CD". I have no problem in that , as such as the promoter is honest and upfront about what you get. My point is that People do not seem to worry anymore what is played and with a nicer venue they will be attracted to those venues, rather than to some of the traditional Northern venues. The Ladies, will generally go for a plusher venue.

Maybe a reason why venues are closing .

Got to say the Modern room was spot on, lots of 12" Vinyl and authentic sounds.

Although not the time to offload ones vinyl, I do wonder sometimes whether to copy them all onto CD's.Perhaps not!! mellow.gif

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It's because we are old and getting older.

Until a younger generation rediscover the music themselves with their own take on it, soul nights will continue to peter out.

The sort of thing I mean was illustrated to me on a night out a few months back (albeit not with soul). We were on stag do and looking for an all night drink. Someone suggested a rock and roll allnighter that was being held at a pub called the Old Axe in Bethnal Green. We went along expecting it to be sparsely populated by old teds (partly because of the music and partly because it is a filthy rotten old strippers pub). From midnight until six am the place was absolutely rammed to the rafters with predominantly 18- 25 year olds genuinely into the music, which was all being played from original seven inch singles. Whilst I'm no R and Roll expect the records played weren't run of the mill classics but obscure tracks. It was also apparent to me that the youngsters in there hadn't developed their passion from spending evenings out with old age greasers.

I guess the same thing needs to happen with our music.

vist the twisted wheel manchester fridays or sundays

not only old people in there lots of 18 -25s in there and they love it because they are made to feel welcome by us who were young once back in the60s&70s if your into sixties soul thats the place to go last sunday soul session the torch scooter club came up think they were from port vale think there was alot of dads with there lads need these younger folk there to keep the soul scene alive spike

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Guest bazrico

Great idea, also DJs should pay to play records, the venue owners should offer the venue for free, the bar staff should hand over free drinks to anyone still having hair, their own teeth and those that seem to have an ability to walk without the aid of a Zimmer frame.................. wink.gif

Hi Chris

when this happens please let me know would love to attend have teeth,hair(wrong colour)can walk on my own to the bar that is after that well you tell me

Edited by bazrico
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Guest bazrico

the "oldies crowd" as you put don't populate "soul source" so much anymore...always getting slagged off by the "hip n' modern crowd"...actually not much of a crowd really...and never will be, and thats what the truth is.... that sort of average second rate poo will never be as popular...ever, period... no.gif (odd few are ok though? whistling.gif )

as for venues shutting down ? has it ever changed ?....one closes another opens, apart from councils or club owners stopping nites, it seems to me as soon as the dance floor goes empty..(and guess why ? )...the punters will drift away...seen it happen a few times round here, that does not go to say the dark side does not have a place or people wanting to listen, just not at "northern nites"....unless they have a seperate room big enough for the " up front hip crowd"...

i guess the "oldies are dead" crys will be going up now... so pop to stoke next week, ( come n' say hello too) or the shed in Notts tonight, or Nuneton saturday (wont be there cos im not well ...cough, splutter )... now check it's pulse... it will not be weak i can assure you :thumbup:

pete ,.....defender of the faith, baggie trousers n' all that !

put me to sleep why don't you

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Guest bazrico

I think your somewhat tiresome views on 'crappy rare shit' cloud what could otherwise be a constructive post.

If youngsters don't know the tune, it matters not on rarity or obscurity, but moreso on tempo and danceability of a tune....they don't know the tune anyway, so it's always gonna be 'what's in the groove that counts'.

Whether that be classic motown, overplayed oldie, rare unknown, Northern, R&B or even godforbid Latin.

If its an uptempo tune that is infectious enough youngsters will dance.

Your example of Troy Dodds could be swapped with Diana Ross's 'Stormy' and the same lemon sucking theory would hold true.

Do you really believe that every old Motown or Eddie Floyd single would have a positive dancefloor reaction for youngsters, where every rare, obscure, or virtually unknown one would not. rolleyes.gif

I'd love to be able get 600 youngsters with no knowledge of 60s/70s soul into Kingshall and show just how wrong you are.....

I would have loved it if you had played that 70ts record i asked you to play a while now then what was that called it's so long ago

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Well it definitely made a difference at my venue. And if you ask any publican, or club owner, I'm sure they will have been affected. In the small town where I live nearly every pub is up for sale.

I love the no smoking atmosphere, but it's deffo put some folk off.

