The Venue Shuffle

So all these shows are bending around.  What does it mean?

Think of this:  the high-profile shows which used to go to HOB, now go to Nokia and Club Nokia.  This is because the venue is newer, nicer, and HOB will have lower-end booking.

The shows which used to go to Knitting Factory and Key Club now will likely go to HOB.  This is because there are no small venues to accommodate.  No, the Avalon won’t pick up the slack: they make too much $ on filming and nightclubs.

The medium size venue shows which went to Gibson on occasion, now go to Nokia.  Gibson compensates by booking more latin shows.

The medium size venue shows which used to go to HOB will probably go to Wiltern, and if they can’t draw, then the Palladium.

The rock shows that seem to draw now are all latin shows – look for more of those in 2010. 

For indie/low-low end shows, well, you’ll see them showing up at more lesser-known, lesser venues like Good Hurt in Santa Monica, The Mint off Pico and The Echo, and probably more secondary market venues like Palladino’s in the Valley and Brixton in the South Bay.  It just doesn’t pay to play L.A. any more.