Wow, what a thread bomb I've been reading these day on Soft. Makes me glad that there is something for such a quick feedback. Just to give you an idea of what it used to be like back in the daze in California, the biotching would have had to wait weeks til the next Xeroxed DIY scene zine came out to have opinions circulated. Now thanks to Soft, it only takes a day!
That said, I'm conflicted on whether to respond with a one-finger salute, or say what I'm really thinking. First off, let me say that it ain't easy doing this. As you know, the local scene here is just taking off as part of the worldwide trend back to live music shows and away from declining CD sales. I think it's a good thing, because it allows the street level talent an equal access as the manufactured stars.
But, if you could only imagine…
It costs a lot of time and money to build a place that can support live music in all its forms. It cost even more to keep it running. Trust me when I say we're doing this for the love of having a place where ideas and talent can flourish. This ain't no PAP sponsored community centre.
Where I'm from, it's all about do-it-yourself, and it's normal for the bands that want to play and the people organising the show to go out and pre-sell tickets, as a band, there is no better opportunity to show off your fan base AND make some money for your work.
We do listen to what our customers want, but if you read the big sign on the wall, "the customer is always wrong".
But we do make changes. Walls too bright? We painted them. Bands need a place to warm up? We built studios. Lighting too dull? We bought new lights. Equipment not right? We upgrade as we go, depending on if we made enough that week to do it.
Speaking of which: Who are the fuknuts who think it's so damn cool to bring in their own food, their own bottles of alcohol, or their own cokes? Maybe the same ones who smash up the cymbals, cracking them after just two weeks of use, or stealing the cables every day? This ain't cool at all and shows no respect for the venue or the gig. This is a music cafe, and we have high rent just so you can come in here and stuff the pool table pockets with paper coz you're too cheap to pay $2 for a game of pool? This screws up the table for the next players and is as annoying as hell.
As for our sound dude, he’s one hard working mofo, we’ve had over 1000 band setups here since we opened, and he’s been through hell and high-water. Sure he’s gruff. But if you treat him with respect (as many of the threadsters have testified) he’ll do a bang up job. Walk away from him when he asks you to give him a signal, and you won’t get anything. Tell him you know how to set our system better than he does and he’ll walk on you.
As for the bass amp. The ones we have aren’t loud enough, and they kept getting blown up because the bands kept cranking them too high. We’d love to get an expensive one, but with the overhead, that’s just down the road a bit. Just think about that every time you buy a drink from us instead of sneaking in with your 7-11 purchase; we’ll one step closer to upgrading!
We agree about the sports TV, let us know if you want it off, or bring in a video you want to see. Believe it or not, some of the people who come in for the shows ask us to turn the sports on. We tend to cater to those who make their preferences known.
As for Roy, who else in the scene is so passionate about the music and helping new bands get on stage regardless of their talent level? Who else is promoting the live scene as hard as he? I know for a fact that many of the bands that played here would never have played for a live audience if it wasn’t for him. So props go to him for caring.
So what if you have to sell some tickets to support the scene? I have to kick down tens of thousands a month to do so. Argue with that if you can. Trust me when I say we ain’t laughing all the way to the bank in our limos with the takings.
We’re doing this to make a difference in Singapore. It’s actually all the scenes doing their thing that makes Gashaus unique; J-Rockers, Goths, break-dancers and deejays, performance artists, fashionistas, indie-rockers, drum and bassers, rastas, ska boys, punkers, electro-art-noise fans, sports fans, graffiti artists, headbangers, Sailors, karaoke lovers, Malays, Marines, mainlanders, Californians, Chinese, Commonwealthers, pimps, Indians, players, dirty hookers, tourists, Tamils, family men, their kids, and anyone else who walks in through the doors.
The Gashaus is a veritable UN of styles… everyone is welcome. As for the original poster playingplay, all I can say, is that I pity the fool…
Jeff, punk rawk.
Shout outs to Soft and James for keeping it real!
Please use this thread to CONTRUCTIVELY let us know how we can improve…
That said, I'm conflicted on whether to respond with a one-finger salute, or say what I'm really thinking. First off, let me say that it ain't easy doing this. As you know, the local scene here is just taking off as part of the worldwide trend back to live music shows and away from declining CD sales. I think it's a good thing, because it allows the street level talent an equal access as the manufactured stars.
But, if you could only imagine…
It costs a lot of time and money to build a place that can support live music in all its forms. It cost even more to keep it running. Trust me when I say we're doing this for the love of having a place where ideas and talent can flourish. This ain't no PAP sponsored community centre.
Where I'm from, it's all about do-it-yourself, and it's normal for the bands that want to play and the people organising the show to go out and pre-sell tickets, as a band, there is no better opportunity to show off your fan base AND make some money for your work.
We do listen to what our customers want, but if you read the big sign on the wall, "the customer is always wrong".
But we do make changes. Walls too bright? We painted them. Bands need a place to warm up? We built studios. Lighting too dull? We bought new lights. Equipment not right? We upgrade as we go, depending on if we made enough that week to do it.
Speaking of which: Who are the fuknuts who think it's so damn cool to bring in their own food, their own bottles of alcohol, or their own cokes? Maybe the same ones who smash up the cymbals, cracking them after just two weeks of use, or stealing the cables every day? This ain't cool at all and shows no respect for the venue or the gig. This is a music cafe, and we have high rent just so you can come in here and stuff the pool table pockets with paper coz you're too cheap to pay $2 for a game of pool? This screws up the table for the next players and is as annoying as hell.
As for our sound dude, he’s one hard working mofo, we’ve had over 1000 band setups here since we opened, and he’s been through hell and high-water. Sure he’s gruff. But if you treat him with respect (as many of the threadsters have testified) he’ll do a bang up job. Walk away from him when he asks you to give him a signal, and you won’t get anything. Tell him you know how to set our system better than he does and he’ll walk on you.
As for the bass amp. The ones we have aren’t loud enough, and they kept getting blown up because the bands kept cranking them too high. We’d love to get an expensive one, but with the overhead, that’s just down the road a bit. Just think about that every time you buy a drink from us instead of sneaking in with your 7-11 purchase; we’ll one step closer to upgrading!
We agree about the sports TV, let us know if you want it off, or bring in a video you want to see. Believe it or not, some of the people who come in for the shows ask us to turn the sports on. We tend to cater to those who make their preferences known.
As for Roy, who else in the scene is so passionate about the music and helping new bands get on stage regardless of their talent level? Who else is promoting the live scene as hard as he? I know for a fact that many of the bands that played here would never have played for a live audience if it wasn’t for him. So props go to him for caring.
So what if you have to sell some tickets to support the scene? I have to kick down tens of thousands a month to do so. Argue with that if you can. Trust me when I say we ain’t laughing all the way to the bank in our limos with the takings.
We’re doing this to make a difference in Singapore. It’s actually all the scenes doing their thing that makes Gashaus unique; J-Rockers, Goths, break-dancers and deejays, performance artists, fashionistas, indie-rockers, drum and bassers, rastas, ska boys, punkers, electro-art-noise fans, sports fans, graffiti artists, headbangers, Sailors, karaoke lovers, Malays, Marines, mainlanders, Californians, Chinese, Commonwealthers, pimps, Indians, players, dirty hookers, tourists, Tamils, family men, their kids, and anyone else who walks in through the doors.
The Gashaus is a veritable UN of styles… everyone is welcome. As for the original poster playingplay, all I can say, is that I pity the fool…
Jeff, punk rawk.
Shout outs to Soft and James for keeping it real!
Please use this thread to CONTRUCTIVELY let us know how we can improve…
