Belle & Sebastian Considers Opening Up A Taqueria
from the now-there's-an-idea dept
We're always interested in creative and new business model ideas involving using infinite goods to make scarce goods more valuable. So I have to admit I'm a bit intrigued by the (slightly tongue-in-cheek) claim by Stuart Murdoch of the popular band Belle & Sebastien that he's considering opening a Belle & Sebastien taqueria in Glasgow. In an interview with Planet Money, in which he's asked about any "backup career plans" he says:I have some ideas that I might have to act upon. One of them is to open a taqueria in Glasgow. There's no decent Mexican food in Glasgow. And I've had this idea for a while, to open a Belle & Sebastian taqueria. You're laughing, but I'm about to get serious about this. Because this could be the thing that allows me to carry on doing music -- to serve a decent taco.And while my first reaction was to laugh as well, the more I think about it, the more curious I am about the idea of a musician also opening up a restaurant or cafe like this. Of course, the usual complainers in our comments will say that if they're doing that then they're running a restaurant, not "being musicians." But, Murdoch seems to be suggesting that this is one way in which he can continue to be a musician. In fact, I would imagine that Belle & Sebastien fans would be willing to travel a long way, and spend a fair amount, to hang out at the Belle & Sebastien taqueria, and see the band hanging out/playing there as well.
Meanwhile, in terms of stuff the band is already doing, the band has created a neat contest to go along with their latest album release:
Album copies included a unique code to be entered at a website that asks the fan to write 300 words about love. From the submissions, the band will pick a winner, and Belle and Sebastian's lead singer-songwriter Stuart Murdock will come to the winner's town to hang out for an afternoon. Even more awesome is that Murdock will write a song about the winner which will be released on a special 7" record next year!
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Filed Under: belle & sebastian, business models, music
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More musician owned restaurants
Ten Musician-Owned Restaurants: Paste
Great Dining Venues by Famous Actors and Musicians
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All great
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They also have the 18th Street Lounge, The Gibson, Patty Boom Boom and more.
It all started with ESL (18th Street Lounge), where they created a studio in the back rooms and started the ESL Music Label. To this day that is still one of the most popular bars in the city...after 18 years :)
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Franz Ferdinand did it first...
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Re:
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Where does he suggest it will be a band themed restaurant?
What happens while the band is touring or recording (and therefore not hanging out in the restaurant)? It closes? After all, why would anyone go if the main attraction of the restaurant isn't there?
Apart from that I doubt the number of Taco loving Belle & Sebastian fans within reasonable travel distance from Glasgow is big enough to keep a restaurant in business, so he must make sure it appeals to others as well. Which in turn will make it less appealing for the hardcore Belle & Sebastian fan to travel far.
Sorry, this sounds just like a musician running some other business on the side to enable him to keep making music. That's not exactly a new business model as far as I'm concerned. As already pointed out musicians have owned (or are owning) restaurant already, same as many probably own all other kinds of businesses or have supplemented their income with other activities.
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Mark
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nice
I assume though that ACTA will outlaw playing original music without signing a slavery contract with a major label.But he still will have a restaurant to pay the bills. So there's that..
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Re: nice
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Its great to see musicians using their success to start new ventures that will allow them to continue doing what they love. But what I find surprising is that it seems like he needs the restaurant in order to continue making music. I thought they would be making plenty of money by now.
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I hope they mean that they would finance and open a restaurant, not run one. That in itself is at least a 60 hour a week workload for the first several years, probably without getting to cut yourself a paycheck. No time for music on that kind of schedule.
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...and the Beast forever swears off tacos.
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Complimentary business
20 years ago, blues artist Buddy Guy opened a club called "Legends" in Chicago. It provided him with a revenue generating business outside of his music, but it also helped promote his music business. Some friends and I stopped by one night to check out a small local band that was playing. To our surprise, Buddy was in town and was hanging out at the club that night. He played an impromptu set and ended up joining us at our table for a few beers. He still owns the club today. Not sure if he spends a lot of time there these days, but the bar has certainly given him a great way to interact with fans in a very personal way. I know that I became a much bigger fan after having the chance to meet and hang out with him.
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Re: Complimentary business
For celebrities, putting a name on a restaurant is a way to extend the brand. For local musicians, sometimes it's a way to create a venue to play in. Other times it's a day job where you might have some previous background or skills.
Running a restaurant is hard work. For most people there are easier ways to make money and better forms of investment. Perhaps the simplest way for a celebrity to get involved is to get a licensing royalty for use of your name but not risk your own money or worry about keeping the place running.
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Complimentary Business
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Cabo Wabo
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Taqueria in Scotland
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Funding, huh?
(Admittedly, I'm just sad because I couldn't afford to go. If they can sell the tickets, I guess they can charge however much they want. And I know indie bands don't have to follow these rules, but $70 for a ticket is NOT punk rock.)
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This might turn out to be worthy of its own Techdirt post
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