Just last week I sat with Neil and a member of management at Grandwest to discuss the possible way forward for Jackson Hall.
I will not go into the messy details of what went down, but will say that the verdict was given that the DJs at Jackson Hall including myself stop playing the latest hits and RnB, HipHop and stick to only Jazz, Old School dance (10 years and older) and some commercial dance. This is to promote the Hanover Street complex across the way.
Their take on it is this, why should people pay R30 to get into Hanover Street Nightclub if Jackson Hall Pub plays the same music and has the same drinks and prices with absolutely no cover charge.
True.
If you ask me, I'll save R30 and sit upstairs in Jackson Hall with a couple of beers and my handy pack of Rothmans Mild.
So they are trying the following. They have hired the one of the best names in the DJing industry Tony Smith to pump the Hanover Street dance Floor.
In my honest opinion, it is futile without something else to drag Cape Towns clubbers to HS.
They have a cover charge, parking fee and a distance to walk before getting to the club and then the strict rules on smoking areas.
I sat there watching Tony and this is not a good thing to happen to a DJ. Been given an empty dance floor to fill up from literally nothing. and no matter how influential and well-off your buds may be, Capetonians will always try to skimp a few bucks on their entertainment. So even Tony will have trouble filling up this place, event though he has some weight thrown behind him from Stan Mars (Heart FM)
This weekend was a prime example, but I must say that JHall on Friday was one of the best nights of my 10 year long DJ career. The crowd was awesome and very receptive and I didn't rely on the latest hits to get them going.
I was even shocked when played some old classics that most DJs dare not play to avid losing rep with the audience.
Friday night I got the hugest response from playing Lou Rawls, Jose Feliciano, Skyy, Van McCoy and old Michael Jackson hits in my closing hour.
Surprised, I am not.
Bewildered, I am...
More updates later in the month with progress.
I will not go into the messy details of what went down, but will say that the verdict was given that the DJs at Jackson Hall including myself stop playing the latest hits and RnB, HipHop and stick to only Jazz, Old School dance (10 years and older) and some commercial dance. This is to promote the Hanover Street complex across the way.
Their take on it is this, why should people pay R30 to get into Hanover Street Nightclub if Jackson Hall Pub plays the same music and has the same drinks and prices with absolutely no cover charge.
True.
If you ask me, I'll save R30 and sit upstairs in Jackson Hall with a couple of beers and my handy pack of Rothmans Mild.
So they are trying the following. They have hired the one of the best names in the DJing industry Tony Smith to pump the Hanover Street dance Floor.
In my honest opinion, it is futile without something else to drag Cape Towns clubbers to HS.
They have a cover charge, parking fee and a distance to walk before getting to the club and then the strict rules on smoking areas.
I sat there watching Tony and this is not a good thing to happen to a DJ. Been given an empty dance floor to fill up from literally nothing. and no matter how influential and well-off your buds may be, Capetonians will always try to skimp a few bucks on their entertainment. So even Tony will have trouble filling up this place, event though he has some weight thrown behind him from Stan Mars (Heart FM)
This weekend was a prime example, but I must say that JHall on Friday was one of the best nights of my 10 year long DJ career. The crowd was awesome and very receptive and I didn't rely on the latest hits to get them going.
I was even shocked when played some old classics that most DJs dare not play to avid losing rep with the audience.
Friday night I got the hugest response from playing Lou Rawls, Jose Feliciano, Skyy, Van McCoy and old Michael Jackson hits in my closing hour.
Surprised, I am not.
Bewildered, I am...
More updates later in the month with progress.
