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The following discussion is about BOMA, the Bar of Modern Art that opened on Broad St. in 2006. The club touted that it would be very exclusive, but that plan did not pay the bills. Now new management has decided to run it as a restaurant and event space with club events being extra.
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Actually, what hurt business – for me, at least – was a quote so horrifyingly stupid and ridiculous that I actually printed it out for posterity:
“I’d rather have 500 cool people in here than 1000 who don’t fit in.” (From the Other Paper, sometime in 2005; I could find the exact quote and date when I’m back in my home office)
3 years later, that quote still makes me shudder and roll my eyes; and it made me so livid I vowed never to enter BoMA.
The problem and completely moronic thing about that statement is that pretty much anyone who is interesting or atristic in any way as an adult has probably never felt as though they fit in. If we would have fit in during our formative years, we probably wouldn’t have developed our ability to write/draw/paint/scupt/compose, what-have-you. (Maybe that only goes for writers, but somehow I doubt it). It seemed particularly interesting coming from someone whose bar was hot before most of his desired clientele were born.
Those feelings, at least in my experience, don’t simply vaporize when you become an adult and have any level of “success,” (however you choose to define that).
I never thought I’d need to be driving an Aston Martin to get in to BoMA, I just assumed I would have to be a vacuous as the people I saw last week trying to fight my way through Park Street on a weekend (wtf?! who are those people?! where do they come from?!) Alas, I will never be a tall, tan, whisper-thin leggy blond who gets a manicure every week, carries $3000 handbags and who can wear white hot pants and a halter top with stilletos to go out drinking.
However, I could certainly have done a damn site better at PR when BoMA opened.
I just don’t think you can draw in artistic personalities when you set yourself up as a club who will look you up and down when you are in line. I would fail that test every time, but I probably know a lot of people whose art could be installed with great success, and people who could perform, and people who can write and do all sorts of creative and interesting things.
so, now that new management has taken over, should I break my vow to never entering BoMA? do they have anything to offer me, a writer who looks more like Janine Garafalo (in her fat brunette days) than the aforementioned blonde standing in line to get into Sugar Bar?
Lisa, you are 100000% correct. That statement pissed me and several of my artistic friends off as well, and none of us except one has ever set foot in the place because of it. Hell, I live almost directly behind the place and I’ve avoided and disliked the place since the start, especially the little valet dudes that try to block you from driving down the alley. The only good I ever saw in it is that they saved the church from demolition. As an artist I would have loved to have gone there, and probably would have been there every weekend so that I could just walk/stumble home at closing time. Attitude is everything.
Ps. I envy those who can write well. As hard as I try, whenever I read myself I understand why some folks think I’m a bumbling idiot.
Lisa, I’ve only been to BOMA once, and it was about a year ago. I’m not an “in-crowd” type either (also a writer at heart) and I had no problem getting in, and wasn’t judged at the entrance. I had a good time with my decidedly non-in-crowd friends who also went with us. I’d give up the boycott and try it. Take some people whose company you enjoy.
I’m not a fan at all of dance clubs – I like quieter, more casual spots where you can actually have room to breathe and where it’s quiet enough to have a conversation. You can do that at BOMA, or dance your tail off if that’s what you like.
Boma has some fun events. I will definitely be going for Craftin’ Outlaws this year. Plus it is a really cool space. It is worth a look at least once in my opinion.
I had a really awful experience at BOMA last April for my bachelorette party. It was a very mild bachelorette party – just a few of us and nothing crazy or obnoxious…just a few ladies hanging out and going out dancing. I had not been to BOMA and my friend knew a bartender there who supposedly put us on a ‘list’ to get in. We showed up and there was a line. We went to the door man and he took one look at us and said we were not on any list and he wouldn’t be letting us in. I felt like an idiot – a total bummer on what was suppose to be my fun girls night out. I mean, seriously, to be denied entrance to a Columbus Club based solely on reasons not related to over crowding was really shocking to me. The jerkface finally let us in when my more typically, attractive friend basically begged. Once in, we were there about 20 minutes before we left. The atomosphere was strangely pretentious for a midwest club which was too bad because it was a cool space. We went over to Q afterwards and had a much better time. Although the space wasn’t nearly as interesting, the people were much more fun and inviting. After that night, I vowed that I would not step foot in BOMA again. It’s too bad craftin’ outlaws is going to be there because honestly, my disdain for the place and my experience there will probably prevent me from attending the event.
My gothy friends occasionally go to BoMA for their Outland replacement fix, and they laugh about the obvious culture clash between the Outland and BoMA regulars. It seriously sounded like a non-violent Greaser / Soc thing from outsiders.
If the management has changed and the attitude with it, maybe I’ll consider trying the place. I hear their PB&J foie gras is to die for.
