Baltimore Concert Hall Owner Puts His Two Cents Into Silver Spring Music Venue Dispute
By Silver Springer • Nov 29th, 2007 • Category: Business and Economic Development, Government and Politics
Dear County Executive Ike Leggett,I have sat idle for the past several months as discussions unraveled
regarding the Silver Spring music venue dispute. As the headlines
continue to ensue, I feel as though it is now time for me to comment.It disturbs me that Seth Hurwitz is portraying himself as the “small
guy” in area media. I, along with my family, have owned and operated the
Rams Head restaurant and entertainment facilities for close to twenty
years; additionally, I have been in private business for over thirty
years. Ten years ago we opened our first music club in Annapolis, Rams
Head On Stage. Three years ago we opened Rams Head Live in Baltimore
and two years ago we started running the Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore.
Since moving into the Baltimore market I have had the distinct pleasure
of working with, or rightfully said “against”, Seth Hurwitz on a daily
basis. In my thirty years of business I have never encountered anyone as
un-professional as Seth HurwitzPractically every show we have tried to book in Baltimore, Seth Hurwitz
(the Nations top club owner) has “blocked’ due his fear that it may hurt
his club in DC, nearly 40 miles away. Apparently, Seth has the answer
as to why the people in Baltimore would prefer to drive to DC than to
see the same show in their hometown?!? For goodness sake, there is
enough population between the two cities to support more than his club
and mine. I have never, and will never, block a show from playing in the
DC market. Anyone living in the area knows there are plenty of people to
fill two very small venues.Seth is spoiled; he has had it too good for too long. People in the
music industry nationwide will agree that this market is the only one
left in the country where a club owner extends his powerful reach beyond
his market and still has people listening to him. It is time for this to
stop…he has had it too good for too long. Restriction of trade is
something he may need to deal with in front of a public Jury.One year ago I entered into an agreement with Live Nation to help book
shows in my two Baltimore facilities The local office out of the Nissan
Pavilion has helped me fight this battle with IMP; by the way, that
office is staffed by local tax paying people as well. I would also add
that their help has kept my family and I from being run out of business
by “poor little old Seth”. Our relationship with Live Nation has been
professional, rewarding and above all, honest and above board. I truly
hope we can continue to work with them for many years to come.Seth has no problem bringing Virgin Fest into my backyard; he has no
problem with boundaries as long as he is the one and only one putting in
the entertainment. The amount of money he put in Merriweather Post
Pavilion has been minimal and it shows. The success of the music he has
put in there has been great. I myself would have loved to have a chance
of booking and running that facility. I may be wrong but I do not
remember an RFP being put out on Merriweather??The Rams Head prides itself on fair and professional practices and
respect others, such as Live Nation, who abides by those same rules. We
own and operate a facility in Howard County a well. My son/partner also
lives in that County. You have my full support in your decision to allow
Live Nation to operate the Silver Spring facility. They are a first
class company and I look forward to them “sharing” entertainment in the
market place. Seth should be doing the same, not crying and
complaining….Sincerely,
Bill Muehlhauser
Owner, Rams Head
Silver Springer is
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cry baby to cry baby
WOW, that was professional.
It reads like it was written by a teenager. And not a very bright one either.
Hey Bill, I like your tavern, but your dirty laundry?, not so much.
Enough of these letters! Who cares what the Howard County Exec and Rams Head owner think about the music venue issue? As a DTSS resident, I want a music venue and I want it now!
Ike- forget what non-Moco residents are saying. Get this deal with Live Nation done and get it done quick.
Jt though I agree with you. These letters makes for some interesting read, and a little behind the scene look at what’s going on……
oh regardless of how it’s written he makes some interesting points.
I’m pro-Live Nation, but this is a bit apples and oranges here. The Rams Head in Annapolis is hardly a stone’s throw from DC or Bmore, and to be honest, both places always struck me as more geared to the audience of “bar first, music second” than 9:30 club, which seems to have more of a “music first, bar second” venue.
definitely interesting. i believe the point is that a company in the industry supports live nation as a competitor, partner and neighbor. seems as though he’s supporting moco’s decision?!? and that seth seems more self focused than doing what’s best for the county/community?
The plot thickens and thickens!
With major budget problems at both the county and state level, it seems questionable that the taxpayers should subsidize either of these for-profit organizations unless it can be shown that the public investment will be more than offset with increased future tax revenues. That certainly has been the case with previous public investment in downtown Silver Spring. This time it seems a little more doubtful.
I encourage everyone to read the following Washington Post column from Friday:
[quote post="Washington Post article"]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/29/AR2007112902341.html[/quote]
Good article by Pearlstein. Snippy poorly written letter by Muehlhauser.
Regardless, to me, it now looks painfully obvious that Seth Hurwitz is full of shit and just wants to keep making mega-bucks.
He kept House of Blues out of DC! _uck him!
