Lemon Tree No More???

[daveofficer]

Originally Posted by -becky-

It's worth trying to save even if it isn't under the same management/structure.. it could resurface as a combination as a commercially viable venue encompasing a separate council funded arts programme which would pay hire to the venue. Myabe it was poorly managed but it's worth saving what it was in essence, an arts organisation wich was a landmark in Aberdeen culture.

I have a job interview this afternoon maxi, if the lemon tree was saved in some capacity that doesn't mean i'd have a job there. i'm just not letting complacency set in yet when there's a chance to try to stage a worthwhile protest for Aberdeen.

how you going to persuade businesses to invest money into a venture which has failed? what's going to happen differently should you raise the money? i know this sounds really negative but i just want to make sure you have an answer. call it devils advocate.

i'd love to see the lemon tree saved but not if it's just going to close again in a year.

[Hogisbald]

The AECC has been getting its act together..the Lemon Tree hasn't.

[delboy]

trying to raise money to save the venue really isnt the answer i feel, all it would be doing is papering over the cracks. someone needs to take hold of the business and give it a complete overhaul. it needs to be someone who looks at the project long term and is prepared to lose money in the short term whilst sorting the place out.

[nesta6245]

Originally Posted by Hogisbald

The AECC has been getting its act together..the Lemon Tree hasn't.

It maybe getting it's act together, but it's a horrible venue. Too big and canvernous imo, too difficult to get too and lets face it all the corrugated iron does nothing for the acoustics.

[nesta6245]

Originally Posted by delboy

trying to raise money to save the venue really isnt the answer i feel, all it would be doing is papering over the cracks. someone needs to take hold of the business and give it a complete overhaul. it needs to be someone who looks at the project long term and is prepared to lose money in the short term whilst sorting the place out.

I totally agree but in the short term would it not be better to keep the place open and then hopefully the board can look at their options, ie taking someone in to sort the mess out and get it running at full potential. Once it closes down for good who knows what could happen it may never reopen in it's original form.

[Murrr]

I'm not that fussed... it's a shame about people losing their jobs and all but the place had been putting on fewer and fewer gigs I was interested in over recent years (although admittedly some corkers have already been mentioned in this threat), and the stupid ticket prices put me off gigs I might have otherwise been interested in.

I echo the points put forward by Scott and Stuart. I have the utmost sympathy for those who have lost their jobs at this time of year but from where I stand the £200,000 idea looks to be incredibly misguided. Honestly, what on Earth is going to happen once the initial 200k has been bumped in? It sounds like the business needs a complete revamp from top to bottom in order for it to become sustainable and that's something that will take a great deal of time, effort and money. There's absolutely no point whatsoever in saving the place if it's going to continue to haemorrhage money.

[Tubthumper]

Originally Posted by nesta6245

Once it closes down for good who knows what could happen it may never reopen in it's original form.

That's maybe a good thing? Seriously there is no point in putting money into a business that is hemorrhaging money whilst the board decide what they want to do.

Let someone else take the reigns and do it justice.

[Murrr]

Originally Posted by delboy

trying to raise money to save the venue really isnt the answer i feel, all it would be doing is papering over the cracks. someone needs to take hold of the business and give it a complete overhaul. it needs to be someone who looks at the project long term and is prepared to lose money in the short term whilst sorting the place out.

Actually, this post is pretty much perfect.

[thegossip]

Originally Posted by daveofficer

that's what i thought but then becky said "the bottom line is that yesterday the council cut all funding" which seems to go against that. hence my question to try and get some solid facts out.

The council offered 2 ways for the venue to stay open, they did not cut the usual grant. That is a solid fact. Unless becky was at the meeting and heard something different.

Remember the LT has had its core funding taken away by the Arts Council. The council have done a hell of a lot more for the Lemon Tree than anyone else, so stop giving them a hard time people.

My only other post on this forum was......yes you've guessed it.....about the lemon tree in financial difficulty!

500 signatures on a petition. woopie. who's going to read that and care?

I'm sorry people are out of jobs, but it is not the fault of the council. The loss of the SAC grant, and the SHOCKING report should have been the kick up the backside they needed, but nothing happened.

The Lemon Tree is dead. Long Live the Union Terrace Gardens Project.

[delboy]

tbh if it does close for good then it might serve as a wake up call for other venues (i'm talking nationally here not locally). the waterfront in norwich, for example, is another venue very similar to the lemon tree that has constantly lost money and been funded by grants. there just comes a time when if a venue which relies of funding is constantly losing money then the way its financed has to be looked at.