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News & ArtsWednesday, September 30, 2009
Politics Tonight: The Nightlife Candidates
Posted by Dominic Holden on Wed, Sep 30, 2009 at 5:53 PM
At the Crocodile tonight, the nightlife industry will be gunning hard for the three candidates that they think will reverse a trend of anti-nightlife policies in the city. The Presidents of the United States of America and Krist Novoselic are performing for the high-ticket shindig—up to $350 a person for VIP passes, but tickets are being sold on a sliding scale—for mayoral candidate Mike McGinn, county executive candidate Dow Constantine, and city attorney hopeful Pete Holmes.
Indeed, while the incumbents have pushed an onerous nightlife agenda, Holmes has vowed to be supportive of nightlife interests and McGinn recently released a robust music and nightlife policy paper.
David Meinert, a nightlife advocate who is producing the show, says, “I believe these three candidates can change the future of this region." All of them support local culture and transportation, he says, whereas their opponents would rather put “more money in a so-called law-and-order agenda and highways." The three candidates will divide the donations equally.
“It’s a $200 suggested donation but they can give what they can,” Meinert says. “We don’t want tot turn a bunch of people away.” He says tickets will be available at the door. A VIP event at Via Tribunali in Belltown begins at 7:00 p.m., and music and speeches at the adjoining Crocodile run from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. More info here.
Full Disclosure: The Stranger’s promotions department sponsored this event by donating a quarter-page ad. But The Stranger’s promotions department has no influence over our editorial content.
1
Douchebag Dave Meinert, who setup this event, originally set the prices too high, just like at the Capitol Hill Ripoff and Shakedown. Even when he's trying to help somebody else, he's acts according to his nature, like a gouging greedhead.
2
Definitely some serious gouging going on by Meinert, even if it is a political fundraising event. They'll be dragging the bums hookers and junkies off 2nd ave to fill the room.
3
Lol, dudes, it's called event pricing - you hit up the high donors first, use that cash to cover setup costs, then you offer the hard workers and the patient people a lower price.
Think of it as economics in action - let's say I have a 500 seat place and I want to fill it. Eighty percent of the people will pay $250 to get in. Then, after satiating that demand - which goes to the campaign - you offer discounts to the next tier. Wash, rinse, repeat until the event is sold out.
Besides, the ones who get in for a lower price will tend to buy t-shirts and bumper stickers and volunteer all the harder cause the got a deal.
Think of it as economics in action - let's say I have a 500 seat place and I want to fill it. Eighty percent of the people will pay $250 to get in. Then, after satiating that demand - which goes to the campaign - you offer discounts to the next tier. Wash, rinse, repeat until the event is sold out.
Besides, the ones who get in for a lower price will tend to buy t-shirts and bumper stickers and volunteer all the harder cause the got a deal.
4
Will,
I think you are somewhat right but mostly wrong. You know that not even 25% of the people going there tonight are gona pay $200...its a gouged event for certain, event pricing or not. I mean, its not like a Governor or Senate campaign--of which several I have worked on coordinating such events.
I think you are somewhat right but mostly wrong. You know that not even 25% of the people going there tonight are gona pay $200...its a gouged event for certain, event pricing or not. I mean, its not like a Governor or Senate campaign--of which several I have worked on coordinating such events.
7
Thanks to all the people who came out tonight, and the artists for the awesome music. Amazing packed event that raised a lot of money, and I hope, raised the profile of both the music community and the candidates who help support it.
Aside from McGinn, Holmes and Dow, be sure to also get out to some fundraisers for Licata, Conlin, O'Brien and Bagshaw - all candidates who will also strongly support a pro-culture, pro-nightlife, urbanist vision for Seattle.
Huge success tonight, now let's make sure we carry this through the election and get these folks into office.
Aside from McGinn, Holmes and Dow, be sure to also get out to some fundraisers for Licata, Conlin, O'Brien and Bagshaw - all candidates who will also strongly support a pro-culture, pro-nightlife, urbanist vision for Seattle.
Huge success tonight, now let's make sure we carry this through the election and get these folks into office.
8
Tonight was a great example of folks doing what they can to get the job done. Croc was packed, folks were having a great time, and the entertainment was solid.
