Honest Opinion

I would like honest feedback on what would make Roma run better in the way of music, managing and events. What would make you take a trip there and dance your asses off all night??

It has been along time since Roma had a true night to be reckoned with - although I can say I have pulled off a few goodies and the crowd has been great...it's not half as good as we would have liked, and I feel if we don't do something, the ONLY REAL open genre club in Tauranga could be on it's way out.....

Breaks having being going great and I still play funky as house earlier in the evening and occasionally let rip the pure stompers in the early morning hours. We have some talented DJ's and their ability is being wasted.....

What about the hard house?? Is there a scene...as S&M was saying in another thread...as far as I can see, the demand for most genres is diminishing in Tauranga.

What would make it more appetising??

Suggestions please

You could get me to come over and play again. A bit overdue maybe

I'd be most delighted to put you on the guest list for a good HH night!! ...A bit overdue is an understatement btw

flick me an email girlvybz@dancenet.co.nz

erena

Where do Roma patrons spend time when not clubbing?

Firstly Id recomend getting involved with Enkryptas record store and other local music shops, or wherever your target market may spend a little time, maybe the surf club, or Polytech/learning intstitutes.
You can print a million flyaz, but it dosent mean peeps are gonna see them.

look at Blowhole fm, if you guys arent allready doing shows Id get one.
Then let the whole town know blowhole exists, from there advertising your gigs to listners and spreading the good word of what you have on offer.

I dont think national artists such as Concord dawn or Greg Churchill hold a club together, tho thier names can bring people who wouldnt normally venture out into your club...... its the local talent and Local support that really hold it together tho.

So thats the ground work, What would make me travel there and Dance my ass off all night?..NZ Jungle Drum & Bass. With an After party. (does it still close at 3am?).....After Party.

Id love to come back & play again sometime soon too.

and thats about everything I can think of suggesting, other than which artists you should bring.

Yes, thanks highspeed, luckily I have great networks with MOVOM and BLOWHOLE FM with gigs and events advertised with both - I'm alittle more interested in if there is anything to improve the club - there is a demand and I know there is a crowd here - it is getting them there and motivating them. Although creating more of a scene with fresh new people is also a good move - most seem quite happy to sit on their decks at home with mates instead of wandering down to the local club....by the time they get good enough to play at a club .. there might not be one.

Which is why I'm so hell bent on throwing more events....covering all types of genres...there is such a potential at our fingertips to have great nights out....
[/i]

And I'd love to see another DnB night take place ... that wasn't held on a Thursday night !

You could tidy the place up a bit...maybe a fresh coat of paint and cleaner toilets...we went over there for a night and the place was looking pretty shabby. I like to be able to shut and lock the door when I go weese.

The Budda Bar upstairs made Roma look like a bit of a hole...but the Budda Bar was a bit poncy and everybody was wearing tight black clothes and lots of makeup ....boooring.

When I used to work behind the bar there back in the old days it was always packed with a variety of different people of which most didn't give a toss what kind of music was playing, they were just there for a good time.

I reckon a makeover would be good and better sound upstairs to reduce ear injury.



er and dont forget the Downbeat, Trip Hop, Dub, Breaks & Drum'n'Bass...tis gooood, tis gooood

Girls in cages.

Can I have girls in cages when I play there?

Pleeeeze?

yes fully need to see more DNB ova there... there are people that love it and u have 2 DnB shows on the radio!

Myself and HSD helped put things together for a while early last year and late the year before..

unfortunatley jenny - roma owner - isnt keen on Drum n Bass and has said this on a number of occasions... which is sad

I have even lowerd my fee to make it more than affordable for her to try n build it up.. and for some reason she always turns the system down really low when we played...

Maybe you could help get back some DnB in there!

Or do a breaks and DnB party! Breaks downstairs and DnB Upstairs!

Here some ideas for people to have over for a combined party

Utilise your local tauranga and over the kaimai Dj's

Htown
Breaks - DJ Akomplis and or Vaughan H. (Hamilton) - Akomplis has supported a few internationals now and does h-towns breaks partys.

DnB/Jungle - HSD and Q_BiK (Hamilton) - We have been helping pushing the DnB in hamilton and helped Tauranga scene for a a few years now.Both have supported internationals and promote DnB and dub / jungle nights.

