Well damn, this sucks! Now HIVE will have to move again. So many long-standing venues folding over just the past couple of years, what gives?!

Damn. I love Someday Lounge. Saw some of my favorite shows there, played there a couple times myself, had my wedding reception with friends there, and as a vegan (shut up, vegan!), loved their food.

Having had the owners tell me they are not profitable unless there is a band on stage, and that they don't think musicians deserve any sort of guaranteed income, I'm not surprised the business is folding. I've questioned their business acumen since.

Someday had great sound, but as a musician it was not my favorite place to play. They never really paid bands, it was difficult to load in and out of, and the bar prices were unreasonably high (not to mention always a cover). There are a lot of other smaller venues in town doing it right, hopefully whoever ends up with the space will turn it into something cool.

I performed there with a band two years ago and loading gear in and out of there was a bitch. I was paid in drinks.

Graham Hyphen: Lots of places aren't profitable unless there's a band on stage. That's virtually every single venue that's ever existed. Anyone who thinks these places are made out of money are delusional.

DamosA: Maybe it has something to do with the overall economc climate sucking. Lots of businesses go under during an economic depression, especially when credit is hard to come by, lots more than during an economic boom. It should be no surprise why do many places are suffering these last few years.

The Someday Lounge and Backspace are different entities. They had two owners in common and a shared kitchen, but a good deal of the link between them was informal.

Wonder if they have paid off their loan with the city from PDC

Bummer. I've played many enjoyable shows there. I'm glad the Someday Incubator series seems to have found a new home at the Star Lounge.

They were a unique venue with a good dance floor and good sound, which is better than most venues, but I didn't like that I had to work a day job in order be able to afford to perform there.

Sadly, the slogan "Viva L'Arte" was rendered completely empty by their business model. It's the same as most venues in this town - cover all other costs first out of the door, and pay the musicians what's left over, if anything.

How does anybody think that is sustainable for anybody? How is it that venues expect to survive without investing even minimum wage for the talent on stage? And, please, spare me the "Musicians do it for the love" argument. If you're expected to do it for the love, and the other party is doing it for the money, that's not love -- that's getting fucked.

Let's hope the new venue is willing to invest as much in their talent as they do in the rest of their staff. Wait, I've got a totally original idea - how about a Neo-Bohemian Cabaret Strip Club? We can call it "Portlandia," and open franchises across the midwest.