What can we do???

Pure Evil · Post by **Pure Evil** » Monday Jul 05, 2004

I've been following the posts about the PLCB and it's "wonderful" (said with thick sarcasm) contribution to the lack of attendance most bands are getting as of late and it's gotten me thinking.

What can we do to change things?

Now for those all who know me, I'm sure they remember (probably better than I do) how often I used to stumble out of bars around the area. I never drove drunk but I was with friends that were just as drunk as I was and they drove. THANKFULLY we never killed anyone or harmed ourselves. With that being said I've stopped drinking over the last few years and have gotten more responsible after looking back and realizing how stupid we were just about every weekend. So now I'm more than happy to be the designated driver every time we go out.

As far as the PLCB. They are definitely taking things to an extreme, their is no doubt about that but while doing so they could possibly be saving lives. Now this is not a pat on the back to the PLCB thread, their is a point I'm getting too.

What can bars and the rest of us do to not have to worry about the PLCB? Almost every weekend we go out and their is usually three of us at the very least. I drive while two or three others basically get blitzed out of their minds. When we go out, the two people alone spend $80+ in alcohol not to mention cover for these places. I drive and drink soda. Maybe a total of 4 a night while the band/bands play. With the exception of one or two bars so far, even though I am a voluntarily DD and bring people in that spend in upwards of $100 in a night, I am constantly charged $1.00+ for a watered down, half full of ice fountain drink. Now I'm not saying the bar owners should just give everything away free but maybe their could almost be some kind of "reward" system or "incentive" program for being a DD. Maybe some kind of "key master" type system by the bar owner. A person responsible to drive hands his keys over at the beginning of the night to be stored in a lock box (or something of the sort) then when it's time to leave the DD hands over a ticket or what have you to have their keys returned to them. Most bartenders have been around long enough to notice when someone comes to gets their keys if they've been drinking. Then the bartender can keep the keys and call a taxi.

Something like this may not work but at least it's an idea. Things are changing in the area and most are beyond our control, but maybe instead of fighting to try and get things back to the good old days, we should be thinking of more inventive ways to adapt with these changes. The country itself has been changing and I don't think their is much hope of us changing PLCB laws, so we have to get creative. They are going out of their way to dampen what little spirit is left around here, so we should be working twice as hard to raise the level of band interest, fan interest and bar patronage for our music's survival.

What are some other things that bar owners can do to help with the whole DUI issue? I'm thinking we have to give someone a reason to not drink one night and be the nice guy/girl to drive their friends around. No cover maybe? Free soda/water? Losing $5 dollars from one person but gaining $80 from two more is well worth it I would think. Giving one person a reason to stay sober and bring 3 friends with them would only increase business.

We as patrons have to do more too. If their are groups of friends that go out drinking maybe turns can be taken on who will be the sober one for a night. I know It's a pain in the ass and most of the time it's not as fun to be the sober one, but if we as a whole don't do something their will be less and less of a reason to even go out in the first place.

I'd like to get some feedback on this. I think this is a very important topic considering how many PLCB topics have been on lately.

These are just my thoughts on the subject. I'm not saying I'm right, but at least it's idea for someone to run with.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Monday Jul 05, 2004

Chris,

I like those ideas a lot. It all comes down to everyone pulling together. Even bands could use some kind of incentive to create DD awareness; for example, free swag for designated drivers.

I'm still cynical about fighting city hall. I believe it can be done, but everytime it's been brought up, it's met with initial reponse and then apathy.

Saturday was a bit of a wake up call for me, though. The police set up a check point, right down the road from the bar. This was obviously done on purpose. I'm very much against drunk driving, but this was an obstruction of business; it was an obstruction of the bar's business, and our business. On top of that, I was worried for our production crew. (it's not just a stereotype, police have shown aggression towards African Americans)

Police presence was obviously heightened due to the holiday, but it's still a grim prophecy of what may happen. As musicians, we always look forward to New Year's Eve because of the great pay, but this year, we'll have to wonder if we'll even play.

DMFJ03 · Post by **DMFJ03** » Tuesday Jul 06, 2004

Hey, I know...lets just abolish alcohol, prohibit the sale of tabacco, burn all the musical instruments of the world, turn off our television, ban radio, buy solar powered cars, become vegitarians, open a book, build a few barns, learn to fear God again and renew the meaning of quality family time.

Riiight.

"I know you're different
You know I'm the same
We're both too busy
To be taking the blame
I'd like some changes
But you don't have the time
We can't go on thinking
It's a victimless crime
No one is blameless
But we're all without shame
We fight the fire while we're feeding the flames

Today is different, and tomorrow the same
It's hard to take the world the way that it came
Too many rapids keep us sweeping along
Too many captains keep on steering us wrong
It's hard to take the heat
It's hard to lay blame
To fight the fire while we're feeding the flames"

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Jul 06, 2004

What are some other things that bar owners can do to help with the whole DUI issue? I'm thinking we have to give someone a reason to not drink one night and be the nice guy/girl to drive their friends around. No cover maybe? Free soda/water? Losing $5 dollars from one person but gaining $80 from two more is well worth it I would think. Giving one person a reason to stay sober and bring 3 friends with them would only increase business.

That's a great idea. No cover AND free soft drinks to anyone who will DD. They might have to take a few steps like marking their hand with a different color to show that they are a DD and are not permitted to have alcohol as an agreement for not paying cover charge.

As good an idea as this is, it probably wouldn't get past the laughing stage with the "club" owners.

I remember the good ole days, when all the clubs were full and we could expect at least 200 people at a gig... Then came MTV and then came the new DUI laws

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Tuesday Jul 06, 2004

Get some of those wristbands, heck, put your band logo on 'em. Make a big deal out of the DD, give them some love, make them proud to be the DD. Instruct the waitstaff that wristbands get free soda or something. OK wait... what if they decide to take off the wristband and drink, after not paying cover. Hmmmmm.--->JMS

esa · Post by **esa** » Wednesday Jul 07, 2004

Tattoo their foreheads.."Do not give me Alcohol"...