Wake-up Nightlife – Club District – December 9.2007
The Dungeon,
By BD Marie Hughes
Originally submitted to SUBSTANCE Magazine, Dec.9.2007
Where is the best place to go & take in the best bands just beyond the city limits of
The following are excerpts from an interview with the incomparable and highly energized Sarah Bisch, General Manager. She managed to impressed the hell out of me with her quick management skills and problem-solving (“There’s always a problem!”) at a massive show in early December 2007 featuring The 68pornomags, Blackjacket, Man With Target, Bridge Too Far, End Program, and Raised Fist from Sweden currently touring Canada & the U.S. I told her she seemed extremely plugged-in to her job and that, as a competitive men’s rowing coach, I don’t blow no sunshine. Sarah is also a full-time student of the Music Management Program at
BD: How would you describe The Dungeon to someone who’s never been? What’s its reputation?
Sarah: The Dungeon is the longest running venue for live music in
BD: Does The Dungeon advertise?
S: Due to The Dungeon being around for such a long time, it isn’t necessary to advertise the bar itself. We promote our shows all around
BD: What types of bands do you book – are you looking to go with a certain genre or is it a free for all?
S: The Dungeon is usually known for having in Rock, Hardcore, Punk, Ska (punk rock with brass), Emo, and Metal shows, however the venue is definitely NOT limited to those genres. In January, we are having East Coast Hip-Hop artist Classified hitting our stage. We’re always open to every genre. Another favourite Hip Hop band we’ve been having out lately is Down With Webster from
BD: How do you go about booking bands for your venue? Do you contact them or are bands getting in touch with you? What criteria, if any, do you have for the bands?
S: Bands contact us all the time. Fans of bands contact us all a time. Will (the owner of The Dungeon/WRNent which is William R. Neville Entertainment) and I are constantly on myspace, or kicking around
A big factor about getting a second gig at the venue is to be polite. Since starting at the venue, I have dealt with some really difficult “rockstar” types. That’s a huge turn off. Your music can be good, but if you aren’t polite to the bar staff, and the promoter, don’t expect a second gig.
BD: You had mentioned earlier that there is a new owner – what is it like to work with him? I understand he’s promoted the hell out of you internally, giving you a larger role at The Dungeon and more responsibility.
S: I started at The Dungeon January 5.2007. This was the first show put on by the new owner, William Neville. I went to a show he put on at another bar a month or so earlier and got his contacts from one of the bands. I asked him if he needed a hand at any shows he was putting on. He told me he had just bought The Dungeon and offered me a job. I started out as the door person. From there I became Will’s assistant on the promotions side, and as of recently, have been promoted to being the General Manager. Will is a great boss and friend. He has been my biggest mentor in the industry. As he likes to put it, “I (Will) am a promoter. I promote my bar. I promote my bands. I promote my people”. He has lived up to that statement in every way. The venue has really had a huge turn around this year since Will took over. It’s a lot cleaner than it was in the past years, and is a safer environment to harbour the “all ages” crowd that we are proud to welcome. The bar has had some really big names play at it this year, including: illScarlett, Gob, Rockstar Supernova winner: Lukas Rossi, Social Code, Protest the Hero, The 68pornomags, Raised Fist from Sweden, etc., etc. The place is getting noticed from big entities like myspace, too. We will be co-presenting our New Year’s Eve Bash with them.
BD: What’s the craziest band you ever booked?
S: I was on tour while
BD: Which band or bands have come to play at The Dungeon that brought a huge audience that you weren’t expecting?
S: illScarlett shows are always huge for us. I remember the first time I saw them. It was a few years ago at the Vinyl in
BD: Conversely (laughs), who bombed?
S: (laughs) We don’t like to talk about them.
BD: Club drink du jour?
S: There is not one drink that is a house favourite. We ensure that we stock Labatt’s 50 on nights with punk shows. It is key to stock 50 for punks.
BD: You went on tour last summer with the insanely talented Jen Militia. What was that like and how did you find it prepared you for your role here at The Dungeon?
S: The tour was a 10-week
We hit every different type of venue while crossing the country. You meet a lot of different people when you hit a different town every couple of days. I got to meet plenty of bar owners, promoters, bartenders, and fans. It was neat to see how different bars were run.
BD: What advice would you give to other young women looking for a career in the music and club industry? Do you, yourself, feel you’ll be here in 5 years time growing the biz or perhaps moving into a different area?
S: I shouldn’t be giving advice at this point. I’m still a baby in this industry. 19 is too young to be offering words of wisdom to anyone other than myself. I often remind myself to not lose focus. Advice I have gotten that has been good for me:
“Don’t be scared.” This has been said to me at least once by every single member of the Jen Militia. I heard it at least daily while on tour with them.
“Sleep is for the weak.” – (laughs) Will likes to joke and say this to me when I get busy juggling my school work and my work for him.
I hope to be working with Will in 5 years. He is a great boss and things just keep getting bigger and better for everyone here. I’d be crazy to bale on this operation anytime soon. I will, hopefully, tour a few more times while I’m still young and full of energy, and working with the Jen Militia. They’re going to be huge.
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