Plus, Krist Novoselic kicking it with Mad Rad and Champagne Champagne, while PUSA posts up aftershow? Talking politics AND music? Sorry, haters, but that warms my heart.
Bottom line: these are candidates that can and will make a difference not just for nightlife, but for our region as a whole. If we can help them get elected, I call that a win.
Plus, Krist Novoselic kicking it with Mad Rad and Champagne Champagne, while PUSA posts up aftershow? Talking politics AND music? Sorry, haters, but that warms my heart.
Bottom line: these are candidates that can and will make a difference not just for nightlife, but for our region as a whole. If we can help them get elected, I call that a win.
10
@9 - really Dan? Like, just let the City Attorney make all the anti-nightlife rules he wants? Or just let DPD come up with sound rules and just not worry about it? Or let the SPD enforce the laws however subjectively they want with no oversight? Or let the other cities make the liquor law rules and Seattle just stays out of that? and just leave all the rules around outdoor concerts and festivals stay they way they are now? and not worry about crime around where people gather? maybe we should just let the politicians who want to take us back to the days of the teen dance ordinance take over. would that make you happier?
your silly isolationist anti-government policy is naive at best. Should government also stay out of funding the library system you work for?
your silly isolationist anti-government policy is naive at best. Should government also stay out of funding the library system you work for?
11
You misunderstand, when I say the best thing politicians could do for the nightlife of Seattle is leave it alone, that includes the City Attorney (he is, after all, a politician). The change in the TDO came from forces outside government, where often the best change comes from. And so far I think most of the over-involvement we've seen in the Nickels-era in the music scene hasn't made things better. I'm not anti-government, I just think too much government interference and involvement in the music community makes things worse, especially for the independent music scene. You fight for the big guys Dave, everyone knows it. You give props to Nickels at press conferences for helping out the music community, statements favoring AEG to the press, profit from Bumbershoot and the Capitol Hill Block Party, etc. I understand how your involvement with government and the music scene has been profitable for you. But you're not exactly objective because of that, and you're on a whole different level and have a different perspective than most music fans, bands, labels, clubs and promoters.
And no, while I favor less government and less laws (really, who doesn't?), I think where we need government is to help fund public services like libraries, hospitals, roads and education. But not the music scene. All of Seattle's public library staff took forced furloughs and paycuts this year, forcing the public libraries to shut down all public services for a week. Did this happen with the Mayor's Office of Film and Music or the 80K a year Club Czar position? Are these tax funded "for the good of the music community" positions more important than public libraries?
And no, while I favor less government and less laws (really, who doesn't?), I think where we need government is to help fund public services like libraries, hospitals, roads and education. But not the music scene. All of Seattle's public library staff took forced furloughs and paycuts this year, forcing the public libraries to shut down all public services for a week. Did this happen with the Mayor's Office of Film and Music or the 80K a year Club Czar position? Are these tax funded "for the good of the music community" positions more important than public libraries?
12
Kerri, can your wannabe scenester ass please stop talking about 'your good friends' in Mad Sad and Champagne daily, please?
You are twice their age and not impressing anyone.
You are twice their age and not impressing anyone.
13
ps- I should point out I think what Dave does for Seattle's music community is needed on some level and mostly positive (except welcoming AEG Live, fuck those corporate assholes and the massive hike in Bumbershoot and Showbox ticket prices that followed). I think it's just mostly Meinert operates on a corporate/establishment level that no one else reading this does. He's part of the old guard and uses friends in high places to make a living and for his own personal gain. There is nothing wrong with this, being chummy with government makes it easier to put on the Capitol Hill Block Party and make a lot of dough from it I'm sure, so yes, it's in his best interest. But I'd argue that it isn't necessarily beneficial for the greater music community, we should be suspect of greater government involvement in our music scene, and the motives of someone pushing it that directly profits from it. Big government works great for some people. But having an aging old guard of promoters in bed with the politicians and wielding too much power makes it harder for newer bands, labels, promoters, radio stations, publications and clubs to get their foot in the door and to have success. I think McGinn is the right choice for Mayor, I just hope there are other people bending his ear on the music issues that have the greater interest of the entire music community at mind. We need less government involvement in our music community, not more. Let it flourish on it's own and make things easier for new voices, bands and businesses by less regulation, less committees, less bureaucracy. Gawd knows we could be spending our tax dollars on more important public services.
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