New Live Rock Venue in Sydney.. In the Casino!

[Futureman]

Ok, firstup, I have to state that I work at the Casino as a sound guy..

But, in saying that I have no real urge or need to push this venue (Rock Lily), I was just interested if anyone out there even knows it exists.. for some reason, the higher powers have decided NOT to advertise it.

This does confuse many of us, because, as a venue, it's actually pretty good cosy room... and all bands are playing 100% originals.. ie, no cover bands. (But in the casino enviroment, that could change in a heartbeat )
I almost find it touching that in a time where venues are shutting their doors, of all places the casino opens up a new one?

For example ,last night, Dappled Cities played to a small to medium sized crowd of about 70 people..

I'm trying to work out why anyone would think that 'NOT' advertising a new live original rock venue is a good idea? Can anyone out their in PR land please explain their possible logic?

I'm seriously not trying to plug this place on a forum, just interested if people had even heard of it?

Cheers
Mike

[Kurt]

Nope, had no idea it exists. I assume they have safe middle of the road bands?

[Futureman]

Depends on what you judge to be mor. No metal, but we've had a few punk bands so far...

[gigpiglet]

yeah... i know it exists. i went to the opening.
but im a promoter rep/ TM/ artist manager - so it really should come across my desk!

having said that - i thought it was a funny little place - good set up, but on the gaming floor of the casino?
i cant see it lasting.
i really cant. (ESPECIALLY if they arnt advertising it!)

[obutcher]

I only knew it exists because a workmate saw a band there.

What kind of rig are you running Mike?

[JulienG]

Whaddaya know, I'm moving up in a month to start working next door.

[no-fi]

hey Mike. you should try your hand at booking an all night acid disco party there!

[jkhuri44]

book a hard drum and bass night...guaranteed shut down at midnight...ffs. Venues piss me off.

[Kurt]

Venue are primarily pubs that have bands/djs etc to get drinkers through the door and spending money. In this case they want people to gamble, but close enough to the same thing. D&B crowds tend to use other social de-inhibitors, thus the venue make no money over the bar. I have no idea if they are gamblers. Unless the organisers want to pay a room hire fee equivalent to what the bar might make on a standard band night why would they take the risk of going backwards?

This is why I find it odd that they've had punk bands, crowds have quite the rep (here anyway) for not spending money (car park goon!) wrecking shit and generally causing trouble. Metalheads on the other hand, tend to be well behaved and they drink, a lot, but are generally well behaved.

[jkhuri44]

thats the issue here is that art and culture ...once again is reamed by Corporate enterprise.

It would be nice to be able to hold a gig in a space which didnt sell alcohol at all, and wasnt placed right near residential housing...

apparently asking for this in Sydney is too much.

[jkhuri44]

sorry, did not mean to start ranting in an alert thread

[Futureman]

having said that - i thought it was a funny little place - good set up, but on the gaming floor of the casino?
i cant see it lasting.
i really cant. (ESPECIALLY if they arnt advertising it!)

I guess, in the casino's defence, they have to put the bar somewhere, and that is on the gaming floor..
Local bands (From Sydney) seem to say 'What a weird venue' while out of state bands are more like 'Cool venue, I wish we had something like this in our city'..

The Casino can be an odd place.. ie, something does not have to be 'financially viable' on it's own to continue.. The top restaurant and bar in the casino (Astral) ran for easy 10 years at pretty much a loss.(I'd imagine, don't have figures, but that would be my perception)
Most people who came to Astral bar in a busy friday or sat night could not believe that they had never heard of it.. amazing venue.. easily one of the best views from a bar in sydney, but once again, not heavily advertised.
[FYI, they did close down Astral bar & rest late last year to replace the space with gaming for the uber high rollers, but this is part of the $500 million?!?!?! refurb going on]

Regards
Mike

[Kurt]

Something like a restaurant in a casino can run at a loss as long as it translates diners into gamblers. In the licenced clubs here in the ACT they make little off the sale of alcohol or food, selling it cheap in order to get gamblers through the doors.

I know licences work differently in NSW, I imagine the rational would be much the same.

[jon.l.hunter]

I Played there Last night with The Holy Soul - gotta say I was skeptical and don't like gambling but it was a fine place to play and earn a few bucks. I also like that as a musician working in the Casino you are not allowed to gamble under the contract....

Sounded good too (thanks Mike)

Jon Hunter