For some reason I thought the House of Blues had its start in New Orleans, but it did not. The first House of Blues was started in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

About the House of Blues (taken from the House of Blues website)

The House of Blues grew out of founder Isaac Tigrett’s love for the unique American art form known as the “the Blues”. Weaned on this music during his early childhood in Tennessee, one of Isaac’s goals was to introduce the world to the music of the rural south, including the Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Jazz and Roots-abed Rock & Roll. The very first House of Blues opened its doors in a converted historical house in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1992 and is home to live music, original folk art, and delta-inspired cuisine. The House of Blues is dedicated to educating and celebrating the history of Southern Culture and African American artistic contributions to music and art.

The House of Blues is without a doubt an interesting business case – established by to introduce “the music of the rural south, including the Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Jazz and Roots-abed Rock & Roll” it had its start in the Northeast. What made Cambridge the perfect starting ground? Would the House of Blues be what it is today if it had started somewhere else?

I have not been to any other House of Blues locations, but I’m going to assume from what I’ve seen on the website that they all operate basically the same way, which makes the business simpler and easier to run. However, I do wonder if all the House of Blues venues are all ages venues. The one in New Orleans certainly is.

Financially I wonder if that’s more profitable or if the House of Blues takes a hit profit wise because of it? There’s no doubt that the crowd yesterday was mostly made up of teenagers. The acts were Jack’s Mannequin (headliner), Matt Nathanson and Erin McCarley. I hadn’t heard of any of them but those teenagers in the audience definitely had.

Teenagers are a huge consumer group – and from the lines at the products tables; they have no problems spending their allowances, parent’s money and hard earned money on products. Good for the artists but what about the House of Blues?

Because it’s an all age venue, no alcohol is sold in the music hall. Most venues make their money on the sale of alcohol…even those of years 21 and older could not bring in alcohol to the music hall purchased at the restaurant.

Tickets were $30 a person sold through Live Nation or the Box Office (note they don’t use Ticket Master…although with Ticket Master buying Live Nation if a moot point). There were 3 acts – I have no clue how much each act were paid to perform. I’m going to guest there were probably a couple hundred people in the crowd. In my head, no matter how you slice this pie; the profits can’t be much.

Since the audience was made up of mostly teenagers – it’s not like they were going to stop in the bar or restaurant to drink and eat afterwards and increase the potential of the profit margins.

I have to admit that the stage was well setup. The majority of the equipment for all three acts were all pre-staged. The transition from one act to another was rather expeditious and well executed…minimizing the need for a lot of stage hands.

I didn’t enjoy any of the acts. Wendy has seen Matt Nathanson ten times. She’s obviously a fan – he did not convert me into a fan. A few months ago I saw Lowry at a local bar in DC; I walked away with their CD in my hand. Some acts will create immediate fans while others will not.

I did get a kick out of watching the crowd/consumer group. Every time I looked down at the crowd someone was texting, taking pictures, or capturing a video. The crowd, like I said, was mostly compromised of teenagers and mostly of the female variation! I also spent the time analyzing the House of Blues operations, opportunities, functions etc. I do that everywhere I go. Observe everything, take notes…find the opportunities.

The upstairs area has a sitting area that’s corded off. Apparently that area is reserved for foundation members and donors, however; once the show started the guy running the area ran a side operation along with the bartender. Not entirely sure if this is a legit operation endorsed by the venue but the lowdown is that for the right “tip” you can find yourself sitting in the corded off area. Wendy paid a $20 tip for us to have seats. I love it – people will always find a way to make extra $$.

(Flickr 31 Dresses Experiment)

I’m so relieved I was able to have an idea again; I can’t really explain the joy I feel from it. I’ve been somewhat lost these last few months…an entrepreneur that can’t come up with new amazing idea is like a chicken that can’t lay an egg – I was starting to wonder if I had it in me; if I could even call myself an entrepreneur anymore. I was thinking may be I needed to go back to school and find something “fall back on”. Crazy talk.

