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yoshi wrote:

I don't know much about the US situation, but here's some realistic estimate to maintain such business in Tokyo.  Of course it depends very much on the size and location of the space, but let's assume it's in downtown Tokyo (I don't go into the size because that's a completely different issue in Japan and the US).  Beside the initial investment for re-decoration, furnitures, sound proofing and audio gears, I estimate the monthly rent as around $5000 if it's in a convenient downtown location.  I need at least one person handling the system and serving customers.  Depending on the open hours, what you serve and how many customers you expect, it can be 2 or more.  Let's say 2 employees, costing $12/hour, 8 hours a day, 6 days a week and it comes down to another $5000 almost.  There will be a cost of food/drink too.  Let's assume that I'm serving soft drinks and light food only and the cost of stock per month to be $3000 (this is bogus because it all depends on the number of the customers too).  Plus another couple of thousand for utilities, maintemance, etc.  So it comes down to minimum of $15,000 without my own profit. I can probably get away by charging $8~10 for a cup of coffee or soda in that kind of cafe.  To make $15,000, I need to serve 1,500 to 2,000 drinks.  That's 60~80 drinks/customers a day (EVERYDAY!).  This is a very, very tough (almost impossible) number for such a place in today's Tokyo, no matter what type of music I play, and it doesn't include any profit for myself!!  In '60s, those Jazz Cafe catered average of over 100 customers everyday. Of course, this is the calculation of the most basic model and the numbers would vary vastly if the settings are different (what I serve, whether I combine other venue like CD store, etc.). So unless I'm a multi millionare and need to spend some money for tax or whatever reason, I can't risk myself on it.  Is there an equivalent of Mr. Hwang in Boston area? Yoshi

Your “wrongness” derives from the fact that you are under a mistaken presumption that the Classical Audio Café shall be some kind of all week-long operation institution. Any person with any sane sense of business would tell you that it will never happen. Furthermore from the perspective of contain of materials that might be played in the Classical Audio Café of my version you would never find enough worthy materials of right sonic and artistic quality to sustain a week-long operation.

When I spoke about the Classical Audio Café I did not mean that a dally eatery but rather a recursive sequences of audio performing events in a given installation. How frequently you go to Symphony Hole? Well, your exposure to audio performing events shall be treated with the same respect, have the same price and to deliver to you equitable gratification as a live performing event. The difference is that an audio performing events is a guaranty of a great performance, I am taking about the supper performances….

I am sure no one interested to play in there the CD, LP or tapes that are available and know by heart. The whole idea is to play something unique that has a limited public exposure – so the source of material is super important. Think about it in context of those posts:

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=10502

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=6917

I truly am taking about very different level of audio events then the rich guy bought a lot of WE, piled them up in a one room and invite Joe the Palmers to make phonographs with the “interior”. Do you know that Boston has Symphony Transcription Trust where they store master tapes of all performances of BSO from 1946 I believe. Many people who use to form in 70 and 80 with classical FM stations accumulated some amassing recordings, let to have THAT exposed. I am taking about having an access to THOSE archives and to play some very exiting concerts that never ever were re-broadcasted. It would be fun to put a very good sound reinforcement system in Boston Symphony whole and to try to play audio in there. Still, it is about the material. Look at the Harvard Film Archive.

http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa/

It is a peaty elite establishment. They are not dally establishment and I do not think that they are hugely profitable. Still, 4 events per month in Classical Audio Café, with all bloom of upscale food, perhaps with period dress and pricey admission is might be interesting.

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