Entertainer

This morning I got a note from promoter for the band Floater, who is hoping to book a show later this fall in Corvallis. The band, which originated in Eugene in the early 1990s and is now based out of Portland, has a major following among hard rock fans in the Northwest.

In recent years, when Floater has come to Corvallis it packed the subterranean dance floor of Platinum. Now that Platinum is no more, the promoter wanted to know if there were any other venues of about the same size to book a show.

Good question.

First off, I sent them information on Corvallis’ two newest venues: The Troubadour and La Bamba Mix (coming to former Platinum location). I never miss a chance to talk about new businesses starting up in Corvallis to out-of-town promoters. We want them to get the impression of a music scene alive and growing after all, not dead and diminishing.

Unfortunately, until La Bamba Mix is up and running and with The Majestic Theatre undergoing a seismic upgrade (and facing some other issues), we are at a real loss for a mid-sized venue right now in Corvallis.

By my guesstimation, the next closest indoor venues in size would be the Odd Fellows Hall, The Benton County Fairgrounds auditorium and a few locations on the Oregon State University campus (Club Escape/International Forum, Memorial Union Ballroom and Milam Auditorium). Often, these places take some extra initiative on the part of the organizers to secure, set up and promote an event, because they are not nightly music venues.

Of course, we have several large auditoriums (OSU’s LaSells Stewart Center, Corvallis High School Mainstage Theatre and The Venetian in Albany), but for a group like Floater, the atmosphere would probably be a bit too formal at those locations. Not to mention the price to rent.

They could (and hopefully will) cram inside one of our heroic and tireless late night live music purveyors such as Bombs Away Café, Block 15, Cloud 9, FireWorks, Squirrels or the Peacock Bar & Grill, Bogey’s (Albany), Calapooia (Albany), etc.

But, they’ll need to be careful not to knock anyone’s drink out of their hand in the tight space.

Hit me back and let me know where you’d like to see Floater play in Corvallis or Albany. I’ll send your suggestions to the band’s promoter.

Thanks, Nancy

Floater – In Transition

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