I've been to ONE do since the smoking ban came in. If I can't have a smoke with my beer, then I won't bother going. But of course, having said that, in December I packed in smoking AND drinking but I still haven't been out laugh.gif

all the pubs round here are closing down too, especially in the more built up/poorer areas. In one street in Pensnett there were 4 pubs closed down.

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Guest Fatius Bumius

and to add to that Pete...

Me and Jim both smoked when the ban came in, and we said bloody hell, no smoking, but we'll still carry on smoking and go out. Packed in smoking in the September, and started going out even less ...what was on offer out there soul wise in the main wasn't what we wanted, fag or no fag laugh.gif

Edited by Fatius Bumius
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Guest Fatius Bumius

Notice how the person who started the thread's not been back on - maybe they're not really interested in why venues are closing, they probably wanted to stir a bit of sh*t up :thumbsup:

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its not rocket science.

If you give folk want they want it'll be a success if you don't it'll fail. :thumbup:

analyse the ass out of it all you want - but the answer is as simple as Paul puts it :thumbsup:

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I would have loved it if you had played that 70ts record i asked you to play a while now then what was that called it's so long ago

A while ago...it was probably 20 years ago. :thumbsup:

It was on Invictus, that's all I remember.

Couldn't have been that good if you can't remember it :thumbup:

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Guest Trevski

and to add to that Pete...

Me and Jim both smoked when the ban came in, and we said bloody hell, no smoking, but we'll still carry on smoking and go out. Packed in smoking in the September, and started going out even less ...what was on offer out there soul wise in the main wasn't what we wanted, fag or no fag :thumbsup:

Really miss being able to smoke at a venue. Fair do's to those that don't, it must be an improvement, but it has really decreased my enjoyment of a night out enormously. Used to love being able to sit with a drink and a ciggy, and listen to a really good spot. Non smokers won't understand, but at nighters especialy, having to go outside every time you want a smoke, which in my case is about every half an hour at a niter, its a real pain!

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WHY IS IT SO MANY SOUL VENUES HAVE SHUTDOWN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? C.I.S. UNION NOTTS,AWESWORTH NOTTS,AND NOW WINSFORD TO NAME JUST A FEW. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR VIEWS COS IT SEEMS TO ME THE SCENE IS DWINDLEING FAST.IS DOWN TO...BAD PROMOTING?BAD SELECTION OF DJS MUSIC POLICY? TOO MANY VENUES ON THE GO? OR POLITICS?DRUGGIES,PISSHEADS,TIT TATLERS,GOSSIP HOUNDS,BACKSTABBERS? WHAT PLEASE HELP ME OUT!!!!!!

Yep - All of the above! lol - No it's just overkill everywhere. Compare the 'What's On' pages in Manifesto mag from the early 90's to now. Back then it would be one page for three months events...Now it's three pages for one months events.

This has also caused less people to travel. Trouble is it's hard to choose where to go as your defo not guarateed a good night.

I say 'close down' for July / August, this way everyone will be gagging for the 'Northern Soul Season' to start!!!

Len.

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Guest Fatius Bumius

I'd say the smoking ban plays a large part in declining numbers, yep, totally agree.

Got to look at it from a landlords point of view for the smaller attended nights though. If it's an event that runs with 25-40 in attendance and they are all out to dance, i.e, your oldies venue, or a night of 25-40 at a venue that's more geared towards underplayed stuff where a lot of folks are quite happy to sit around listening and talking, I think the underplayed venue stands more of a chance or surviving.

Read on here in lookbacks where the landlord has said at the last minute that he's doubled booked the night. My guess is he hadn't double booked until he got a phone call enquiring about having a wedding reception for 100+ on the same night, may sway him a little ? :thumbup: A landlords gotta do what a landlords gotta do, and that's sell drinks. Is it worth him paying a couple of bar staff 5 hours wages to serve a handful of customers ?

Chinstrokers sit and drink, at oldies venues its dance dance dance and they'll drink water or pop that they've smuggled in with the attitude that they aren't paying a £1 for a bottle of water or £1.50 for a pint of pop. :thumbsup: If you're not dancing, you're drinking...and spending your cash behind the bar.

