Amazed it lasted this long. Not exactly the best place for a venue, minimal foot traffic nearby and that little bit too far by public transport from the CBD.

And I have to say: has anyone actually heard of any of those bands?

no, nor the venue

probably didn't help they mainly booked metal/heavy acts. Quite a large room to fill too.

GOOD ONYA PRAGUE!
I had some rippin' FUN times at The Prague. I'm so very sad to see another local venue shutting it's doors. My thoughts go out to the crew that have worked so hard there. Here is a video of X rippin' up the stage in Northcote. ㋡
https://vimeo.com/15461828

I never went there, but I always thought they sounded a bit ''noise bar of thornbury''

what a bunch of hypocritical sooks you lot are.

the best thing about this place is that trend setters like you lot didn't go there.

:~(

I never went there, but I always thought they sounded a bit ''noise bar of thornbury''

Yep. It sure was.

We Did All We Could To Stay Open

Except booking decent gigs regularly.

Dave Doom said 59 minutes ago:
what a bunch of hypocritical sooks you lot are.
the best thing about this place is that trend setters like you lot didn't go there.

sounds like they couldve done with some trend setters

''We tried everything except getting trend setters in''

I don't get it, ya'll bitch and moan about hipsters in Northcote but then bag this joint for not being trendy?

Well, here's a recent gig guide.

Sadly just not many people would go see the bands, I guess

Maybe would've been different had they booked like The Retreat or Cornish Arms - for a venue in that location and size? Though I'm sure there were other reasons leading to closure other than low punter count at gigs.

Do you know many of them?

An upcoming gigs list at the northcote social club looks just as unappealing to me.

The booking was done by Youngy of King Parrot, so it's no wonder the bands that play are mainly his mates. I agree he didn't do the best of jobs, but I don't think the types of bands playing here was the reason for it not succeeding.

NSC pays the bills with more than just local gigs. I don't think those lineups are any better or worse than what Pony puts on, it was just a tough ask.

Yeah true, have you seen their menu prices!

Yep. Maybe the Prague should have served $22 pierogi

It's not too far fetched. They certainly could have utilized the space better.

The booking was done by Youngy of King Parrot, so it's no wonder the bands that play are mainly his mates.

Incorrect. He was formerly a band booker at the venue. It's now booked by Gunn Music.

so... the booking 'was' done by youngy then ;)

never heard of gunn music.

they run battle of the bands/showcase nights from memory.

King’s and Queens is Melbourne’s new Alternative Rock Night, which is run by local booking agency Gunn Music and will be held monthly at the Prague (Thornbury). Our aim is to blend current music with Alternative, Rock and Metal to bring the scenes together and in-turn grow the scene as a whole.

We are looking for enthusiastic music lovers who are passionate about getting behind the local Melbourne scene and promoting the events.

In addition to your pay, promoters will also get free entry into the club.

We will be looking into bringing touring acts to the venue to have there after parties at our night.

This is an awesome opportunity to be a part of the Melbourne music scene.

Gunn Music is also happy to write references for your use in the future.

It was the 'free entry into the club' part that ruined them, in the end.

Do you know many of them?

An upcoming gigs list at the northcote social club looks just as unappealing to me.

Yeah but the Northcote social club isn't closing down, in fact it's expanding to Sydney.

this

only has two acts listed and other than the prague and the empress seem to only put on shows in dodgy venues. (ok so conceded prague is dodgy also).

Yeah but the Northcote social club isn't closing down, in fact it's expanding to Sydney.

Please see above posts about alternate income streams and overpriced fare.

Yes, previously. The current bands booked were booked by Gunn.

The Prague celebrated its second anniversary in September with performances by Bellusira, Anna Salen, InVolume, Red Sky Burial, Apsis and Fenian.

Bellusira actually do pretty well. Only know of one other band on that list, so can't really give an informed opinion. The music's not really my type either, but doesn't mean they don't attract another crowd, yunno... Have seen quite good turn outs at these types of shows.

x-post to Dave Doom. obviously.

