The Concert Debate

In my hometown we don't have very many concert places. There is only really 2 that tend to book the bands I have a keen interest in. The first is Val Air Ballroom and the second is the House Of Bricks. Now the big issue in my town right now is what is a good time to have these places close and make all the under age kids get out. The law states that any business that generates more then half of its income from beer or other things like that has to have all minors out of the building by 9 o'clock. Now since HOB does not get any of the profit that the band makes by charging at the door and merchandise. They only get the money the band pays to play there and the profit from sales over beer and other alcohol, they by lay have to have any underage kids out of the building by 9. Now Val Air on the other hand is a set up concert hall so by law this whole thing does not apply to them even though they do sell alcohol. So back to HOB anyways anyone who has been to a show at the local venue knows that a show with 4 bands starting at 5 o'clock is very hard to wrap up by 9, especially if you want to really connect with the audience and have a good show. But because of the new restrictions we all have to leave the building by 9. Now I guess to some extent I respect the law and I do leave with the rest of the underage crowd (who mind you makes up practically the entire crowd). But go back a couple of months to a show with Sherwood .Moneen. and Silverstein. It was pouring rain outside but that didn't stop the show from going insanely well. It was a hit everyone sounded great and it was a whole lot of fun. So nine o'clock rolls around and we are all told that if we are not 21 then we must vacate right now. I didn't hold this against HOB at all because I had been following the story for the last couple days in the paper and I was fully aware of what was going on. So I with a few of my friends go outside and began to wait for my friend to come pick us up. It was lightly drizzling out side nothing to bad. In a matter of minutes It starts to downpour and we go to the door to go back in and the manger tells us he's really really sorry but he can be finned for letting us back in. So there I am in a brand new shirt that I bought before leaving standing out in the pouring rain. Now tell me that the law is having a good impact there? But something good did come out of this. The bands saw what was going on here and came outside and started to build conversations and ask how we liked the show. That was the good part of the night. It's been a few months with little or no change in the situation. In fact a few people went to the city and complained that this law was unfair and was actually decreasing the revenue of the places. In a effort to keep the peace the city moved the time to 9:30. Is this fair you be the judge. I plan on doing something about this. If any one in the greater Des Moines area would like to help please contact me. If any bands can help please call HOB they would be happy to book you and you can see how crazy the scene has become in my town. I tend not to be on MOG as much as I would like so please go ahed and drop me a line at DwightLykins@yahoo.com if you can help or visit my MYSPACE which is www.myspace.com/popmusicisdead_xx and lets try to stop this degenerating chaos that is detracting from the growing music scene which mind you the city is trying to increase. THANK YOU Dwight Lykins