Club closures killing the music scene? (techno, rock, cover, quote)

nymyth · 05-09-2007, 08:44 AM

Images of edgy nightclub Sin-é are flashed on oversized plasma screens in the sales office of a new condominium development.

Buyers, lured by the mystique of the Lower East Side's arts and music scene, pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to live at the center of it.

A few years later that same edgy nightclub goes out of business, having received many noise complaints from the new condo owners, and pinched by skyrocking rents driven up by those same well-heeled neighbors.

The almost cinematic irony of this situation is not limited to Sin-é (located on Attorney Street), but has become something of a pattern in downtown Manhattan. Another live music venue in the area, Tonic, shut last month and two musicians were arrested there while protesting the closing.

"Venues like Tonic make important cultural contributions to New York City," said Suzanne Fiol, artistic director at Issue Project Room, a performance space in Brooklyn. "When you are working with art on the margins, you need to be valued for what you add to culture, not what you make financially."

Foil opened her experimental music venue in the East Village in 2003, but was forced to move two years later after the landlord tried to double the rent.

Downtown musicians are still lamenting Tonic's demise, as it was a rare club that booked underground acts and gave performers a sizeable cut of door proceeds. Other venues are known to stiff performers, and some even charge bands to do a sound check before the show.

Under these circumstances, city politicians are looking at ways to provide public support for music clubs, while longtime observers say the era of Manhattan nightlife may soon become an era of Brooklyn nightlife.

Nick Bodor, co-owner of Cake Shop on Ludlow Street, says that only by running a café and record store upstairs, in addition to the downstairs nightclub, is he able to keep his business viable.

"The Lower East Side had definitely lost some of its artistic edge with the increased rents," said Bodor. "It's only going to get worse if we don't get some help with tax incentives or grants."

Proposals for such tax incentives may be introduced as early as this month by City Councilman Alan Gerson (D-Manhattan).

After meeting last week with club owners, musicians and city accountants, he plans to introduce bills to lower property taxes for performing arts venues, and perhaps seek special zoning so neighborhoods would be required to set aside a certain amount of land for live performance spaces.

"If we don't do this we are going to lose the verve of New York as a cultural incubator," Gerson said.

Recent downtown club closings
1973- 2006 CBGB, 315 Bowery

1992-2005 Fez, 380 Lafayette

1995-2005 Luna Lounge, 171 Ludlow St.

1998-2007 Tonic, 107 Norfolk

1999- 2005 C-Note, 157 Avenue C

2001-2007 Sin-e, 150 Attorney St.

Peace

TheBig3 · 05-09-2007, 09:01 AM

Yeah i saw this on the cover of one of the independent rags this weekend. This is just the urban cycle of life.

Artists make something trendy.

Rich fashionistas move in and gentrify the poor artists.

The poor artists are forced to move to an impoverished neighborhood to sell their art.

Impoverished area becomes trendy.

Rich Fashionistas move in.

Happens everywhere in America because theirs no real class structure.

nymyth · 05-09-2007, 09:05 AM

I agree, it does happen everywhere...but NY's music culture was built by these small clubs.....its just so sad to see this happen....

Peace

TheBig3 · 05-09-2007, 09:08 AM

Hey at least your Nightclubs didn't get pushed out by that euro-trash techno crap.

Our nightclubs just stayed in business by catering to these clowns.

nymyth · 05-09-2007, 09:37 AM

^^LMAO....yeah that is getting owned. Thank god that hasnt happened, we do have a few clubs that cater to this specifically, and i prefer it that way....actually most of the techno-clubs got ass raped by the cops because of drugs (exit, sound factory, crobar)....at least we still have Pacha (this club has actually been proactive, by hiring EMT people to scour the club)...

Peace

MityJ · 05-09-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3KilledMyRainDog

Hey at least your Nightclubs didn't get pushed out by that euro-trash techno crap.

Our nightclubs just stayed in business by catering to these clowns.

