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[u70jc]

Originally Posted by Exposure @ Lemon Tree

Off the top of my head, I think the Aberdeen venue capacities are this (well, what I've been told by each venue anyway):

Moshulu - 650
Lemon Tree - 600
Tunnel 1 - 360
Drummonds - 350
Tunnel 2 - 350 (?)
Snafu - 350
Moorings - 180 (?)
Cellar 35 - 80

A couple of much smaller venues would work much better than another massive venue, but like I say, I really hope I'm proved wrong.

The capacity of Tunnel 2 is about 200 because of the seating. I'm clearly biased, but Tunnel 2 is a decent place for a new night and for new promoters, as it has an intimate feel. It doesn't need to have a lot of people in it for it to feel busy.

[kingofdeon]

Originally Posted by u70jc

The capacity of Tunnel 2 is about 200 because of the seating. I'm clearly biased, but Tunnel 2 is a decent place for a new night and for new promoters, as it has an intimate feel. It doesn't need to have a lot of people in it for it to feel busy.

I agree....We have a charity gig in Tunnels 2 next week and have sold about 130ish tickets (totally contradicts my last post however...) already and is a great venue, especially acoustic stuff. But i love Tunnel 2...had some great nights in there.

[Lucky Rathen]

One of our first gigs was in Moshulu supporting a touring band that nobody had ever heard of. We ended up playing to 6 people. Trust me.... 6 people in a 700 capacity venue REALLY looks like 6 people.

The thing with Moshulu is it's seen much more as a "venue" rather than a bar. On gig nights in Moshulu the crowd are usually there to specifically see a band they know in advance are playing (pre-planned, tickets bought etc), whereas with the likes of Drummonds, Moorings and the Tunnels people are more likely to just wander in for a pint, and they'll find out who's playing when they get there.

If Moshulu was my baby I'd try to find some way to encourage boozers in the Bassment to go next door to see the bands, even opening up the door between the two and putting up some posters in the bar or something would help a little. They feel like two seperate entities at the moment and it puts people off just floating in there for a pint and to see what's happening.

Not a slight at Moshulu by the way, it's a great venue, but in some ways having the Bassment next door is it's own worst enemy.

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by u70jc

The capacity of Tunnel 2 is about 200 because of the seating. I'm clearly biased, but Tunnel 2 is a decent place for a new night and for new promoters, as it has an intimate feel. It doesn't need to have a lot of people in it for it to feel busy.

Tunnel 1 has seating too, and they're both the same size pretty much, so surely the capacity is more than 200? Especially now that the dressing room/storage box area on the right hand side has been removed.

I could be way off, of course

[kingofdeon]

Originally Posted by idol_wild

Tunnel 1 has seating too, and they're both the same size pretty much, so surely the capacity is more than 200? Especially now that the dressing room/storage box area on the right hand side has been removed.

I could be way off, of course

its about 175....

Originally Posted by idol_wild

Tunnel 1 has seating too, and they're both the same size pretty much, so surely the capacity is more than 200? Especially now that the dressing room/storage box area on the right hand side has been removed.

I could be way off, of course

I was told by Hen that Tunnel 2 capacity is 350 (I think - certainly at least 300). I think this is absolute max capacity with tables and chairs taken out etc.

In response to Lucky on Moshulu and touring bands etc - I find it very very difficult to persuade people to come along and watch a band they've never heard of. On the whole the touring bands that play at Moshulu, Tunnels, Drummonds, wherever (i.e. not Music Hall or AECC) are bands that are less known and people that aren't necessarily into going and checking out new music but nevertheless like going to gigs when the "big" bands come to town, and will happily shell out £40 to go see Oasis, just won't be arsed to go to Moshulu to watch (for example) Good Books (just an example of a band we supported at Moshulu with very little in way of a crowd).

Some of these smaller gigs with lesser known bands are some of the best I've been to, but it's so difficult to persuade someone who's musical knowledge comes direct from listening to Radio 1 etc to come along and watch a band they've never heard of. They assume if they haven't heard of them, they can't be that good. This is why it is also very difficult to get folk to come along and watch local bands. People outwith the music scene seem to think if you're a good band you'll get "spotted" and get signed, and be on the Radio and stuff, so, again, if they've not heard of you, they'll assume you're no good.

I'm not claiming The Underkills are a spectacularly good band, but I've lost count of the number of times people have came up to me after a gig and said something like "you're actually really good" as if they were expecting us to be completely bollocks just cos we are an unsigned band, but had given in and came along to a gig because I'd bugged them about it for like 2 years...

[Lucky Rathen]

Yeah I know what you mean, this is the reason I would advise any touring bands to play at Tunnels or Drummonds rather than Moshulu, as I mentioned people are more likely to just wander into Tunnels or Drummonds for a pint and watch the bands, regardless of who they are, which I don't think happens with Moshulu. Of course it may be because Moshulu is more expensive than other venues, that gig I mentioned above was £6 to see 3 unsigned, unknown bands.

[milner]

ive always preferred the smaller venues, moshulu is very hard to fill unless you have a big name headline act, same for the lemon tree. One of the best gigs Stayover played was in Imagine, small place with no stage and we hired a shitty little PA but it was rammed and everyone was well up for the night. Kef was good to play as well it could look a lot busier than it was due to the size although it lost a bit of spark when they removed the balchony. Both drakes were fun to play, we have always missed them, there has never been a a venue to properly replace it. Moorings is the best avaliable up here i think, its always busy enough and the sound is ace, the booze is ace and flash looks like a pirate, what more could you want?
I do agree tho, we could do with a smaller venue for gigs, just cant think of any really good place that would be up for it.

Originally Posted by milner

ive always preferred the smaller venues, moshulu is very hard to fill unless you have a big name headline act, same for the lemon tree. One of the best gigs Stayover played was in Imagine, small place with no stage and we hired a shitty little PA but it was rammed and everyone was well up for the night. Kef was good to play as well it could look a lot busier than it was due to the size although it lost a bit of spark when they removed the balchony. Both drakes were fun to play, we have always missed them, there has never been a a venue to properly replace it. Moorings is the best avaliable up here i think, its always busy enough and the sound is ace, the booze is ace and flash looks like a pirate, what more could you want?
I do agree tho, we could do with a smaller venue for gigs, just cant think of any really good place that would be up for it.

Yesssssss!!!!! With At Long Last and WSBB and WTW! That gig was fucking awesome.

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by kingofdeon

its about 175....

I'm not buying that, chief. I had 120-odd in there on Friday and it looked like it could easily take at least another 120. Probably a fair bit more.