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| Let's take a walk around downtown Orlando to see what's going on in clubland. We previously reported the closing of longtime nightclub Antigua. I always thought their $7 cover charge (compared to the $5 norm downtown) would doom them. It did. |
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| It's still closed but renovations are finally happening inside. Not sure what's coming but I've heard rumor of a restaurant. Of course even restaurants can have a club aspect to them so we await further details. |
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| We previously reported that Mako's closed. Won't miss it. |
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| This one's not wasting any time being turned-around. Coming soon, Native Social Bar. Huh? |
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| Adjacent The Attic, Ghost Bar & Lounge is supposed to open this month. |
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| Touch Ultra Lounge has apparently closed. It was closed both nights this weekend. In my opinion it didn't have anything to differentiate it in the marketplace. Yeah, it had those namesake touch screen monitors at various tables for drink-ordering but unless you were in VIP, you couldn't use them. And they were increasingly going down that Hip Hop route of late, a sure pathway to doom. |
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| The Blog reported on new club Thee Grotto last weekend. Currently beer & wine only but with an expected full-liquor license expected by February, this place is fully dedicated to EDM and has an excellent chance of success. |
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| Have we mentioned Wall Street Plaza no longer has a cover charge on weekends? As the economy remains tight, they had to be feeling that the admission charge was impacting business as so many competitors don't charge anything. |
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| In recent years the downtown nightclub district, with a few exceptions, ended at Washington Street. That is changing as the owner of Tier Nightclub has purchased a pretty-much derelict building on Orange Avenue just north of Washington Street and he's installing a series of new bars. At the corner, Black Umbrella promises customized cocktails. |
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| Just to the north, Brick & Brass Eclectic Bar has its sign posted. |
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| And to the north of that, Saddle-Up is sure to be a country bar. |
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| And to the north of that, The Courtesy is already open for business, having opened last September. |
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| And on the Washington Street side of the building, Elixir Bar Room & Hash House is also already operating. And that's a look at what's going on downtown; they come and they go! |
21 comments:
all comes back to who's running the place...
Very true. And the music. And how they market or promote the place.
still goes back to who's running the place. you need a manager that actually knows what a professional Dj is and how to hire them over the 18 year old high school kid who will work for a bar tab.
show me a manager that actually knows the difference and I'll show you a successful bar/club.
allllllll goes back to who's running the place
Speaking of 18-year old DJ's, Walden (from Australia) is playing this Friday night at Vain.
OH come on the DJ's of today use the EASY way out! use the Computer! at this point just have to know whats HOT!!!!
I can DJ that way SHOOT!!
If managers of these clubs think the way you do, that's part of the problem. Keep hiring your 18 year old kids for Djs and keep closing down the clubs. Just sayin..
The only places I've experienced the 18-yr old DJ syndrome are various restaurants around town that feature DJ's evenings and in some mall stores that once-in-awhile have DJ's. Those are the places that are going to do the music cheaply.
But by in large, the clubs in town, particularly downtown, use established DJ's that have earned their stripes.
Here's your test for your "established" Djs that work downtown. How wide is their library of music and do they know what to do with audiences of different generations?
I have everything in my library for beach music and Sinatra, to country and rock all the way to the latest house music bangin' in Ibiza and literally everything in between, including trap and dubstep. I also know how to read crowds from high school through the baby boomers.
THAT is what it takes to be a Professional Dj. Your 18+ year old kids running around down on Church Street that only know how to play hip hop probably can't measure up. There is no short cut for experience. It takes years to build up a 20,000+ track library and the knowledge to know what to do with it.
Replace them with someone like me, hire a manager that has a clue and let's go.
3202Anon @ January 16, 2013 at 7:52 PM
first things 1st PICK a music type! this all over stuff makes you less a PRO DJ! that makes you a general DJ!
I would rather have a DJ that knows my kind of Music!
Didn't say I would play all of that in a club, the point was that I COULD play whatever was needed based on the crowd.
Any word when those clubs north of Washington Street will open? Will it be one cover for all? Probably hoping too much, but those pictures almost give it a bit of a Church St. Station vibe.
The two that are already open don't have cover charges so I don't think any of them will.
Anon at January 17, 2013 at 12:04 AM
still say your not a great DJ then but thats my opinion!
Heh, DJ wars...
Question for you: I have friends visiting from Tampa in a couple of weeks. We are staying in downtown and want to bar hop. We are in our 40's and like Top 40 music and dancing, but also would like to go to a bar, listen to music, drink, and just catch up without having to yell. Do you have any recommendations for bars to check out? We don't even mind an occasional dive atmosphere, as long as it's not too bad. Sometimes dives are pretty cool.
Thanks.
Steve, if you guys plan to go to City Walk @ Universal, Red Coconut Club is a great place to hang without having to scream and they have great drink specials. Then you could go to other venues also.
olny thing i dont like bout red Coconut is the LIVE band!!!
Steve, I'd recommend starting at 180 Grey Goose Lounge atop Amway Center. It's free and very upscale, with a bonus of a great view overlooking the city. If the Magic have a home game that night, wait until the game has ended around 10:30pm.
Wall Street Plaza is a collection of about 8 bars or so and the DJ at Slingapour's is probably playing Top 40. They no longer have a cover charge. The different bars have different vibes.
Tier Night Club on Central Blvd plays Top 40 most weekend nights. Guys get charged $10 early and up to $20 later. Unfortunately, if you leave you can't come back inside without paying agtain. A real downfall for the place.
My favorite downtown venue is Independent Bar. The crowd is very young on Friday nights for Indie music, much-more varied on Saturday nights for 80's Old Wave.
PS to Steve: If you just want to chit-chat without yelling, The Bosendorfer Lounge inside the Westin Boheme Hotel (Orange Avenue a block south of Church Street)is a great place. No cover, expensive drinks though.
Thank you for your ideas. Sorry it has been awhile since I commented. We are going March 2, Saturday night, and we are still looking at church Street v. Wall Street v. City Walk. As far as hotels and walking to clubs, church Street and Wall Street are better (Universal Hotels are ridiculously priced.) We just want to show our friends a really good time. So wish PI was still around. Is the piano bar at Boardwalk still open? How are Saturdays at the Boardwalk Dance Club? Thanks again, folks!
Yes, dueling piano bar Jellyrolls is still open at the Boardwalk. Atlantic Dance Hall on Saturday nights can have decent crowds but the music is all Top 40, Hip Hop and anything else anyone requests.
Church Street is still there but has seen plenty of club closings again but a variety still open too. Wall Street is now free so you may as well visit and see if you like anything. On a Saturday night in March, CityWalk will likely be packed.
Specific questions? Just email me at kingbobofthenorth at g mail dot com.
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