New Horizons
April 18th, 2011
So after Nick approached me with the thought of taking over Sector 7G, I must say I was excited and a bit scared. I had been running another successful business for a few years now and thought that this would be a great new chapter in my life!
And it has been. What Nick 7G had set up years ago is now, and forever shall be a revolutionary turning point for the Augusta area music crowd and I am so Honored to be apart of it now. And I am also proud to say that Sector 7G has undergone a few changes. For those of you who have yet to come down in the past few monthes here is whats been going on.
We have a new PA that is seriously kicking butt and taking names too! And to accompany that we had to build a new stage for it to fit, the stage now is about 8" taller, and by raising it we had the clearance to make it wider in the front! So the stage now is about 30 Square feet bigger which doesnt sound like much but for the bands who have played the stage before and after the changes, they can tell you its significant!!
The room has been Pressure Washed on all walls and ceiling, and painted Black all around except our Graffiti wall. We also took out some of the Booths for more space during our larger shows. And we are currently undergoing construction for a new bathroom which should be complete in the following next couple of weeks if the City will get off their butts!!
All in all we are trying to make great strides at Sector's current location to accomodate Bands and Patrons alike! I truly hope that everyone can respect the current changes and future ones as well to help keep our cost down which in turn helps keep the ticket prices down!! And those of you who may have been turned off by Sector 7G in the past could swing by and give it another chance!
The music scene wouldn't exist with out all the bands and supporters here in Augusta, and for that I am thankful to see familiar faces at shows, but new faces are always good! So lets continue to make our music scene better with every show and event and keep our venue alive for the years to come!
Thank you everyone,
Bryan 7G
Passing The Torch
January 5th, 2011
It's with a somewhat heavy heart that I write this letter to you, dear Sector 7G. Over the past 6 years we've shared so much together, learned from each other, and grown leaps and bounds. I've seen thousands of bands- good and bad- met tons of great people from all across the country, and made friends that I hope will last a lifetime. I've built and rebuilt your stage, unclogged your toilet time and time again, and swept your tired floors more times than I can count. You, Sector 7G, are like my child. I’ve watched and nurtured you since your infancy. You will always be an important part of my life. But it's time for me to let you go.
Unless something goes awry, February 28th, 2011 will mark my last day as owner of Sector 7G. But fear not, because good things are on the way. Sector 7G soundman extraordinaire Bryan Levy will take the reigns as the new owner and will surely breathe new life and energy to the club. Bryan brings with him years of sound and lighting experience as well as strong business and financial sensibilities and an understanding of what Sector 7G is all about and the people it serves. I would not have considered this change if I didn't think that a capable and worthy successor was available.
Sector 7G opened in February 2005. We started small and have grown slowly but steadily ever since. I think back on those days with fondness but also with slight embarrassment. I think back to when the venue actually only took up half of the building and no bathroom was even available. We had no lighted sign out front, just a piece of scrap plywood with Sector 7G spray-painted on it. Promoters would run their own door. Smoking was somehow allowed inside. Our air conditioning consisted of several old box fans mounted in the broken windows to allow air to circulate. Things were simple, but the foundation was strong and has guided us toward where we are today.
Things have changed a lot over the years, but one thing has remained the same: the love that we all share for music in Augusta. I'm proud to have been a part of supporting and cultivating young musicians. And I'm sure that Sector 7G will remain a vital part of Augusta and will continue to give every band, big or small, a place to call home.
I would like to personally thank some people for their help and support through the years. First and foremost thank you to Matt Lawhorne, who was originally my partner in the business. He's been a great friend for over 10 years now. We've been in bands together and he was Best Man at my wedding. I owe a lot to him. So next time you're at a Chairleg or Nine Day Descent show, take a minute to say thanks for all that he's done for us. I also have to thank the rest of the guys in The Sixth Hour who helped to renovate the building as it transitioned from practice space to music venue. My parents, also, have been big supporters since the beginning and I couldn't have done it without them.
