You take a serious financial bath if you put shows together there. Lamar’s rental fee is $250. You have to staff it and provide the PA. Out of the door money, you have to cover all of your costs including a band’s guarantee (the money they make regardless of ticket sales), PA, room rental, people to work the door, promotional costs, etc. A typical guarantee for a small indie band is $500+. Sound will cost you a minimum of $150 (if you need somebody to run the system). The local support band is going to run you another $150. Posters and handbills are at least $30. That’s $1080 that you have to pay from your own pocket if attendance is low. With a $7 admission, you have to get 154 people in the door before you break even.

Remember when five people showed up for Kingsbury Manx last month? (ouch)

The really screwed up thing is that the whole affair is cash in the door for Lamar’s. They make money from alcohol and from the room rental without providing anything else. Typically, a venue will offer some assistance from their alcohol sales if the promoter is in trouble --- assuming they’re making money off the event. But no support like this is given here. At the very least, they’ll have a PA and someone to work the door.

This is a bar that the local scene made chic. Some hipsters won’t set foot in Rhythm and Brews because it’s too much of a cover band scene. But they’ll always go to Lamar’s. Meanwhile the poor promoter (who is literally poor) has to put on shows at Lamar’s or half the scene won’t show up. He’s going broke, his shows are less frequent, and not of the caliber that they used to be. But having shows at Lamar’s is cool and way more indie than having them elsewhere, right?

I kinda hate Rhythm n Brews because its really over priced and the atmosphere is terrible. Larmars is a pretty cool place. Also STUPID PUNKS!

I used to feel the same way until I started promoting shows in the area. RnB has its own set of problems for sure. But their cover on indie shows is the same as Lamar's.

I just find it ironic that people champion Lamar's as the "people's venue" when in fact it's not helping the music scene at all. It's sort of detrimental.

For example, when the promoter loses his shirt at Lamar's he's not going to do anymore shows.
Is atmosphere really worth that price?

its not. boycott lamars.

Frustrating. Lamars is still the best bar in town.

Nevertheless, you'd be hard pressed to find stiffer drinks and greasier chicken. Got to love the Long Island Iced Teas and Fried Chicken. I love Lamars!

Ha!
DavidM. Music Scene Rule #1:
"Indie Rock will always DIY itself into the ground."