OK, I bring this up because some of you who read this blog live in the Raleigh, NC area. I don't live there anymore, but I'm bringing this up.
The Raleigh area has not had a real stable Christian music venue since Jehovah Java closed. I see this as a perfect opportunity for someone to rent one of these spaces and open a new Christian music venue. This is, of course, one of the things that has been on my heart for a long time, and maybe someone will be lead to start it.
I do have some suggestions...
- Be open to different styles of music
- Advertise the venue as a Christian owned and operated venue
- This one will probably upset some people in the Bible belt, but feel free to let some "family friendly" secular musicians play as long as they're not going to preach anything that's going against Christian beliefs.
- Do not call yourself a coffee house unless you're going to serve coffee shop coffee. Coffee houses do not serve Folgers and Maxwell House.
- Do not call yourself a coffee house if you don't serve coffee! (Yes, I've seen christian music venues do this)
- If you absolutely want to limit the style of music (which goes against my first suggestion, but hey, you don't have to take all of my advice, or any of it for that matter) make it clear to people. For example, if you're starting a christian rock club, make it clear that it's rock music you're booking, not electronica, hip hop, or country.
- Don't be afraid to charge a cover charge. It doesn't have to be a really high price or anything. Do $5.00 for local bands, and if you have a national band, $10.00-$15.00 is good
- Have an area in the venue where the music is not as loud and people can talk.
- PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, WATCH OUT FOR LEGALISM CREEPING IN! This is really important to watch for in the Bible Belt, as it's everywhere! The problem is the person who is starting this venue may, unknowingly to himself or herself, have some legalistic views.
- Along with that last suggestion, understand that there are many Christians who may not agree with you on some doctrines. A typical southern baptist and a typical pentacostal are not going to agree on the "Once Saved, Always Saved" doctrine. Learn to agree to disagree and accept eachother as brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes, doctrine is important, but it's not as important as relationship with eachother. Nobody ever died for a doctrinal statement!
- Don't focus so much on making the legalistic fundamentalists happy. I've seen people do that, and they end up limiting God unintentionally.
- Be careful not to judge others who come into the venue (some who claim to be Christians, some who won't) who are struggling with sins, especially if you don't even know them that well. Build a relationship with them first. Let them know what the Bible says about certain things, but be sure to do so in a loving manner, in a way that you show you're wanting to help and not in a way that you're just saying "don't do that". And don't have a holier than thou attitude. This kind of stuff, I think, killed one Christian music venue I helped out with.
- As a venue, don't promote any political party or candidate. It's ok as an individual, and I think it is ok to discuss politics among eachother. I haven't seen a Christian music venue actually promote any political party, but I could definitely see one doing that. Christians have relied too much on changing politics, failing to realize that the hearts of the people need to be changed before the politics can be changed in a democratic or republic society (and for any society, for that matter)
- Be under the cover of a church, but make sure that church is in agreement with what your dream is for the venue. If they're not, don't be afraid to look for one that would be. Perhaps I'm biased since it's the church I came from, but I believe New Beginnings Church would likely be able to support you, and would be a good covering to be under. There may be some other churches that will, too.
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