Quality control for bars

In my mind, the weakest links to developing strong local music scenes are the venues. They can be horrendous: The waitstaff is rude, your feet stick to the floor, the bathrooms are dirty and there may even be vomit in the sinks. (I've seen it.) While that might be considered "atmosphere" to some, it keeps other potential patrons away.

Quality control is very much lacking in many music venues, particularly the smaller ones. Here's an article by Marc E. Babej and Tim Pollak about a national chain of upscale bars which has built its reputation on quality. These are not live music venues, but some of the same principles could apply.

Forbes, July 25, 2006: "Each Midnight Oil property is unique, and managers are free to run them as their own…so long as they stay within the rules. Those 'rules' help create a national brand. Comfort and relaxation are priorities. So the music--chosen by Gerber--'is always pretty similar and conducive to conversation.' There are guidelines for grooming (there's no room for sloppiness), the types of drinks that are poured (top drawer and generous), the drink mats and napkins (think thick). Even the bottles behind the bar are always positioned the same way--another visual cue to patrons that they are in a Gerber bar.

"... the bars offer a measure of privacy that’s highly-prized and hard to come by in cities where celebrities live and play, such as New York, Los Angeles and Vegas. An inviolate rule is that employees do not talk to the press. No cameras are allowed in. If a patron takes out a cell phone, they are asked to use it in the bathroom or outside. 'We want our customers to let their hair down, and not read about themselves the next day,' Gerber says.

"Gerber is methodical about maintaining product and service quality and consistency. New locations are staffed by corporate managers for the first few months, and every employee is trained at another property."

Employees are kept happy, thus reducing turnover. According to the article, "Many are young, good looking, and mobile--the kind of people who frequently move between major cities. 'If they want to go from New York to LA, they know they have a job with us,' Gerber says. 'No questions asked.'"