Tauranga
Breaks - yourself obviously.. and dont know who else pushes the breaks sound..

DnB - Enkrypta @ Movom and Jerry Mane & Dodgee - old stalwarts of Tauranga DnB and local upcoming dj's Ritchie and Grant(dont know there Dj names)

just some ideas on who u could have over a couple partys to lighten up the mixture..

I also agree with KAS on the sprucing of Roma up!
and hopefully sorting their late licence out!

girlvybz u should hit me on email to discuss somestuff further if your really serious about doing things! maybe work out a reciprical relationship for everyone!

pejhone@hotmail.com

chat soon!

Hahahaa I was actually thinking that - or at the very least having hot girls behind the bar and a cute boy for the girls

Kas - it has been freshly repainted (except for upstairs)...and the tiolets have been done up and installed with new equipment / tiolet roll dispensers / locks etc etc etc
A wall downstairs has been knocked down and also all the seating along the left hand side wall is gone...downstairs actually looks quite good now...

You sayin I ain't cute enough?

Thanks QBik - Yes I know Ritchie.....great cat - I used to go to school with him and Jass!! Jerry Mane has gone back overseas unfortunetly - but I may ask dodgy....

Jenni is a lovely lady who seems to do things rather slowly...but surely....I have managed to warm her to genres that she would have not normally have listened to....maybe it's because I'm a girl and I also approach her very softly? The thing is that ofcourse sometimes you have to spend money to make money - and she never seems to want to spend it on the DJ's....which of course pull the crowd.....

Breaks are way up there in the normal weekend night now and I have been buying a few DnB aswell and throwing them in there....moving with the times

I think it just needs to be well organised gigs with good crews behind them!!

And yes i'll flick you an email in the next day or two

Are you willing to get in a cage?

If you can fit the decks and a couple girls in there with me...

I'm there

And thankyou to all who have posted, and if there are any other ideas springing to mind - throw it in here

I am really grateful that you have taken the time to express your thoughts - there are things that have been suggested that - have been done - in the process of doing - and definetly need to be taken into consideration...and all for a better cause....I don't want to be a hero - I just want a crowd to play to.....you'll all know what I mean....

Maximum respect to what you are doing, I think all of us share the sentiment

That's actually a fantastic idea...there's an iron welding place down the road....heheheee



I'll talk to the TONKA boys too

Cheers Gopal - and by the sounds of it we'll catch up soon enough perhaps...

U just need sum dirty breakz djs

that place has amazing potential, but sadly i dont think getting different djs thru is gonna cut it

the layout is probably the major downfall of Roma, especially since the redevelopment of the strand.

The upstairs area is barely a dance floor, down the stairs from there, theres a cramped area with a pool table, and bathroom, then theres the bit with the bar and a few booths, then theres about half the floor area of the ground level wasted cos of the way the front is??? with the floor area u have, not much of it is any good

Ditch the paper mache decorum, cos that hippy shit dont work anywhere

Move the bar forward, so foward people can drink at the end a almost be half out side the front on the strand kinda thing (may attract early evening drinkers) and when empty people can be more on the strand (ala cafe style). This will open up the middle section for decent seating and dance area. If poss turn the upstairs into a mezzanine chill area, overlookin the lower floor, a comfy stylish bit. Ditch the two room venue idea...more djs more money,2 sound systems-more money (maintanance), focus on makin it a venue that rocks with a decent floor and capacity, then u only need one good soundsystem, not one and "the one people think sounds like poo"


I totally understand lack of funding is a major, but that place could take it as a venue if the design was right.

bust it down, shape it up...roll it out ---wit breaks, dnb, hardhouse,trance, house, techno what have you...all need a good dance floor, at the mo its not there

There's nuthin wrong with the dirty breaks dj they already have there

Hey felun, your ideas for a chill out upstairs is quite a good idea, one of many which we've tried to approach.....

I completely agree with upstairs - but downstairs has changed ALOT - as my above post informs of the changes .... there are no booths now, the pool table still exists although it is way up the front now...there are new tables and chairs etc.....

To maximize downstairs front space I have only been playing ny gigs downstairs (which I prefer much better) and I close down upstairs completely....so everyone can see me when walking past...and I can see everyone....makes a huge difference!

