Listening to DJ Psychopomp on www.thefuzz.com.au and checking out the chatroom, I was reminded of an idea I had so many years ago.
Here's what I said in the chatroom:
Sorry to hijack or whatever. circa 1998: I spoke to the drummer from The Choirboys about a "venue" that incorporated a performance stage, rehearsal rooms, retail displays (need a new set of strings / sticks) - he liked the idea but "sponsorship" was the nail in the coffin.
That was my idea in a nutshell.
But even more.
Imagine this:
A band gets to this venue. They have rehearsal rooms, they gain access to retail displays (just in case they need to buy new strings, new drumsticks, maybe a cymbal or two), but this next idea was the biggest one.
Each and every rehearsal room had a complete recording facility built-in, so that the drums could be miked, the guitars, the vocals, the piano, the violin - each could be individually recorded - during rehearsal.
That's the thing - during rehearsal.
As Tori Amos once said - "getting a moment on tape" - I've never forgotten that comment.
Imagine coming into a rehearsal space, and giving it the best, but NOT recording it?
Oh NO!
Anyway, that was my idea - each and every rehearsal or practice session could be recorded - obviously these need to be paid for, but ...... but that's the first sticking point.
The next was that the drummer from The Choirboys liked my idea, but artists who have "made it" have sponsorship, so they wouldn't be buying from the retail spaces in this "venue"
So if we remove the sponsorship aspect, what's left?
A space that offers:
* Rehearsal rooms (with complete recording capabilties off the bat) - pay for a DAT on your way out.
* A performance space - a venue, that can be booked for a concert.
* Retail or other spaces that sell goods and services.
Lets expand on that last point - remember the "sponsorship" aspect of "known" artists. They won't be buying products and services from these retail points - but for the unknowns, or just starting out artists, this could be very useful.
Secondly, think of people coming to the venue to experience an artist - they will want food and drinks - there's an opportunity ( a licensed venue certainly ) but one to think about.
So that's a really short precis of my idea. I haven't gone into the ultimate detail here, because I really don't know whether it'll actually fly.
The artists are the ones who will drive this - if they want to.
What are the issues with your current rehearsal spaces?
What is missing?
What do you want?
How can someone deliver on what you need?
