Helping a Goth Scene

[Kenny Fangs]

From what I can tell, there isn't much of a goth scene around my town. I want to fix this, but I need ideas. So far, all I can think of is start a goth cover band and introduce some of my friends to the music. Any other ideas?

[TheRedHour]

Success depends totally on numbers. A cover band could be a start as an attractant. Research is your key to first steps.

Is there a venue that is open to diverse entertainments, is new and willing to try things, and/or has a suitable atmosphere inside?

Will there be enough goths and interested people to make it profitable for a venue to host the band as a warm-up?

Next, are there enough goths to have a goth night in a venue? if so, weekly?

It cost a venue a fortune to keep the doors open every day, from the pro-rated costs of occupancy certificate, dance hall license, electricity, water, dumpster, internet/phone, insurance, maintenance, payroll, liquor/beer licenses, paying the band, paying the DJ, on and on. They make it back from entrance fees and consumables sales.

A venue in Dallas has goth/edm/alternative, open 3 nites a week (one goth). See thechurchdallas.com known as the lizard lounge thelizardlounge.com. Its history may provide some ideas.


If there are anough goths and interested prople, maybe 100 that would come to a weekly thing, and if you have any resources to start something and want to do it on a tiny budget, One idea is do how an after-hours 'rave' was done in the past. make arrangements to rent a small warehouse for saturday nights. get the permits and all. advertise in the local night life circulars/free papers. Charge $5 or $10 to enter, make it BYOB and sell setups. Open 1:30 AM to 6AM. Find bands that want to practice, they won't charge much. Even make it a thing to have the most horrible bands possible from time to time. As long as someone or another or a DJ/VJ is playing all nite. Video projectors of the old 4:3 NTSC analog kind are almost free now, and a sheet on any flat surface is a screen to start out. cast off computers make graphics, no need for alot of expense. For lights, use a 1 LB or 2 LB metal coffee can with a ceramic socket in the bottom and a PAR type lamp either colored or with a filter gel, which is very cheap. Make sheet metal brackets and hang them from a bar suspended from the rafters. I rigged up a controller for that kind of stuff once using variacs and light dimmers Just suggestions. Some arts and tech friends or fiends will make a huge difference, even cut in as minor partners depending on contribs.. oh yeah, rule #1 no one lives in the place, only one key and a spare.

Oh yea, from experience put up a big sign at the door that says what's playing, and also permanently says: no disco, no rap, no country. Which is the most important part to keep the riff raff out.

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