OTS p14-15 profile Jun09.qxp 28/05/2009 15:04 Page 14
business building · profile
Going underground
Aberdeen music venue and nightclub Snafu was refurbished last autumn
before the management team bought a second unit above the basement
venue. It was full steam ahead into 2009 until a 12.30am curfew
threatened to derail the plans. Kevin Scott headed north to see how the
directors are weathering the storm.
According to Snafu managing director Steven Therefore there were no major changes to Culture has changed and people tend to stay
Morris Aberdeen’s club scene was pretty the venue, opening up the area towards the at home to drink now. They’ve got 42” plasma
much non-existent until Snafu came along in dancefloor to avoid a bottleneck was as big as screens in their living room to watch the
the autumn of 2004. There were clubs, yes, it got, while new floorings, furnishings and football on and they get restaurant quality
but none which put music and entertaining décor have updated rather than renovated the food delivered to their doors.”
customers before simply getting in the venue. Something that has made a huge Steven adds: “Before we opened Aberdeen
numbers. “Before we opened Aberdeen didn’t difference but isn’t easy to spot is a change of students would try and seek out good music
even appear on the radar [for big name DJs],” lighting to LED bulbs from halogen, something venues, but that’s changed and it’s about the
he says. They come now though and can that is saving the club 70% on its electricity price of a pint. It’s a shame but that’s because
command four figure sums for appearing at bill. Steven says: “We got an energy survey the big places are knocking the price down.”
the popular venue. done and they looked at the lighting. We had To compete, Snafu doesn’t compete. It
The progress of Snafu has not been 165 50w halogens burning all the time. The operates on its own, paying money for DJs
meteoric. Since opening nearly five years ago LEDs are only 1w. Even the lights on the stage that wouldn’t normally venture north of the
it has evolved and changed naturally and until which were 500w have been replaced with central belt. That means charging between £6-
a £40,000 refit last autumn, had seen only LED. They used to be too expensive but 15 on the door (which can lead to the club
minor changes. “The club was a blank canvas they’re getting to the right level, plus you save losing money depending on how much the
for us,” says director Amanda Christie. “We did money on bulbs as well, as they last so long.” DJ is being paid). It’s something many are
it on a budget but it’s grown and developed One highlight is a full length single piece happy to do, while others grumble. “They
organically.” concrete bar which was made by simply can’t equate paying at the door to paying the
Steven claims the venue itself, located in a pouring cement into a mould created around DJ. They think because they can get into other
basement unit on Union Street, is part of its the bar. Steven and Amanda did this places that shouldn’t have to pay to get into
appeal: “We picked this venue because it’s themselves and there’s a lot of these personal Snafu, but other places aren’t spending
away from the main concentration of bars. touches in the venue. It’s something they thousands of pounds on entertainment,” says
We’re more of a destination venue. We don’t deeply care about, and that’s perhaps why it Steven.
just get people walking in. It was very has proven so successful over the years. After The club operates all week with a rock
deliberate. We saw some places that were for taking on the lease and getting ready for night on a Monday, comedy on a Tuesday, a
sale and would have been better financially opening, the couple were left with £8 in the student night on a Wednesday, an
but this place has a vibe about it.” bank so when you’ve committed more or less indie/electro night on a Thursday and bigger
Amanda says that while the refit was your last penny into something, you will work club nights at the weekend. “Thursday is one
significant it wasn’t over the top, and echoing damn hard to ensure it succeeds. “We’re of our best nights, it started as nothing and
Steven’s comments, she says: “Money can’t coming up to five years in September and it’s we’ve tweaked it to the point it’s hugely
buy ambience or atmosphere. I really think a certainly not easy,” says Amanda. “There’s a successful and has built a name for itself. It
building either has it or it doesn’t. I’ve been in lot of competition from big companies with took a long time to get there though,” says
places that have had a fortune spent on them money to spend and more buying power. We Steven. Amanda adds: “You’ve got to appeal
that just don’t feel right.” have to compete with modern society as well. to a different market seven nights a week. I
· 14 · ots · june 2009 · www.55north.com
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