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I think it's definately a bad thing that there are so many nights on which means people get spoilt for choice and less people travel. A mate of mine moved to Oslo a couple of years back and took his record collection with him and to cut a long story short started running soul/rnb nights(Klubb Magnuss + Miss Millies). Although there is the 'Oslo Soul Experience' and a couple other soul nights the music/scene is still relatively new to allot of people over there.

I've dj-ed there the last two years at the 'oslo mod weekender' and it's just gone from strength to strength with two successful club nights packed to the rafters friday night 250+, saturday night touching 325 :D , 85% of people in there where i'd say from 20-30 yr olds.

Just because it's called a mod weekender dont be laughing to yourselves thinking "bloody mods haven't got a clue about music" whistling.gif not true!

The music thats played is Rare Soul, Rnb, Latin + Ska all in a mix that gets the clubs rocking here's a few that was played last year just so you havce a rough idea:

Billy Hawkes - Oh Baby

Jone Tee - You made a lover

Jimmy Phillips - she belongs to me

Sammi Lee - Lets Talk It over

Manny Corchado - Pow Wow

Enchantments - I'm In Love With Your Daughter

Jokers - Soul Sound

Sugar Boy Williams - Little Girl

There will be some people wierdos who dont like any of the above, oh well laugh.gif

Tim Smithers is dj-ing out there in a few weeks i'm sure he'll come on here saying how fantastic/young/up for it the crowd were :lol: .

The clubs in norway are on monthly but there is only 1 or two on a month not like 30/40, us brits are spoilt face it!

2nd Point -

It all sounds very basic and common sense the Venues + Music both have a massive effect on the atmosphere of a club IMO what can definatley bring an influx of younger people to the scene is the environment the music is listened in, for me it needs to feel like a club not a social night or get together, We're in the year 2009 where young people like to go out get pissed and dance around :lol: , surely there must be a way to play this awesome music in a club atmopshere that attracts more/younger people into it? Could this ever happen?. Too many soul nights have this stop start feel to it but i think thats down to the dj's not being able to make thier sets flow, One minute the floor is full then a track gets played and it's empty huh.gif .

Like mace and beeks mentioned there's no need to compromise the music and definately no modern or crossover :no: . I heard one of maces cover up's a few weeks ago and it blew my socks off I kept asking him to play it hoping i could remember the lyrics but i was to pissed to remember :(wink.gif . I guarentee when he plays at pow wow(lots of younger people who just want to dance to great music) on april 18th he'll take the roof off without any compromising wink.gif .

also just a quick point, you never seem to see soul night flyers around apart from at Soul Nights, it's all very well letting people know who are already into the scene and maybe thinking of going but what about the people who dont know that these nights exist or do some soulies want to keep the scene to themselves i wonder :g: ?

All of the above is of course only my opinion

Callum.

Edited by callum_64
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Yep - All of the above! lol - No it's just overkill everywhere. Compare the 'What's On' pages in Manifesto mag from the early 90's to now. Back then it would be one page for three months events...Now it's three pages for one months events.

This has also caused less people to travel. Trouble is it's hard to choose where to go as your defo not guarateed a good night.

I say 'close down' for July / August, this way everyone will be gagging for the 'Northern Soul Season' to start!!!

Len.

Trouble is Len the Northern Soul Scene just aint cool anymore ...the music is ,but a bunch of forty up people in a room dancing just aint cool to people half their age...whats left is a pastime for older people....nothing wrong with that in its self...but on the whole younger people are just not gonna buy it.

Also to many splits an factions within whats left of the scene , seems that every other week someone is starting a night ...exclaiming its "quality" not the same ole or at the other end of the scale "guaranteed floor fillers allnight" etc.....then a lot are falling flat on their face, guess why cos there are too many doing just the same already......counting the days now really! :D ....are you depressed yet mate :shades:

Edited by Jem Brittin
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Really miss being able to smoke at a venue. Fair do's to those that don't, it must be an improvement, but it has really decreased my enjoyment of a night out enormously. Used to love being able to sit with a drink and a ciggy, and listen to a really good spot. Non smokers won't understand, but at nighters especialy, having to go outside every time you want a smoke, which in my case is about every half an hour at a niter, its a real pain!

