Jimmy Z's Fri 7/16/04
Everyone there from the staff to the other bands has been really nice to us every time we've played there, but nice plus $15 doesn't even cover the gas for the ride up there. As venues go, it's got a lot going for it as to the layout of the place, location, PA quality, and personable staff. It's a damn shame something that could be so cool flounders so badly. Now I know why so many people rolled their eyes when I mentioned that we were playing there. If the staff of Jimmy Z's is reading this, I have a few questions and suggestions.
1) Wait until the show is over before getting fucked up. You know who you are.
2) If you publicize it, they will come. If you can't get people in your club to see a tribute band (the curiousity factor alone is a proven draw), you're not trying hard enough. Hell - you're not trying at all. Oh yeah - save the kid's drawings for your fridge. If a child's scrawlings are the only promo a band sees for their appearance when they arrive from out of town, what kind of message do you think they get? You'll make the money back spent on an ad in, say, The Stranger at the bar in less than an hour. All radio stations and music papers have club calendars. Why are you not on them? Listing the show on the marquee would be wise as well.
3) At a punk show, it may be wise to play punk between sets. Slayer kicks ass, but they sure as shit ain't punk. And Van Fucking Morrison? What's next - John Tesh?
4) Some light in the bathroom by the stage would be nice.
5) Clean the salt shakers. That shit was just fucking vile!
6) No drink tickets? What's up with that?
7) A more financially and logistically feasible alternative to having two separate and sparsely populated barrooms would be to shut down the small one at night Fridays and Saturdays and focus on filling the big room. If you still feel the need to have 10 bands on the bill, make it an all day thing on a Saturday. Are all ages shows legal in Everett?
8) Judging from the plethora of name bands promo pictures and posters adorning the walls, it seems Jimmy Z's was once a favored stop on many a tour, be it for national acts or local heroes. Take some time and figure out why this no longer is the case. This list is a good place to start the process.
9) Approach well known up and coming bands from Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, etc about making Jimmy Z's a stop on their West Coast itinerary. Jimmy Z's is on the way from Vancouver to Seattle to Portland, etc and would be a logical stop on the way whichever way you go. Make it worth their while (promote, have your shit together overall as a venue, etc) and I guarantee word will spread throughout the music community.
10) Get the accounting of the gate settled correctly, and inform the bands before the show what the split will be.
Most of this stuff seems to fall under the category of "common sense." I can't fathom why no one has mentioned this stuff to the club, or if things have been mentioned, why they remain the way they are.
As to the show itself, the crowd that was there was small but mighty. There were a bunch of mad fuckers bopping around up front singing along with every song we played. You guys fucking rocked! As I said before, the staff at Jimmy Z's were cool, but obviously I feel as if this show could've been way bigger than it was. Much thanks to Adrian from the Sunset Tavern for doing house sound for us. I'd also like to thank Trish Becker for the alterations to my stage jeans. And big thanks to "Poindexter " and "Captain Flip Flops, the Love Commander."