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Monday, February 27, 2006

Wanna volunteer at the Paradox?

Posted by on February 27 at 13:21 PM

Tomorrow night, the Paradox (the fabulous all-ages venue in Ballard) is hosting a Volunteer Open House for anyone interested in working at the club. Staff members will be on hand to answer questions about different ways to get involved with the venue, including promotion, sponsorship, running/booking shows, even fullfilling community service hours. It starts at 5:30 pm and is free. E-mail volunteer@theparadox.org for more information.


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You know what sucks about the Paradox? Or, rather, what sucked about the Paradox several years ago (don't know whether it's still the case)?

If a band wants to get a show there, the band has to buy 20 tickets to their show at slightly below door price. They're of course encouraged to resell them at door price to friends and family. That way the Paradox gets its $120 per band no matter what.

I get that the Paradox has to make a buck, but whatever happened to bookers finding a band they like and taking a chance on that band? If no one comes, band and venue lose out and it's a shitty show. If lotsa people come, both win. With the pre-purchased ticket business, if no one comes, band is out cash and has a shitty show and venue still profits.

I know, I know, it's old news that all that venues care about is a band's draw. But still -- especially when you're talking about an all-ages venue, this seems like a shady, The Man-like way to do things.

Welcome to the music business.

The paradox doesn't do this anymore, but you know who does? There are some lame promoters that still try and do this, but it's mostly at places like Studio 7- and everyone knows that Studio 7 sucks.

Yeah, the Paradox doesn't do that. It was an experiment in the old days, while the venue was still in the old theater on the Ave. They only did it a couple times, and it didn't go over very well. These days, the Paradox is actually really supportive of younger and less-experienced bands, and they will often book smaller local acts on their national band bills to give 'em exposure.

You know what does sorta suck about the Paradox, though? It's in a creepy, new-agey church. I'd rather volunteer at the Vera.

That church isn't new-agey...years ago I went there. They are as fundamentalist as fundamentalist gets...they just believe in reaching the unsaved masses; get people to come to their hip music venue and then maybe they'll come to the church. They believe homosexuality is a sin and that women cannot be in an leadership position over men. Do a little research and you'll find that under all that 'urban coolness' is just a little fundamentalist doctrine.

The Paradox does share the building with the church, but that's where their involvement stops. The chuch has no say over how the Paradox runs the space, they have the freedom to book whatever acts they'd like (Christian or otherswise). Volunteers don't have to go to the church, and they don't have to agree with the church's beliefs. It just happens to be in the same building. Which is a little weird, yeah, but you won't hear any preaching or see and "recruiting" at any Paradox events.

C'mon Megan. This is a church. Plain and simple. It IS freaky. I went there and people were wearing shirts with christian sayings, people walking around with bibles. etc. the people who run it are involved with the church and they aren't progressive. It sucks you are supporting these people!

a paradox volunteer explained to me that they only owe the church money for use of the space if the club turns a profit (which said volunteer claimed has never happened).

the obvious follow-up question - why would i want to spend my time/money to make that happen?

there are so many good all-ages clubs in the area (vera, redmond fire house, ground zero, kirkland teen center) which aren't affiliated with religious organizations & could use the help.

Just in case anyone is interested...Mars Hill Church was founded and is lead by Mark Driscoll (sp?). Before he was the leader of Mars Hill he was a pastor at Ken Hutchenson's (sp?) church, Antioch. Antioch helped (maybe still is) launch Driscoll's Mars Hill. Mars Hill's website says this about the Paradox:

"The Paradox is a community of volunteers who produce all age music events in Seattle. Since 1999, the Paradox has produced hundreds of shows and become a staple for the all-ages music scene in Seattle. Mars Hill Church supports the Paradox with facility and staff resources. While our church owns the building, anytime a show says “Paradox,” the event is not a “Christian” event, besides the simple Christian hospitality we exhibit when we open our doors and offer our venue to the community. There's no bait and switch. This bridge to the community provides an important, organic evangelism wherein we may not be verbally dispensing the gospel, but we’re engaging our local culture in a practical way that invites conversation and interaction. It’s not confrontational or propositional; it’s the patient work of building relationships and looking for natural opportunities."

I just thought people might want to know. You might be the recipient of one of those 'natural opportunities'.

It's okay folks. You can go into a building that is a church and enjoy a band, be it Christian, Atheist, Zoastrian, etc. and not actually be converted. Enjoy the music, have some punch and cookies, and then go home and do whatever the fuck you like.

Trust, me, I've been doing this for years when "coerced" into going to Christmas Eve services with my mom.

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