My Quest for Life Balance

Since moving to New Orleans my life has been very different. I mean, I moved here to have a different life; I moved with the purpose of HAVING A LIFE. When I made the move here and turned a new leaf on 2009 – I made the conscious decision to add some life balance to the mix. Yes, I actually had/have to put a conscious effort into having a life. Instead of my business being my focus these last three months – I have been the focus, love/relationship and friendships have been more important and so as health and fitness.

Per my blog post on April 17^th , I set some different goals for myself but I knew they wouldn’t be enough – I didn’t write about this but I was going a little mad. I had a mental block that was driving me crazy.

Insanity Plea

Besides getting obsessed with working out (again); I was way too obsessed with wanting to be in a relationship. My frustrations with that area of my life quite frankly had left me…feeling way too much like a woman. It left me feeling needy, confused, wondering and slightly insecure. I spent entirely too much time reading into things, questioning my behavior, my needs, wants, desires and actions.

Sorry, but a man is not a healthy thing to focus on…particularly on a man not focused on me. That was NOT me. That was my mind having nothing to focus on.

My Mojo is Back!

I’m not going to shut the door on pursuing my fitness goals and my desire for a relationship…I’m also going to maintain my relationships with my new friends, plus the going out and having fun. However, now that mojo is back it’s back to business, baby!!

My identity, sanity, and happiness are tied to my ability to go forth and do entrepreneurial endeavors – the balancing act needs to revolve around that.

The highlight thus far is the amazing condo I found in the French Quarter.  I decided when I took the orders to come here that I would most likely live in the French Quarter and wanted a place with a patio.  When I walked into this condo, I knew I was home. It’s a one bedroom, 2 baths, fully furnished condo…like I mentioned, it’s got a patio, washer and dryer, and a huge Jacuzzi bathtub in the master bathroom.  The bedroom is a loft type master bedroom up the stairs.  It’s not like any place I’ve ever lived before, but exactly like a place I always want to live in.  I’ll upload videos and pictures of the place once I get the internet connected.

I’ve never lived in a posh way…never lived in a; I’m single, beautiful, young, successful, sexy and on top of the world way.  I want the rest of my life to be like this (except perhaps for the single part) so it’s high time to start living it.  Being here affords me the opportunity to do that and honestly, if you’re going to spend six months in New Orleans…you got to make it worthwhile.

It hit me a few months ago how conservative my life has been.  My ambitions, dreams and desires are filled with expensive, luxurious, eccentric, fast paced and good time type of feelings and essences, but I haven’t been living along those lines at all.  I’ve been playing the when game…when this happens, when I have this, when, when, when is when I’ll do a, b, c and d.  No more. The Now is When.

I moved in to my new place on Saturday.  It was a warm sunny day.  Once I was moved in, I sat on my patio to bask in the sun…people walked on by and we exchanged greetings.  I’m going to learn how to make homemade lemonade so I can sit out with my laptop, a fresh glass to lemonade or ice tea and write the business plan that will make me millions.

Saturday evening, a few friends came over with wine, food, a king’s cake and house warming gifts.  We ate, they expressed their envy for my wonderful pad and we enjoyed a wonderful evening.

The pitfall of my fabulous condo in the French Quarter is not having a designated parking space.  I already earned myself a parking ticket on Sunday for being less than 4 ft from the intersection.  I’m planning on getting a bike since I live only a couple of miles from where I work, and obviously being in the French Quarter, I’m in walking distance to anything I might need.  The additional exercise will do me good since there is so much delicious food to be had in New Orleans. 

Speaking of exercise…I did a workout at the New Orleans Athletic Club this past weekend.  Talk about non-traditional.  I’ve been in many gyms, but none like this one.  I’m rather particular about my workouts and the gyms that I like.  I have to admit I like large and modern gyms which NOAC is not.  Well, alright, NOAC is large but it’s antique.  It seems great for cardio – not so much for weight training.  I have a few more visits on my visitor’s pass; I’ll check it out a few more times before I decide.  Part of the journey of being here is to have new experiences; perhaps I can vary my gym experience as well. 

Tomorrow my internet is getting turned on and I go back to work.  Next blog post: “Getting Back Into My Entrepreneurial Endeavors”