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The Chi-Improv mailing list has had a fascinating ongoing discussion about progressive music venues and the best way to keep them going, and one point that keeps coming up is a culture clash involving low expectations. It’s made me think about how I expect so many of the shows I see as a matter of course to take place in small, dark, dingy rooms with nowhere to sit and minimal, if any, pay for the musicians. The South Loop incarnation of HotHouse had a way of making me feel broke and underdressed—but that’s not the venue’s fault, now is it? Nor is it the fault of other, lower-budget venues so accustomed to making do with very little that they’ve lost a certain level of ambition.
So if you’re not going to Pitchfork next weekend (raise your hand if you’re already sick of hearing about it) or get bored and leave early on Sunday, head over to the HotHouse and dance goodbye.