Dunno if they still do it but I went along to support a mate's band at one of their Gershwin room BOTB events; the kind where you tickets to your friends and the ''best'' bands get invited back for the next round. They string those things out for months.

Also, my car was sideswiped whilst parked near the venue by an unknown driver. Gunn Music refused to reimburse me or pay for the damages. I hate you, Gunn Music.

Please see above posts about alternate income streams and overpriced fare.

They're also host a variety of music genres, they don't just cater to the one demographic.

Bellusira actually do pretty well. Only know of one other band on that list, so can't really give an informed opinion. The music's not really my type either, but doesn't mean they don't attract another crowd, yunno... Have seen quite good turn outs at these types of shows.

Dunno where you saw them (and I have no idea if they are good or not), but they're managed by Gunn, who basically put on the shows as described above and stick their ''Official Roster'' artists up the top like them. Were they playing to the crowd of other peoples mums and cousins?

yep yep, true true.

I think the idea was to try and pick up the heavy metal crowd that had just lost the Arthouse, but that all went to The Bendigo.

Yeah, they still do the extra ticket sales through the bands thing. Apparently it works pretty well.

Dunno where you saw them (and I have no idea if they are good or not), but they're managed by Gunn, who basically put on the shows as described above and stick their ''Official Roster'' artists up the top like them. Were they playing to the crowd of other peoples mums and cousins?

It was Espy Gershwin Room. Gunn book regular shows there. They actually had a really big crowd. There were a few mums and dads, but it wasn't really that type of audience. They actually seemed pretty popular. Meh...

HAHAHAHAHA

yeah, no-one likes this.

7000 FB fans can't be wrong

How does that happen?

Ok I only watched a live one, so they might have some nicely polished single or fim clip up somewhere... urgh threads merging.

Shame to see it go, wonderful place and I agree with Dave, the lack of Melbourne general fuckheads made it a treat.

The issue from what I could see wasn't the lack of people at gigs (My housemate was a regular mixer) but more the lack of ability to draw money from any other source. It was never a place you could just call into and have a beer, which is a shame as Thornbury sadly lacks such an outlet.

Tago Mago seem to do ok.

If you like single mums and dudes in collared check shirts.. then yeah, Tago Mago is your place.

One mans fuckhead is another mans bro.

ladyelle said 21 hours ago:
Yeah, they still do the extra ticket sales through the bands thing. Apparently it works pretty well.

yep. the son of a family friend payed his own rent by running one of these scammy BOTB type things out of Revolver. he played horns on the side.

Any venue that relies on the band to bring ALL the drinkers is running on a very risky business model. It's going to be having to book top draw bands every week and/or put itself in a physical location that's easy to get to while having a strong enough reputation that people will turn up because of the rep of the venue as well as the rep of the acts.

Easy to type. Hard as buggery to pull off.

Buggery is okay.

A bit of buggery in the back room can be a good way to supplement the venue's income.

Stop being silly.

Hey man, I'm just tossing out ideas. You gotta think outside the square if you're going to develop new income streams.

Maybe some sort of cupcake based business model?

Maybe some sort of cupcake based business model?

I see what you did there.

frigid star said 1 day ago:
f you like single mums and dudes in collared check shirts.. then yeah, Tago Mago is your place.

what demographic is this?

the worst thing about tago mago is the live music. the worst thing about thornbury local is also the live music. there isn't a single place in this suburb that you can go and enjoy a beer without some shit band coming on that isn't the croxton or the rsl. bullshit.

the prague died because no one wanted to see the bands that played there.

what demographic is this?

The renovating demographic.

I'd rather be in the Croxton than either Tago or the T.Local, at least those cunts know how to swill and leave their kids at home.

the prague died because no one wanted to see the bands that played there.

And it wasn't the type of venue that you could just go to for a drink. Was it ever open when bands that no one was going see weren't playing?

That's why it closed fzchk, they weren't utilising the space to get more cash out of it, had nothing to do with the bands. Just becasue they didn't cater to this mob doesn't mean no one went to the gigs... Also pretty funny to suggest it was because of the bands followed by 'I never went there', you never went, you don't farken know.