I went to BoMA once, and that was to see a concert (Mediaeval Baebes.) The place was stunning and a perfect venue for the group. The drinks were overpriced, which I expected. Didn’t try the food. I guess I’m lucky that the place was pretty full of the weird that day. I can’t say that I’d be inclined to visit the place for something other than a special event, given the reviews here. Behold the power of the internet.
This story gives me smug satisfaction. If you go around identifying yourself as “cool”, you probably ain’t. Granted, I’m not part of the demographic they were trying to attract: (I’m a bit older, not that tall, thinning hair, not that much money, average-looking, don’t shop at Ruehl, etc…) but I would never have set foot in there. You want to act pretentious? You’re operating a nightclub in OHIO, for crissakes! Personally, I think they’d do a lot better if they opened up in Dublin somewhere.
I went twice, once because an out of town friend dragged me there, and once for the “Body Release” reunion.
The first time I went, I had no problems getting in (on a Saturday night), but the drinks were weak and the music was horrible. They didn’t even bother getting a decent DJ.. That guy had more trainwrecks than Amtrack.
If they were enforcing some kind of “standards” then I missed it.. the dance floor was pretty frightening.
The art on the walls was nice, but not well protected and some of it was damaged. I wouldn’t want my art on the walls there.
The space itself is great, and probably lends itself to private events nicely. I did like the upstairs bar in the front, but not enough to brave the rest of the bar. They also closed it the first time i went due to not having enough people in the bar.
The second time was nicer as it was run by BluBuni and the music and the atmosphere were much better.
Here’s hoping things improve.
dear god another boma thread?
Oh hush.. I said nice things about you so let us have our fun :-)
it’s been quite some time since i’ve seen the words “body” and “release” used together in that way
Oh hush.. I said nice things about you so let us have our fun :-)Thank you Michael,and sorry I didn’t even read the thread. Thought every base had been covered in respects to coma.
I believe those comments that were previously made and still referenced by some were made by Tom Starker. To my knowledge, he is no longer affiliated with BoMA. I dealt with him during the art show I created, organized, and curated that was held at BoMA in December 2006. He is what made me loathe that place and I feel that now with him gone from the picture, I can walk through the doors for whatever event (Craftin’ Outlaws, Goth-A-Go-Go, etc) with a bit more ease and a clean slate.
I hope that people will not avoid visiting Craftin’ Outlaws because of this stigma.
You’re not the first event promoter that I’ve heard complain about the former BOMA management.
He is what made me loathe that place and I feel that now with him gone from the picture, I can walk through the doors for whatever event (Craftin’ Outlaws, Goth-A-Go-Go, etc) with a bit more ease and a clean slate.
I hope that people will not avoid visiting Craftin’ Outlaws because of this stigma.
Sounds like BOMA is trying very hard to get the word out. It sounds like the new management team is going to focus on private/corporate events where the former management is less likely to be a liability. In time people will forget about the old management.
As an aside, whatever my opinion of BOMA has been, I have to say I’m really surprised that it has stayed open so long. I really thought this place would be “8 months and out”. It’s pretty obvious that the investors are committed to keeping BOMA open in the long run.
Bret Adams is the core problem with BOMA.
Kim Kardashian? Way to go, Bret.
Same here. Props to them for being able to keep it going one way or another. I’d love to see it become a little more humble and a little more appealing to a wider audience. It’s walking distance from where we live (probably for you too, eh?) so I wouldn’t mind having some new reasons to go there.
Same here. Props to them for being able to keep it going one way or another. I’d love to see it become a little more humble and a little more appealing to a wider audience. It’s walking distance from where we live (probably for you too, eh?) so I wouldn’t mind having some new reasons to go there.
Well, I used to live at 17th and Gustavus, but I moved this spring, and now I’m on Highland just down the street from Blammoland.
I’d not heard good things about them when they opened, so I just stayed away. My first visit didn’t really change my mind. I’d have to say, I’m more of a casual bar fan.
To be honest, between the Black Creek Bistro bar and Carabar, my boozing needs were pretty well met over in the near east side without even crossing 71. With Tip Top right downtown that opened up options even further.. For fancier going out, I liked Brownstone on Main (R.I.P.). Their basement bar was a great scene, and the music was way better than anything I saw or heard of at BOMA.
I’ll be interested to see what BOMA does next, but I don’t really see them doing events that will pull me in. Any club that large is probably going to have to do events that pull in 1000-1500 people, and this town that probably means trance, which I hate with a venom usually reserved for bike thieves.
I certainly wish them luck.. It’s a nice space, and I’d like to possibly see something that would pull me there.
Kim Kardashian? Way to go, Bret.
Oh? What’s the story here?
I’m not familiar with Kim Kardashian. From the 1 minute internet search I just did, she looks like some sort of cut-rate Paris Hilton ripoff.
BOMA’s the new City Center.
This place just keeps sounding more and more desperate. Cage fighting? Could they sink anymore in order to appeal to the lowest common denominator?