Club competition
non-existent, say
venue operators

From page 29
couraging, the track record is not.

Norvana night spots such as
Holidays, Whispers and Scandals
(the latter two now defunct) stiffed
with live acts a few years back.
Even the Coach House, once a
bona fide rock club, showed scant
returns and finally ousted the
bands and stuck with the strippers.
But as Webster argues, the reces-
sion just might work in their favor.

“During a recession, the first
thing to go is disposable j income,
and for guys going out to watch
(exotic) dancers, the income is
much more disposable than for
guys going out to nightclubs to
meet girls or a guy taking a girl out
for,the night,” he says. “Those
things igs Bel priority.

or the clubs that failed:
“t's shard for a place to go live |
after having a disco format. If
you're going to change, you have
to make a 100% change. It’s all or
nothing.”

As an example, Webster points
to the success of the Avalon
Hotel's L.A. Tavern. |. |

‘When the old pub was reno-
vated a decade or so ago, out
went the boogie bands and terry-
towel tablecloths, and in came the
canned music and dress code.

Though such changes invariably
attract a different clientele, staffers
at Deep Cove’s Raven anticipate —
‘the pub’s recent face-lift will not
only keep regular customers, but
win over. new recruits.

“We want to maintain the .

Raven asa neighborhood pub, not -

a music venue,” says the
establishment's head of produc-..
tion, Trapper Morgan, who has
_. been phasing out the lonely-guy-

: with-a-guitar-and-beatbox type '
acts in favor of honest- to-goodness

NV student makes TV

bands willing to play at a reason-
able volume,

“But for the sake of the patrons
and simple economics, we'll bring
the odd Top-40 single or duo at
their request — that’s why it’s

called a neighborhood pub. That
way the musicians are, happy, the
locals are happy § andthe new
crowd is happy.”

In addition to the Raven’ $ format
_and physical alterations ‘the inte-
‘rior no longer looks like the ladies’
room ina Beverly Hills fern bar),
Morgan has come up with the
novel idea of developing the pub’s
own record label.

“The label will be supportive
to the musicians who perform

_ here,’’ says Morgan, who has al-

ready recorded and mixed from
D.A.T. some impressive live tapes.

“We hope to release our first
CD compilation sometime around
Aprit. We want to try and puta
spark back i in the industry i in Van-
couver,”

As for competition between
North Shore venues, club repre-
sentatives agree that it’s non-exis-
tent..

“Everybody is doing something
completely different,” says Lynn-
wood bar manager Matthew King.
Adds Sandy Cove co-manager
Celeste Redman: ‘The North
Shore isn’t like downtown — -
because most of the clubs have
out-of-the-way locations, people
don’t wander in and out on their
way to other places.’’

Back at the Coach House, it's
last call.

There's been a whole lotta
drinkin’ goin’.on and Webster's

- beer cooler is virtually dry.

“We didn’t expect this kind of

“a turn out,” he says with a:

bemused but contented smile.

debut on CBC drama

ROSS ROAD. ‘Elementary student

“Aidan -Pendleton is making her ...'

‘television. debut Sunday on CBC °

“TV's .two-hour: family. drama, rl,

Never Get'to Hea ven.

The North Vancouver actor stars
_as 13-year-old Betty Morrison: in
“the poignant story of a young Irish
Catholic girl (played ' by. Amy
Stewart)’ who . faces formidable
- questions about ° love, ” friendship

and faith,

Trained -in music, theatre and
dance, Pendleton has studied with
the, Vancouver Youth Theatre and
at the Vancouver Academy of

, Music.’ Her stage credits include

, the local Waterfront Theatre pro-
duction of A Christmas Carol and
the Vancouver Opera's production
of Werther. .

Recent film credits include The
Crush. .

‘Serving World. Famous Fish & Chips
vin HORSESHOE BAY since 1946

° expires Feb. 4/93.

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4pm to closing:

* Horseshoe Boy:
“loeation oy _

* Eat-in only

Buy. the first entree, and receive a

second entree of equal or lesser value,
fo} . an .
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3 West’ Vancouver

901.7758

Wednesday, January 27, 1993 - North Shore News ~ 33

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