Seconded. Not much fun for me either Trev. When the alternative is to go to Houseparty/Private Do where you can still smoke and relax it's very tempting. Many London clubs are closing and I'd say a good 33-40% of the pubs down here are either closing down or in big trouble - they're mostly empty these days with no regulars anymore. Unfortunately smokers tend to be precisely the sort of nervous, excitable buzzy people who LOVE going out and partying and if you can't do that in the way you've been accustomed to then it takes the edge off the night. I saw EXACTLY the same thing happen in New York when they brought the smoking ban in - it was the best place in the world for buzzing clubs at one time - now it's just a ghost of it's former self. So sad. I personally don't know what was wrong with having a smoking area within a venue - it seems a bit droconian making people go outside in this Winter LOL.....

I'm sooooo glad that I lived in the 70's, 80's & 90's. I see the 00's as the 'no fun' era and I think that probably has a bearing on the lower attendances generally. Houseparties and no-holds barred private parties are up a good 100% in my circle as that's now preferable to going to a club and much more like the old days!

Ian D :shades:

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Guest BigPaul

I'd say the smoking ban plays a large part in declining numbers, yep, totally agree.

Got to look at it from a landlords point of view for the smaller attended nights though. If it's an event that runs with 25-40 in attendance and they are all out to dance, i.e, your oldies venue, or a night of 25-40 at a venue that's more geared towards underplayed stuff where a lot of folks are quite happy to sit around listening and talking, I think the underplayed venue stands more of a chance or surviving.

Read on here in lookbacks where the landlord has said at the last minute that he's doubled booked the night. My guess is he hadn't double booked until he got a phone call enquiring about having a wedding reception for 100+ on the same night, may sway him a little ? :lol: A landlords gotta do what a landlords gotta do, and that's sell drinks. Is it worth him paying a couple of bar staff 5 hours wages to serve a handful of customers ?

Chinstrokers sit and drink, at oldies venues its dance dance dance and they'll drink water or pop that they've smuggled in with the attitude that they aren't paying a £1 for a bottle of water or £1.50 for a pint of pop. :lol: If you're not dancing, you're drinking...and spending your cash behind the bar.

Your a very observant and clever young lady Di :unsure:

Jims got all on with you :lol:

How are you two anyrode :lol:

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Guest Fatius Bumius

Good Morning Big P

Fine and dandy fella, how's you lot :)

Makes a bit of sense somewhat...if I was a landlord I know what i'd do, maybe it'll be a few landlords who pull the plug on a few events wether the pub shuts down or not. He'll be cancelling the odd night, forcing promotors to move, and the new move won't see the returnee soulies. A cheap to hire or free room for your soul do still needs to make money behind the bar. I know some will say 'but there's nowt going off in that room anyway when we have our do, so any bar takings are better than none'. A lot of the time, a soul do is at a venue that is just one room, the whole building has to be opened up just for one do.

Do the maths Carol, do the maths ( I say that to Jim when I get my number crunching head on, no wonder i'm hard work :unsure: )

40 folks - drinking - average 5 pints a piece - £12.50 x 40 = £500 (saying that me and Jim drink 7 odd each :lol: ) ...don't bare thinking about how much you Attic lot sup :)

40 folks - H2o smugglers - 1 drink of pop a piece to get a glass @ £1.50 a glass - £60 (or you can half that if they only buy an half pint pot :lol: ) Although these figures may double in summer when the H2o smugglers require a bit of ice in their smugglings laugh.gif

Anyone who buys a bag of peanuts has just ruined my maths!! :lol:

Take off staff wages....pop price, pot washing, room cleaning cost, floor buffing after the surge of talc,heating, lighting/electric....bugger all left ???

I know the landlord at Awsworth was keen on smuggling, he'd be round all night checking the tables for 'imports', and clocking how many times folks went to the bar, if you were drinking more than you were buying he's be round. Quite often the smugglers would leave behind the evidence, empty bottles. sad.gif

Any landlords on here ?

Moral of the story - keep drinking :lol:

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I think it's definately a bad thing that there are so many nights on which means people get spoilt for choice and less people travel. A mate of mine moved to Oslo a couple of years back and took his record collection with him and to cut a long story short started running soul/rnb nights(Klubb Magnuss + Miss Millies). Although there is the 'Oslo Soul Experience' and a couple other soul nights the music/scene is still relatively new to allot of people over there.

I've dj-ed there the last two years at the 'oslo mod weekender' and it's just gone from strength to strength with two successful club nights packed to the rafters friday night 250+, saturday night touching 325 :) , 85% of people in there where i'd say from 20-30 yr olds.

