By Jeff TerichAssistant Tempo Editor
Being a music fan under 21-years-old can be frustrating in SanDiego. The Belly Up Tavern, 4th and B, The Casbah and most recently,Java Joe’s, all cater to the 21-and-up crowd. Even ‘Canes, which isusually an all-ages venue, has been putting on a large number of21-and-up shows lately. But there’s a new game in town.
Enter The Scene — one of the latest all-ages venues to surface inSan Diego.
“We wanted to provide a place where kids who are underage couldsee great concerts and have a nice place to go,” Scene founder SeanBrandes said. “I can remember when I was young and the Belly Up hadall the best reggae shows and I wasn’t old enough to go see them.”
The Scene, located in Clairemont Mesa, holds 700 people, which isa larger capacity than that of either the Belly Up or The Casbah. Inaddition to the size and convenience, The Scene boasts one of thebest places to go for good sound at a live show in San Diego. Theartists, as well, seem to be pleased with their setup.
“They’re really excited to play to all-ages,” Brandes said of thebands featured at The Scene. “They like the way we have the soundsystem set up. It was one of our main things to get the sound goinggood and make itcomfortable for the artists. We try to make it comfortable for themusicians and a good environment for people to listen. If themusicians are happy, then usually, they’ll make the people happy.”
The Scene, as stated earlier, caters to all ages, which means noalcohol is served within the venue. While bars can help a venue turna profit more easily, Brandes and Chief Operating Officer CynthiaMorris see the Scene as something more than a means of income.
“It’s hard to make money without a bar, with your overhead costsand everything,” Morris said. “Bars are that cushion against notdoing very well. Sean and I are very service-oriented. We’re notlooking at this for making the big bucks.”
Two major national acts, Rocket From the Crypt and Le Tigre,played to sold-out crowds at The Scene recently. But bringing in thecrowds wasn’t always that easy.
“We opened right after Sept. 11,” Morris said. “I mean, autumn isa tough time to open anyway, but this autumn was really tough. So ourfirst four months were really just about trying to get the word out,and now since January, the word is out, and the crowds are coming.”
The Scene is not only a place for younger music fans to come andsee their favorite bands, but they can also do so without beingharassed by abusive bouncers and security guards.
“Our in-house guards are the best,” Morris said. “They know how todeal with people. They’re not abusive. They’re not rough. They knowwhere to be and when to be there. People don’t feel threatened orintimidated.”
“We’re really strict, but we’re not trying to be judgmental towardkids,” Brandes said. “We just want them to understand that we’re herefor them and if they do certain things, it’ll jeopardize thebusiness.
“It’s not like we’re just roughing them up. Our guards are reallygood about talking to them and explaining things to them. Theyactually take the time to explain the laws about it. The feedbackwe’ve been getting is that they appreciate the way the guards aretreating them. That’s part of our philosophy.”
Brandes and Morris both feel that starting the Scene has been avery positive and fun experience, despite a difficult beginning.
“Getting ourselves off the ground was not fun,” Brandes said. “Butsince we’ve been open it’s been more and more fun.”
For more information about The Scene, call (858)505-9111, or visitwww.thescenelive.com.