Hey gopal maybe we could go over to tauranga and re-educate the roma massive

Hey Girlvybz...Maybe a new branding would work...like change the name from Roma to someting fresh & new...it's been called that for years & years & heaps of people may identify with it as being old & uncool...

Give a fresh new name to go with the new layout and makeover that ur talkin bout and develop a whole range of stuff that goes along with that...and then do what HSD said

ooo! They could call it .... The BirdCage....










but that would only work if you had girls in cages.

Damn straight S&M - you might even get paid properly...

Kas - you are talking about alot of things that take a considerable amount of money......without the crowd.....which is what my post is about...motivating the crew and more people.....there is no money or support.

I understand and respect your suggestions Kas, which really reflect on spend money to make money - the owner has done alot to Roma, and there are things she can do alot more of granted, but until Tauranga massive and the region surrounding start showing her the love back, support and the money....she can't/won't do much else.....all she needs is a couple of fantastic gigs to go off and her motivation and ideals will have a more positive outlook....it's the fact that I'm trying to get the scene going again...and it's a bloody hard job.....I'll be devasted if it turns into another bahama hut or crazy jacks

Roma has great potential and Tauranga has a great dance scene - it's just putting the two together for alittle while to make it all go CLICK and then it's...game on!!

I think if the money is the case..
IMO
Roma needs to look at set itself apart from everywhere else!

Dont only play house, hardhouse and lil breaks and one or 2 DnB gigs a year..

do what kas and hsd said..

re-invent roma as a quality dance venue.. full spectrum..

you already have buddah lounge upstairs playing house only.. and i hear of the new one home..

maybe start pushing new sounds more like breaks and DnB with fornightly fridays or something and still have your house and hardhouse..

Set Roma apart from everywhere else music wise..

if no-ones willing to try other styles... then maybe you can take the whole market!

Push it more.. you have a few dnb shows already.. give DnB a place and push it more on the radio with specials etc..

people need to be educated.. and u can't do this with not giving breaks and DnB a real chance... there are dj's like myself who are prepared to take slight pay cuts to help the scene as a whole and get it crankin!

yeah thats a lil bit haha

IMO

I am a Breakz dj

isnt budha playing house, tech house n breaks?

rebranding would have to go hand n hand with actual change id imagine

jus put surround speakers up top an try and plush it out (tehres already a bar up there)so at least it works as a solid venue...it kinda sucks goin to a gig where upstairs u hear what u want, then you down to a different vibe/sound/people to go for a piss? can u keep that vibe mon? know what i mean?

sure sucks when u need support to make changes, and wit-out changes u cant gain support.

and with next door securing the market they have i guess its even harder

soundsystem/space utilisation wheres the big gigs gonna be centred round?

good luck wit the up hill battle

Another way just pay 4 or 5 hot ass girls to dance around ur club all nite not sluts, just A grade raven ladys.

Trust me ur club will be packed all nite.

The cats in aucks do why not u.

You need trance, decent trance. I come down there sometimes to see family. That place used to go off a couple of years ago... why? Because it used to play trance.

If you want to book me.

021 432942
jared@nzrave.com

well fucking blow me down with a hammer you lot .....
grlvybz or whatever you need to sit down and let the pro's handle by the looks of it


you need to get those filthy psychedelic mofo's up in that place to tear that place to the ground yall then start by scratch again with only the finest PSY-TRANCE dj's in the country playing

im telling you PSY-TRANCE is the new cool maaaaaaaaaaaan.....

peace love and flowers and shit and whatever else you mutherfuckers can think of

I think this thread is suffering from the usual problem biggie has.

You can't get any advice from the actual public, its all just DJs trying to convince you to play their kind of music as if the whole world shares their taste.

I aint no DJ...I just got a job that allows me to surf the net...
and I don't know shit bout how to put on parties or run a venue...I just like to get wasted and mince around once or twice a year....

Qbik - you have honestly not read the whole thread or you are misunderstanding me, I am quite open to all genres - you will find in the history of 4 years of biggie and 3 years of DJing - I have not once slagged another genre but more educated myself about it and more than likely started playing it!! ... all of them but hip hop. I play house, progressive, tribal, electro, breaks, alittle DnB(just started) and hardhouse.... I have a spot every weekend and play a little house and heaps of breaks mostly and if the crowd wants...anything else they want to hear.....perhaps this thread may help in the fact that I am trying to convince people and spread the word that Roma is in a transformation, that we have new DJ's exploring new genres....I hope....