Just because it's called a mod weekender dont be laughing to yourselves thinking "bloody mods haven't got a clue about music" :unsure: not true!

The music thats played is Rare Soul, Rnb, Latin + Ska all in a mix that gets the clubs rocking here's a few that was played last year just so you havce a rough idea:

Billy Hawkes - Oh Baby

Jone Tee - You made a lover

Jimmy Phillips - she belongs to me

Sammi Lee - Lets Talk It over

Manny Corchado - Pow Wow

Enchantments - I'm In Love With Your Daughter

Jokers - Soul Sound

Sugar Boy Williams - Little Girl

There will be some people wierdos who dont like any of the above, oh well :lol:

Tim Smithers is dj-ing out there in a few weeks i'm sure he'll come on here saying how fantastic/young/up for it the crowd were yes.gif .

The clubs in norway are on monthly but there is only 1 or two on a month not like 30/40, us brits are spoilt face it!

2nd Point -

It all sounds very basic and common sense the Venues + Music both have a massive effect on the atmosphere of a club IMO what can definatley bring an influx of younger people to the scene is the environment the music is listened in, for me it needs to feel like a club not a social night or get together, We're in the year 2009 where young people like to go out get pissed and dance around :yes: , surely there must be a way to play this awesome music in a club atmopshere that attracts more/younger people into it? Could this ever happen?. Too many soul nights have this stop start feel to it but i think thats down to the dj's not being able to make thier sets flow, One minute the floor is full then a track gets played and it's empty :lol: .

Like mace and beeks mentioned there's no need to compromise the music and definately no modern or crossover :no: . I heard one of maces cover up's a few weeks ago and it blew my socks off I kept asking him to play it hoping i could remember the lyrics but i was to pissed to remember :(wink.gif . I guarentee when he plays at pow wow(lots of younger people who just want to dance to great music) on april 18th he'll take the roof off without any compromising wink.gif .

also just a quick point, you never seem to see soul night flyers around apart from at Soul Nights, it's all very well letting people know who are already into the scene and maybe thinking of going but what about the people who dont know that these nights exist or do some soulies want to keep the scene to themselves i wonder :g: ?

All of the above is of course only my opinion

Callum.

But Tim Smithers is a mod and knows nothing about Northern Soul :lol:laugh.gif

Sorry Tim :P

I was talking to Tim about this on Saturday and he is really looking forward to it but i think they sway of sexy young Swedish Totti is a major factor :)

good luck and Lock up your daughters :lol:

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Guest BigPaul

Good Morning Big P

Fine and dandy fella, how's you lot :D

Makes a bit of sense somewhat...if I was a landlord I know what i'd do, maybe it'll be a few landlords who pull the plug on a few events wether the pub shuts down or not. He'll be cancelling the odd night, forcing promotors to move, and the new move won't see the returnee soulies. A cheap to hire or free room for your soul do still needs to make money behind the bar. I know some will say 'but there's nowt going off in that room anyway when we have our do, so any bar takings are better than none'. A lot of the time, a soul do is at a venue that is just one room, the whole building has to be opened up just for one do.

Do the maths Carol, do the maths ( I say that to Jim when I get my number crunching head on, no wonder i'm hard work :cheese1: )

40 folks - drinking - average 5 pints a piece - £12.50 x 40 = £500 (saying that me and Jim drink 7 odd each :lol: ) ...don't bare thinking about how much you Attic lot sup wink.gif

40 folks - H2o smugglers - 1 drink of pop a piece to get a glass @ £1.50 a glass - £60 (or you can half that if they only buy an half pint pot :) ) Although these figures may double in summer when the H2o smugglers require a bit of ice in their smugglings :D

Anyone who buys a bag of peanuts has just ruined my maths!! :D

Take off staff wages....pop price, pot washing, room cleaning cost, floor buffing after the surge of talc,heating, lighting/electric....bugger all left ???

I know the landlord at Awsworth was keen on smuggling, he'd be round all night checking the tables for 'imports', and clocking how many times folks went to the bar, if you were drinking more than you were buying he's be round. Quite often the smugglers would leave behind the evidence, empty bottles. :(

Any landlords on here ?

Moral of the story - keep drinking :D

SteveL alone drinks enough to sink a Battleship :D

John Weston came along in January and guess what

Dave the Landlord told us he booked a holiday in The

Goa on the back of it wink.gif

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