Regardless of how you feel about Hurwitz or Muehlhauser or Live Nation or anything, it all comes down to the money, as Pearlstein points out. If Hurwitz can produce a better deal, he should be given a chance.
I go into a little more detail about this on Just Up The Pike, but not much.
And who wants a House of Blues, anyway? If Live Nation’s going to do this thing, I’d rather see a Fillmore there. At least it’d be something [marginally] different than what you have everywhere else.
GS’s comment is dead on. Seth does what’s right for Seth and Seth ONLY, not necessarily for the neighborhood. He’s been like that since college. He’s been a big fish in a small pond, and God forbid anyone else get in on his “action”. Silver Spring needs a music venue, yes — but not one run by Seth. You’ll regret it.
thecourtyard: I personally don’t like Blues and probably wouldn’t go to House of Blues, but it sucks balls that he blocked that. It’s bad for fans of Blues. They have HR-57 and Blues Alley, but the more options, the better… Unless you’re a greedy bastard that wants to make more money.
It doesn’t just come down to the money. Who will get the better acts? My money is on Live Nation. If you want to be cheap, you will get the cheap (acts). It is best to get the deal with Live Nation completed ASAP. MoCo will raise the sales tax, income tax and gas tax to generate revenue because of the projected revenue shortfall. I fear that if this money isn’t committed soon, the County will come along and take it away from us. Then we will have nothing!
Bill claims that Seth has a lot of reach, is very powerful, and that “people” (band’s agents) listen to Seth. Seth is offering to get this all done for less taxpayer dollars than Live Nation. An alliance beween MontCo and Seth seems like a no-brainer.
A very informative article about Mr. Hurwitz here : http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2004/09/13/story8.html
Bring in the competition, I say. We’ll be better off for it. Local monopolies can be just as bad as national ones.
“He’s been a big fish in a small pond, and God forbid anyone else get in on his “actionâ€. Silver Spring needs a music venue, yes — but not one run by Seth. You’ll regret it.”
So, wait - you’re saying this he’s going to net us lots of exclusives and work hard? Why am I supposed to be against that? I’m not going to cry very much if he screws over PG County or DC. I hate being selfish, but this is a near-zero-sum game.
“House of Blues” is just a brand name. It has nothing to do with being a blues club.
I wonder if Bill will feel the same way if Live Nation starts funneling acts to it’s new DC venue, rather than Ram’s Head. I can almost guarantee they won’t be booking the same acts within a month of each other in venues that close together. The “blocking” will continue. Live Nation also has their own share of questionable business practices.
There’s a reason the 9:30 Club is often voted the best club in the country.
(http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/touring/2007/awards.jsp). It’s because Seth knows what he’s doing.
Of course Seth is looking out for himself. He’d be a fool not to. Do you think Live Nation cares about anyone other than themselves? Doubtful. I trust Seth to be a good neighbor far more than the folks at Live Nation.
Better be careful how the community reacts to this, there are many other areas that would love to have a concert venue built around DC, lets not scare them away!!!!
Amanda
I think that what everyone is forgetting is that Seth is a really smart business man looking to protect his market. The only problem is the best thing for Seth’s business is for that space to stay empty. If Seth really had a desire to be in Silver Spring, he would have stepped in during the 5 1/2 years the County struggled trying to make a deal with the Birchmere. It is because the Birchmere posed no threat to Seth, but Live Nation does and he will do anything to protect his business including leaving a spot sit empty in the middle of a growing community that is looking for a nightlife. I think all of the bloggers were all sucked in by a great PR effort.
[quote comment="3518"]I think that what everyone is forgetting is that Seth is a really smart business man looking to protect his market. The only problem is the best thing for Seth’s business is for that space to stay empty. If Seth really had a desire to be in Silver Spring, he would have stepped in during the 5 1/2 years the County struggled trying to make a deal with the Birchmere. It is because the Birchmere posed no threat to Seth, but Live Nation does and he will do anything to protect his business including leaving a spot sit empty in the middle of a growing community that is looking for a nightlife. I think all of the bloggers were all sucked in by a great PR effort.[/quote]Not all bloggers. I can name one that isn’t.
Ok folks, it very simple, Live Nation is a corporate monopoly (do your homework!) and Seth is an independent local businessman. Yes, he likes to make money, but he doesn’t sacrifice quality to do so. Either way, unless a non-profit is chosen to run the venue, you will have a competitive climate in Silver Spring, it’s the music industry! I know many people who have worked for SFX, Clear Channel, Live Nation, the name keeps changing, but it is the same monopoly, and none of them have had a good experience. To this insider the answer is obvious, Seth is not an angel, but he is the right person and I.M.P. is the right company to make this venture a success for the whole community. Also, not only is Bill a whiner, he is outright inaccurate, and guilty of slander. Good luck Silver Spring, I hope you make the right choice.
wow, sounds like the only one crying is Bill.