Buddha - only plays house - if you play tech/electro house/breaks - you can be rest assured you will never play there again.....

Home - only plays hip hop - Classy bahama hut/grumpy mole *shudders*

ROMA - house / breaks / electro / progressive / hard house / trance (not me!!) - played by all of us there...and now thanks to this thread I have a DnB movement (thanks guys)

And thankyou for your suggestion about maybe helping out...although you should never have to opt for paycuts etc.....to help the scene revive itself with some major help...is very noble

Electrode - I know you are a breaks DJ fiend

Good Luck on your mission Girlvybz...hope you succeed in your quest for goood parties

Felun - I understand what you are getting at ...and it's a hard battle when ya don't own the place....but you want it to succeed all the more.....and as my post confirms above.....Buddha is strictly house...anything else and you're banished like dirty scum LOL - John is very very strict about the fine line of genres and makes it very hard to cross over it!!

Mad kiwi - you are little more use than a dead wet rat's arse on a mid winter's morning in this thread

Thanks everyone for your great advice etc - It hasn't fallen on deaf ears xx

Thanks Kaz

And on a different note.....

I'm playing tonight

AND don't forget about OUTBREAK

hey gopal, i tend to agree...so over hearing the genre debate, only real differnce is tempo and beat structure really....and anyways, mine is bigger than ....

still a bunch of munters bobbin round not rememberin anything the next day

well i guess me being subtle didnt work maybe i should try a more direct approach ......

you say: roma plays all genres
me say: thats good keep it up
me also say: play some PSY-TRANCE ya nong !!


couldnt give a shit what this whole genre bash crap is all about !

That's better

Re name it?
it's worked in the past.

Every club should also have some form of a makeover every 2 years. a new seating arrangement etc...

I think as it is one of the only dance clubs in TRG you need to make it ELITe people want to be where they think it's cool to go.

Well I put some of my art up on the wall - moved the furniture around into cosy bunched up groups - bought glass candle thingees for pretty lights hehehee put posters up everywhere - and low and behold it went off on Saturday - good advertising - loud good music (by the way -the sound system is actually not bad if you use it properly!!) people who usually walked past walked in and stayed all night
More gigs like that, heaps more advertising and some awesome support might help afterall!!

THink of a catch phrase, design and print out some A3 posters (very cheap to do) get them to every store you can think of... get some local dj's behind you and boom! 1.2.3 easy.

pop me an email I may be able to help in exchange for something easy

p.s. whats on over easter? mike& I will pop in for a wee looksie

After the greate clone wars in Hamilton in 2001

Catalyst was feeling the pressure. With most of the regulars leaving town or otherwise, and not including the Die hard fan's of Hard House & D&B that wouldnt come out every weekend unless it was thier bag.

I branded a new night 'Verstyle' which supported most flavour's being played at Catalyst and often had guest DJ's.
The main thing was it was accessable from alot of corners and helped reach people who wanted to dance to contempary dance music and/or Intense dance music.
The fact that catalyst was unbias then became Catalysts attraction to most new comer's.Altho im sure that was the underling attraction to it in the first place.
The night started with Dub/reggaee/Hip hop or whatever and progressed thru to more upbeat styles as people started to dance with the place filling up.

then reading the crowd and following thier lead and responce to what made them dance.

From House to techno and breaks & D&B.
Or from reggae to Dub to Dub house to Jungle to D&B.
Or just House all night etc etc.

It worked and then made way as people decided what they liked or didnt like.

One thing I think can have huge influence is keeping the upcomers in the game. If they support the club then theres good reason to keep them playing.Them and all thier friend's off the front porch.

.Equal amount's of Quality & Quantity of DJ's flowing throught the roster.
.Giving new comers the stage and bringin new faces to support them.
.Street teaming. ( stickers, Tee shirt's, Gossip, Involvement, Posters..)

I dont know what youre doing or what youve allready thought of so Im just letting out some experience's that might help you.