We've had quite a few employees over the years, all of which have worked hard for little pay because they love what Sector 7G is and stands for. Thanks to Paige, Amanda, Adrianne, Katy, Wrenn, Rosa Marie, Jackie, Thomas, Bryan, Morgan, Kristin, and all the others that have helped out. The lifeblood of any business is in its employees, which is why Sector 7G has been such a good place to work over the past 6 years.
Obviously Sector 7G would be nothing if it weren't for the promoters who book the shows and keep people coming out. From the beginning, Jams Booking has been a staple among the Augusta music scene. First Adam Toomey, then Nick Mitcham have brought amazing bands to the club. Thanks also to Ian, Eli, Furman, Grady, Brandon, Mack, Michael, Dan, Bam, Dork, and everyone else who put together a show.
And to anyone who has played in a band or come out to a show, you have my heartfelt thanks. I'm lucky to have had the opportunity to be a part of something truly special. I'm sure you'll see me around and I'm happy to help with anything that will further the music and musicians of Augusta.
Thank you,
Nick 7G
Promote promote promoter...
August 23rd, 2010
We've had our share of promoters at Sector 7G... they come and go. Such is the business. This week brings the end of another promoter's era. Before I get to that, perhaps I should explain that Sector 7G is a two part operation: I, Nick 7G, run the venue. I'm responsible for the door, concessions, sound, cleaning up, etc. The promoter is the other half. He or she is responsible for booking the bands, working out the deals, promoting the show, and making sure that things run smoothly during the show. Neither of these is particularly easy, though having done both I definitely prefer not to promote shows.
Dealing with bands is more difficult than you would imagine. Often even the ones who are "professional" touring bands aren't reliable. High school kids are even worse, as you might imagine. Frankly it's the reason I dislike promoting. On top of dealing with bands, there is considerable financial risk in promoting. Bands with guaranteed pay are the responsibility of the promoter. So if people don't come out to a show, the promoter could lose money. Some would say that that's the name of the game, and it's a matter of hedging your bets or balancing good shows with bad shows. But I say it's just plain risky.
Over the years, we've had a handful of promoters come and go. Furman Fowler and Grady Sizemore used to book a ton of great punk shows, but don't really do shows here anymore. Eli Murphy has promoted quite a few shows, and I hope that he continues, but he hasn't done any lately. Brandon Reilly is the same way. Jams Booking has been a force on the scene here since Sector 7G opened, starting with Adam Toomey and continuing now with Nick Mitcham. Another promoter that has been done quite a few good hardcore and metal shows is Josh Penuel with Monster Squad Booking. Josh says he's going to stop doing shows after this week. It's sad to see, but I can't say I don't understand.
There will be more promoters in the future, and I'll continue to work with them to be successful. But understand that it's not an easy job. Next time a promoter sends you an invitation to a show or passes you a flier, think twice before tossing it aside.
BANDS!! Read this please!
July 6th, 2010
Over the 5 years that Sector 7G has been open, I've seen a few things get left behind, picked up accidentally by the wrong band, and a few things go missing. I've been personally robbed of cash twice and had several mics and even a merch table go missing. Tonight we had an unfortunate incident where a cymbal bag may/may not have been stolen. Either way its rightful owner no longer owns it. This is a terrible situation and I feel awful. I won't waste time blaming others... I didn't have an employee at the back door. That was my decision (because the show didn't do that well and the venue gets paid on a per person basis). I also decided against keeping the back door locked. There are two reasons for this: It's inconvenient for the bands and it's strictly against fire code. If somebody pulled a gun in the middle of the room and everybody panicked there could be a huge pileup at the back door resulting in injuries or worse. So part of the blame goes to me for creating a situation where this can happen. Unfortunately, this is how it has to be at this and many other venues.
The point of this post is to let you know, as bands (and as a general rule) you have to take personal responsibility for your belongings. Even if somebody is working the back door and only allowing those with band wristbands in there's no saying that someone from another band won't walk out with your stuff. The employee at the back door does not know which instrument belongs to which band member. There's no guarantee that somebody won't walk out the front door with your stuff either for that matter. Unfortunately you are keeping your gear backstage at your own discretion. If you don't feel comfortable leaving your stuff backstage, then by all means load it out and put it in your vehicle or trailer. Don't rely on others to remember your stuff because they won't. Nobody knows about and cares about your gear as much as you do.