Apparently the clubs weren't making money in their original format, or they would not have changed.

ladyfordfairlane · 05-11-2007, 12:13 AM

From what I've read on the Rope, the Cutting Room might be closing down as well.

nymyth · 05-11-2007, 08:37 AM

ah man, i used to enjoy going there. We actually shot a LadyLife video for her song "O WAY O" at that place... :tear:

Peace

ladyfordfairlane · 05-11-2007, 10:06 AM

Yeah, it's a nice little venue. The only thing I won't miss is the $9.00 glasses of Jameson's.

nymyth · 05-11-2007, 01:29 PM

^^true...lol

Peace

05-09-2007, 08:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
nymyth Groupie Join Date: May 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 9	Club closures killing the music scene? Images of edgy nightclub Sin-é are flashed on oversized plasma screens in the sales office of a new condominium development. Buyers, lured by the mystique of the Lower East Side's arts and music scene, pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to live at the center of it. A few years later that same edgy nightclub goes out of business, having received many noise complaints from the new condo owners, and pinched by skyrocking rents driven up by those same well-heeled neighbors. The almost cinematic irony of this situation is not limited to Sin-é (located on Attorney Street), but has become something of a pattern in downtown Manhattan. Another live music venue in the area, Tonic, shut last month and two musicians were arrested there while protesting the closing. "Venues like Tonic make important cultural contributions to New York City," said Suzanne Fiol, artistic director at Issue Project Room, a performance space in Brooklyn. "When you are working with art on the margins, you need to be valued for what you add to culture, not what you make financially." Foil opened her experimental music venue in the East Village in 2003, but was forced to move two years later after the landlord tried to double the rent. Downtown musicians are still lamenting Tonic's demise, as it was a rare club that booked underground acts and gave performers a sizeable cut of door proceeds. Other venues are known to stiff performers, and some even charge bands to do a sound check before the show. Under these circumstances, city politicians are looking at ways to provide public support for music clubs, while longtime observers say the era of Manhattan nightlife may soon become an era of Brooklyn nightlife. Nick Bodor, co-owner of Cake Shop on Ludlow Street, says that only by running a café and record store upstairs, in addition to the downstairs nightclub, is he able to keep his business viable. "The Lower East Side had definitely lost some of its artistic edge with the increased rents," said Bodor. "It's only going to get worse if we don't get some help with tax incentives or grants." Proposals for such tax incentives may be introduced as early as this month by City Councilman Alan Gerson (D-Manhattan). After meeting last week with club owners, musicians and city accountants, he plans to introduce bills to lower property taxes for performing arts venues, and perhaps seek special zoning so neighborhoods would be required to set aside a certain amount of land for live performance spaces. "If we don't do this we are going to lose the verve of New York as a cultural incubator," Gerson said. Recent downtown club closings 1973- 2006 CBGB, 315 Bowery 1992-2005 Fez, 380 Lafayette 1995-2005 Luna Lounge, 171 Ludlow St. 1998-2007 Tonic, 107 Norfolk 1999- 2005 C-Note, 157 Avenue C 2001-2007 Sin-e, 150 Attorney St. Peace __________________ THE LBC

05-09-2007, 09:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Yeah i saw this on the cover of one of the independent rags this weekend. This is just the urban cycle of life. Artists make something trendy. Rich fashionistas move in and gentrify the poor artists. The poor artists are forced to move to an impoverished neighborhood to sell their art. Impoverished area becomes trendy. Rich Fashionistas move in. Happens everywhere in America because theirs no real class structure. __________________ I've moved to a new address

05-09-2007, 09:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
nymyth Groupie Join Date: May 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 9	I agree, it does happen everywhere...but NY's music culture was built by these small clubs.....its just so sad to see this happen.... Peace __________________ THE LBC

05-09-2007, 09:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Hey at least your Nightclubs didn't get pushed out by that euro-trash techno crap. Our nightclubs just stayed in business by catering to these clowns. __________________ I've moved to a new address

05-09-2007, 09:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
nymyth Groupie Join Date: May 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 9	^^LMAO....yeah that is getting owned. Thank god that hasnt happened, we do have a few clubs that cater to this specifically, and i prefer it that way....actually most of the techno-clubs got ass raped by the cops because of drugs (exit, sound factory, crobar)....at least we still have Pacha (this club has actually been proactive, by hiring EMT people to scour the club)... Peace __________________ THE LBC

05-11-2007, 12:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
ladyfordfairlane Groupie Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: 1,000,000 miles away Posts: 10	From what I've read on the Rope, the Cutting Room might be closing down as well. __________________ In Memoriam: Gene Frenkle: 1950-2000.

05-11-2007, 08:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
nymyth Groupie Join Date: May 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 9	ah man, i used to enjoy going there. We actually shot a LadyLife video for her song "O WAY O" at that place... :tear: Peace __________________ THE LBC

05-11-2007, 10:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
ladyfordfairlane Groupie Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: 1,000,000 miles away Posts: 10	Yeah, it's a nice little venue. The only thing I won't miss is the $9.00 glasses of Jameson's. __________________ In Memoriam: Gene Frenkle: 1950-2000.

05-11-2007, 01:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
nymyth Groupie Join Date: May 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 9	^^true...lol Peace __________________ THE LBC