Bars are a disrupted ecosystem in seattle.
Formerly, you had the bar. Then you had the bartenders, and then you had the clientele. The bar was sucessful because of the bartenders grooming the clientele. the bartenders were sucessful because the clientele they groomed fit their bar, and both tipped and drank, which put money in both their pockets and their tills. The clientele was happy because they had a place where they could get good drinks from great people that they knew, supported, and came to see in a venue that had the atmosphere they enjoyed.
Everyone won out.
Now the standard is the "DJ". The Promoter has replaced the bartender. The clientele exists for the promotion; if the promotion leaves, the clientele leaves. The clientele therefore has only loyalty for the promoter and will not tip the bartender. the bartender therefore loses.
The bartender now pours weaker drinks, is less friendly, partially because of the lack of tips, partially because these people aren't "their people". The clientele loses.
The bar, while making perhaps more money on night A, now has to worry about noise and safety complaints, flaky promoters, violence from the hiphop crowd, and the looming ire of the liquor control board (at the request of the city, which feels that the bar now poses a threat to the peace). The bar loses.
Everyone loses except the promoter. He even loses if the bad scene follows him to the next bar he will destroy.
Case in Point, Larry's in Pioneer Square. Enough Said.
Formerly, you had the bar. Then you had the bartenders, and then you had the clientele. The bar was sucessful because of the bartenders grooming the clientele. the bartenders were sucessful because the clientele they groomed fit their bar, and both tipped and drank, which put money in both their pockets and their tills. The clientele was happy because they had a place where they could get good drinks from great people that they knew, supported, and came to see in a venue that had the atmosphere they enjoyed.
Everyone won out.
Now the standard is the "DJ". The Promoter has replaced the bartender. The clientele exists for the promotion; if the promotion leaves, the clientele leaves. The clientele therefore has only loyalty for the promoter and will not tip the bartender. the bartender therefore loses.
The bartender now pours weaker drinks, is less friendly, partially because of the lack of tips, partially because these people aren't "their people". The clientele loses.
The bar, while making perhaps more money on night A, now has to worry about noise and safety complaints, flaky promoters, violence from the hiphop crowd, and the looming ire of the liquor control board (at the request of the city, which feels that the bar now poses a threat to the peace). The bar loses.
Everyone loses except the promoter. He even loses if the bad scene follows him to the next bar he will destroy.
Case in Point, Larry's in Pioneer Square. Enough Said.
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i love dive bars for the above reasons.