HSD.
Highspeeddubbing@hotmail.com

My new book, The man the Ledgend the Laff will be out in July.
TAXI!!

thanks for sharing all that hsd, much appreciated - after this weekend and seeing there is definetly hope yet, i have definetly considered doing a night once a month to concentrate on, whether I use outbreak as the name as it was a success the first time round or perhaps something fresh...we'll see.... and using a name for the night that could involve many genres not just one - utilising 2 rooms only sometimes because it seems closing off downstairs went very well with many people on the weekend....it certainly got a great atmosphere going....I have had my A3 and A4 posters up for 2 weeks and advertised on 3 dance websites and 4 radio stations...so that could've helped

pop me an email, nova@biggie.co.nz

email done - was just looking on roma website..

it's kinda hard to form an opinion since I've only played there 2 or 3 times, but it seems that things are going alright, I really like the layout of the club and it's pretty central to town. It has an really cool open feel, which I know is the problems most of my mates have with Auckland clubs.

I know most people are usually keen for a road trip once I tell them how much fun it is... that goes for hammy too.

seems like you're really passionate about the music erena and that helps heaps, and you throw a good set together too! Just get everyone you know to come along and tell everyone they know to come, word of mouth and an early crowd is underestimated sometimes! Once the place is full, and people walking along the promenade outside see that the club is relatively full (and like the sounds) hopefully they'll be drawn to that. I noticed the door guys do a great job grabbing ppl as they walk past, and alot of the time... it works!!!

The other issue is why Roma 'hasn't had a good night to be reckoned with' for a while... I take it this means it used to crank... What's changed?

I like the idea of a D&B/breaks night, but hey i always do

the other thing (as someone mentioned above), is that 'Do out of town dj's really pull the crowds?'.

Also you have to look at the clubbing market in Tauranga, are there more people that love the music...? rugby heads out on the piss...? or people that just want to be a part of a cool scene and dress up, look good? I think all of us here are more aligned with the musical side of things, just need to find the other enthusiasts! And in promotion don't be afraid to talk up dj's from out of town and educate the club owners on what they have done, who they are, internatties supported etc, anything that can help!

great to get down there on sat...end of rant.

Hey cool - hope your roadtrip home wasn't to harsh

Yes well I'm definetly planning the next one already - I'll be concentrating on a big Breaks/Jungle/DnB monthly event and also a Hardhouse gig once in awhile aswell, so here's to having no spare time!!!!

I don't know why it used to crank more than it does now - perhaps it's the fact that 2 years ago Roma was the only club - no buddha lounge / no home bar - now that they have opened and they are fresh new places, it makes it harder...but we'll keep plodding along. I've had some amazing support and that only makes me happier to try harder and try to make something of it all

Big ups to all you guys....almost got me bawling like a little girl....

I really agree with alot of what you have said there RandomPlay.

But I would have to say that out of town DJs do pull the crowds as has been demonstrated to me so many times in my career, also in the fact that I usually get a much bigger crowd when I play outside of my hometown and I think thats just cause the novelty wares off for alot of punters eventually.

In saying that, clubs that have had out of towners on every weekend have always struggled. You've gotta have some quality bread and butter local talent to keep the place chuggin and make the out of towners seem like more of a special event.

As with most things in life, its about getting the mix right.

Lets see what 5 auckland dj's, some laser lighting, a shitload of advertising and giveaways on the door do to the place...

May 7th. Uplifting Trance Upstairs, House, Electroclash/Tech House & Breaks downstairs.

More details to follow shortly.

Sounds good!!

Bigups Tauranga Massive

We (the RHINOS who are Dreadknowledge/Ill-Figa) will be touching down in Tauranga on the 14th may at Roma for sum badbwoy jungle/DnB bashment and promise to bring da ruckus to the fullest!!sounds like like the scene in Tauranga needs a bit of a wakeup call,
Looks like we are going to have to show you guys how we do it in the dirty south!
Here in Christchurch the scene is very healthy with every genre and sub genre therein catered for from wednesday thru to sunday.
we are lucky to be recieving local support from two talented tauranga D.J.s i.e. Erena Lee and aeon so prepare yourself for some low frequency assault and battery!!

Peace
Dreadout
dreadknowledge@yahoo.com
analogwarriors@yahoo.com (management/bookings etc.....)

Sorry Peeeps the RHINOS touching down @ Roma Tauranga on the 21st of May with support from Carnage(D.B.A.),Kaotic(D.B.A.),Erena Lee and Aeon,
Peace
Dreadout
dreadknowledge@yahoo.com
analogwarriors@yahoo.com