Ella St. Social Club
based on 2 Reviews
Portland, OR
(503) 241-8696
ellastreetsocialclub.com/ myspace.com/ellastreetsocialclub
Genres:
Typical earnings for each musician
$8based on input from 1 review
Paid via…
- Cover?: Yes (1 vote)
- Donations?: No (1 vote)
- Minimum draw to get paid?: No (1 vote)
- Free food?: No (1 vote)
- Free drinks?: Yes (1 vote)
Business practices
- Non-profit?: No (1 vote)
- Musician-run?: No (1 vote)
- Rental fee?: No (1 vote)
- Books local acts?: Yes (1 vote)
- Books out-of-town acts?: Yes (1 vote)
- Promotes the acts it hires?: No (1 vote)
Backline
- Piano?: No (1 vote)
- Piano in tune?: No (1 vote)
- Keyboard?: No (1 vote)
- Drumset?: No (1 vote)
- Keyboard amp?: No (1 vote)
- Guitar amp?: No (1 vote)
- Bass amp?: No (1 vote)
- Direct box?: No (1 vote)
- PA system?: No (1 vote)
- Sound person?: No (1 vote)
The room
- Stage?: Yes (1 vote)
- Backstage/Green Room?: No (1 vote)
- Space for dancing?: Yes (1 vote)
- Primarily background music?: No (1 vote)
- Serves Food?: Yes (1 vote)
- Liquor License?: Yes (1 vote)
- Capacity: 50-300 (1 vote)
Reviews from musicians
05-30-2012
The good:
It's a cute place, the basement of a former funeral home, convenient stumbling distance from Burnside watering holes like the Bitter End and the Marathon. The people were nice. Band members get one drink. Tiny but cute pagoda-style stage. This could be a really nice place; it's got a decent location
The bad:
The PA system has one half-functioning monitor and four mains, two of which are there for show only. One mic cable and one mic failed during our performance. The monitor did not function. The booking agent was doubling as the sound engineer. The sound was terrible. The bandleader I was working for says he's played there twice before and the sound was bad both other times. I asked the sound guy if he thought the owners would be interested in investing in their music by providing adequate equipment. He said only that he knew the owners, but didn't end up answering.
I asked if they had a specific niche, target market, or clienetele; he said no, it's pretty much whatever the bands bring.
I spoke to the booking agent after the show. Nice guy. I asked him what the house's draw was on a weekend night. He said maybe four or five people, it's pretty much up to the bands. I asked if they promoted the venue, he said, yeah, they might do some posters, mostly internet stuff. It didn't sound as if those efforts were particularly intentional, committed, substantial, or effective.
The ugly:
Show started at nine. Doors at eight. Half the crowd came before nine, when they started charging. They made no attempt to collect from anybody who came in before downbeat. Subsequently, the three bands- twelve accomplished musicians - split $100.
The opening act was unique, talented, and clearly a real cut above a typical bar band. The headlining act was as well, and they were on a west coast tour. Nobody so much as made expenses, let alone minimum wage. I will never perform at this place again. It's a real shame, it could be a nice place.