If you have any information regarding this incident or any other wrongdoing that has happened at Sector 7G please feel free to email nick7g@gmail.com or call (706) 610-0774. Thank you.
The secret about advance tickets...
May 18th, 2010
I know this is going to sound crazy, but stay with me here... "Advance tickets" to a show are tickets that you buy before the day of the show. Hence why they're called "advance." If you wait until the day of the show to buy your ticket, you are no longer purchasing tickets in advance.
Let me put it in a slightly less condescending and sarcastic way: Advance tickets sold on Kapiro.com are available up until midnight the night before the show. So if you want to buy advance tickets, you must do so before this. If you wait until the day of the show, you can buy them at the door. The tickets at the door are usually a couple dollars more expensive, but you won't have to pay any 'convenience' fees that Kapiro.com charges. On the other hand, you run the risk of driving all the way here to see a big fat SOLD OUT sign on the door. Don't risk it! Buy in advance. If you don't have a credit card, find somebody that does. The venue itself does not sell advance tickets. We cannot hold tickets for you. We sell on a first come, first served basis. If you buy tickets in advance, scroll down a bit and read the news entry "Where My Tickets At, Fool?" for more information. If you try to buy tickets the day of the show on Kaprio.com you will see something that says they're no longer available. This doesn't mean the show is sold out necessarily, just that they're no longer available in advance.
We have new Air Conditioning!
May 9th, 2010
It's been a long time in the works, but we finally have some new air conditioning. Much thanks goes to my friends Terrell and JJ for all their good work and long hours. You should all show some appreciation to Terrell at his band False Flag's Facebook page. Show him some love!
The new unit is bigger, better, and will hopefully do the trick for us. It's a huge investment for us, and I hope that you will come and check it out!
Where's my tickets at fool?
March 30, 2010
Thanks to the 'other' Nick (of Jams Booking, we're getting a ton of great shows with some really big bands! The flipside to that is that some of these shows will inevitably sell out. Fortunately there will almost always be an opportunity to get your ticket before everyone else through the magic of Kapiro.com (or any other ticket selling website we might use). Please take advantage of these advanced tickets! Not only do you have peace of mind knowing that you won't be SOL at the door, but you'll be telling the promoters looking to book great bands in Augusta that they're being supported and don't have to worry.
When you buy a ticket online, you don't actually get anything in the mail. We'll have a list at the door with the names of all the ticketholders. Simply show us either the printed out receipt from Kapiro.com or a picture ID and we'll stamp your hand. It's that easy!
see you guys at the shows!
Where's the new air conditioner?
March 7, 2010
So now that Sector 7G has celebrated its 5th birthday and we've finished our series of fundraiser shows I'm sure you're all wondering when we'll get it. The answer is complicated...
We have new neighbors. An Irish themed bar called Tipsy McStumbles is set to open Friday, March 12th on 7th Street. The back of that building butts up to the back of Sector 7G. The owner has put a ton of money into the place... he basically gutted the whole place and started from scratch. His work extends beyond the doors of his building into the courtyard behind our buildings. The good news is that he's installed a french drain which will prevent it from flooding back there. The not so good news is that we're already getting in trouble with them. Apparently some people (probably band members) have taken it upon themselves to vandalize the area. They poked holes in the stucco and spray painted on the brick walls.
This is just about the lowest form of stupidity. I wish somebody could explain to me the motivation behind this 'form of expression'.
So now I have to spend most of the money that we raised for the air conditioner to fix what was vandalized and to take steps to prevent this from happening again. Look for a video survaillance camera back there as well as (pending approval) a fence separating his property from ours. I'll try to work something out so I can still get us some new A/C (and heat!) but it might not be as soon as we'd all hoped.
[message to whoever did it:] Good job guys. Way to f*ck it up for everybody.
