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Start times for local concerts(?)

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Started 1 year ago by rustbelt
Latest reply from DLDude

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rustbelt

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OK - In my 3 years in Columbus, I've learned concerts - at least the smaller ones I prefer - start very early at places like the Newport & the Basement & wrap up before midnight.

My latest discovery for this phenomenon is the Outland. I showed up at 10:45pm the other night for the Black Lips show. I figured I'd be well on time to hear Black Lips (the headliners) while perhaps missing part of Vivian Girls (the 2nd of 3 bands).

However, when I got there, the Black Lips had been playing for approx. 40-45 minutes. The Guinea Worms (openers) went on at 8pm.

Now, I'm all for shows not ending at 1-2am on weekdays, like when I go to the Summit, Cafe Bourbon Street & Carabar. But I'm definitely much more accustomed to late shows & can deal with them.

So, what's the deal here? Are these super-early start times decided by the venue? The promoter? Zoning-type restriction?

Or is this a more recent trend for live music I just haven't picked up on?

Whatever's going on, I just want to make sure I'm not missing more shows in the future.

Posted 1 year ago #
sixby9is42

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I pay attention to the door time. Add one hour, then one hour for each artist. If doors are at 7pm and there are two openers, then I assume the headliner will start around 10pm. I always like to see all of the bands anyways, so I get there around opening.

Posted 1 year ago #
jamiegentry
Grandview Heights
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I will take it a step further and ask any promoters (especially local) to post the times that the bands are scheduled to play. My show schedule has dropped dramatically because I just got tired of showing up to a show at 10:30 only to find the first band had not even set their instruments up on the stage. Posting show times could encourage more to come out, especially if the attendee only wants to see one of the scheduled bands. Some local promoters have done a good job of posting times and it is appreciated.

Posted 1 year ago #
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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Ditto on door +1 hour. And now I regret not going to that Black Lips show, grrrr. Assumed it would be a late one and I wouldn't make it past midnight on a school night :(

Posted 1 year ago #
jamiegentry
Grandview Heights
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The door +1 hour was my old way of thinking and it does not work. I am looking at attending a show at the Summit soon and it says the doors open at 8. I would be shocked if that show starts at 9...

Posted 1 year ago #
rustbelt

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I guess I'm used to door time = only how early they want you in there to start drinking beer.

I've been to plenty of shows with 8pm door times but the show doesn't kick off until like 11.

After 20+ years of concert-going (again, mostly small shows), I'm much more used to shows that don't even think of starting before 10.

That was certainly the case when I lived in Cleveland & NYC, with very few exceptions. Columbus has proven to be much different in this regard.

I'm just trying to figure out if it's a Columbus thing? A promoter thing? A venue thing? A new trend? All of the above?

Posted 1 year ago #
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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Summit more often than not it seems has 3 openers so start at 9 would still put headliner at 12:30ish or later. But yeah, I never assume I'm gonna hear a headliner before midnight there. Too many times it's been closer to 1 and I'm just getting too old for that anymore, lol.

Posted 1 year ago #
catmaster

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I have no problem showing up when doors open if the beer selection is good. :D

Posted 1 year ago #
sixby9is42

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jamiegentry wrote >>
The door +1 hour was my old way of thinking and it does not work. I am looking at attending a show at the Summit soon and it says the doors open at 8. I would be shocked if that show starts at 9...

Most of the shows that I go to are managed by Promowest (Newport, LC, Basement) and they've followed doors +1 for the most part. This year's CD101 Day was one of the exceptions, where it was doors +45 minutes.

Posted 1 year ago #
jamiegentry
Grandview Heights
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I'm getting too old as well. Maybe that's why I am complaining so much(!)

Posted 1 year ago #
rustbelt

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Getting old is the real motivator behind starting this thread.

I don't feel very punk rock complaining about late shows. I can still manage.

On the other hand, a show that wraps up by midnight can also work out great. So long as I know it will be an early show & not a "doors open at 8, show actually starts at 11" scenario.

Posted 1 year ago #
jamiegentry
Grandview Heights
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Exactly rustbelt, some predictability would be nice (and could go a long way to making Ohio "cool" for us old guys).

Posted 1 year ago #
btmarquis

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Good question, and I don't know the breakdown of the smaller venues vs. the promowest locations. I know Newport and LC do have sound curfews, so their shows I think will always end by 11pm.

Agree it would be great to have an idea of set start times, or at least something close so you don't wind up missing the band you wanted to see. I've been there... not a fun lesson.

Posted 1 year ago #
Columbus Music Co-op
Columbus
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A lot of the times, it's the individual bands who will dictate their start times too.
I've never had an issue contacting the venue or if it's a BenCo show for example, emailing them earlier in the week and asking anticipated start times.

Posted 1 year ago #
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
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jamiegentry wrote >>
The door +1 hour was my old way of thinking and it does not work. I am looking at attending a show at the Summit soon and it says the doors open at 8. I would be shocked if that show starts at 9...

I would equally be shocked if someone was actually there at 8 to open the doors.

Posted 1 year ago #
jamiegentry
Grandview Heights
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Starwood has also been good about either posting start times or responding to emails about start times.

Posted 1 year ago #
Rocknrolloutlaws
German Village
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One exception to any of the above rules is the Wex. The first time I went to a show there I learned the hard way that the show starts at the time listed on the ticket.

Posted 1 year ago #
cyclist II
Short North & Peach District
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blammo wrote >>

jamiegentry wrote >>
The door +1 hour was my old way of thinking and it does not work. I am looking at attending a show at the Summit soon and it says the doors open at 8. I would be shocked if that show starts at 9...

I would equally be shocked if someone was actually there at 8 to open the doors.

like. LOL

These private businesses and promoters can start and end shows whenever they want.

Posted 1 year ago #
DLDude
VicVil
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In my 7 years in Columbus, The only headliner I've ever seen start past 9:30pm is Dawes at Rumba Cafe. All of the major venues (LC, Newport, Basement) typically have the opener start between 8-815 and the headliner between 915-930. I don't think I would ever show up to a show past 9.

Posted 1 year ago #