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If alcohol doesn't suit you don't drink it, If drugs don't suit you don't swallow them , but don't be judgemental on people who can handle their drink and drugs behave theirselfs and have fun , If you
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What a patronising reply and you have no idea what my background was back then. I had no idea that you only wanted back slapping replies that agreed with your point of view. I think that you believe t
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This is my first "new topic" posting which poses some interesting questions. The town I live in, Deadhill as it's known locally, has virtually nothing in the way of entertainment especially for young people. There was a large nightclub here which was demolished about 5 years ago and the flats are finally going up on that plot. Granted many of those attending that club were the last people you or I would want to meet on a night out. There are only 2 pubs on the town centre side, one is a Spoons and they don't entertain music, the other is in the absolute prime position in the town for a music venue but sadly the owner is so obsessed about losing his license rather than using it, yet he tells me in his 3 years there he has never had a single incident. Our 2 hour chat one summers evening in which he was keen on my proposal for 2 or 3 nights per week of functions was a waste of time ultimately. Such a shame because if he'd given me the venue on every Thurs, Fri, Sunday, the place would have been buzzing by now. In desperation with no other available venue in the centre, this got me thinking, when we first started going out in our youth, (note that my functions are not youth targeted but how many comments under old music do you see people saying they were born 10 years or more, too late, thus suggesting there is demand), where was it? The majority on here will probably say church hall discos as did I and the first 3 friends I asked.
As a result of such I made some enquiries with 2 church halls, which were reasonably well received, neither of which has an alcohol license which I personally saw positives in. Others may, but I don't "need" an alcoholic drink when I go out, especially when given unlimited use of the venues tap water at no expense as is the case here. One offered me the venue for Saturday nights from March onwards, with a closing time of 23.30. It also has a full canteen available at an extra cost, which got me thinking about further opportunities if the functions became successful. No alcohol license equals no age restrictions, thus potential family appeal and a community spirit.
Ultimately the music policy is what pulls most people on this site to a function but with an ageing listenership I can't help feeling that there needs to be more flexibility in order to pull in wider audiences long term. Personally I think there's little worse at a function than hearing 4 hours of exactly the same style of music and from the same narrow band of years, [played to a crowd largely made up of senior citizens, many too infirm to carry on dancing through years of excess at weekenders, only joking there btw]. Appealing to a minority market is likely to eventually be reflected in attendance numbers.
Going back to the subject of trying to get a younger audience through the doors, I will just refer to the functions I have in mind which will be covering early 70's to mid 80's soul funk jazz fusion, early 2000's soulful house, and some reggae. There will be some obvious floor fillers such as Cheryl Lynn Got to be real, Level 42 Love games, Shakatak Easier said, Loose Ends Hanging on a string, and Southern Freez, but from the same years there's just as likely to be Starpoint Bring your sweet loving back, Status IV Loving you, Sunfire Never too late for your loving. Stepping back into the 70's maybe Anacostia, Bloodstone, Earl Connelly, Crystal Motion, Duprees, Got-Cha, Hokis Pokis, The Joneses, Monday After, The Philly Devotions, whilst entering the current century Naked Music, Migs, Jay J & Chris Lum, and Physics. In summary enough to capture multiple audiences.
So, putting the question out there, based on the above, the fact that the venue does not have an alcohol license and I have no interest in the complications applying for one, 23.30 is the latest finish, and the crowd could be made up of any age group, if you were relatively local to a weekly function such as this with an entry fee of a fiver, would you be likely to attend or would the fact that alcohol would not be available sway your decision outright? I believe that without alcohol available, the functions are likely to attract a more responsible crowd overall.
I look forward to hearing your opinions. Thanks, Martin
Edited by Guest