#133 - City Winery: "25 Bucks Whether You Like It or Not" - After the Gig

City Winery's $25 Minimum: A Deep Dive into the New Policy and Its Impact In this episode, we explore City Winery's recent decision to implement a $25 minimum on food and beverage sales for concertgoers at their venues. Jesse shares personal thoughts and insights on the policy, its potential impact on patrons, and the reasons behind this move, including the desire to support artists by giving them a larger share of ticket sales. By reading an email from City Winery's CEO, we get an inside look at the motivations behind the new policy. Jesse also discusses broader issues affecting live music venues, such as the challenges of booking talent, managing unpredictable ticket sales, and ensuring quality service. Additionally, the episode touches on how similar venues have navigated financial challenges and offers a balanced perspective on the implications of the policy for both artists and patrons. Newsletter:  https://jessehumphrey.substack.com/ Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6AhUzWzyCrTgffuNlTjLG3jEmj5h4pmZ Support the Podcast on Patreon!  Patreon.com/afterthegig All links right here!!https://linktr.ee/jessehumphrey EMAIL [email protected] Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/afterthegig/@afterthegig  00:00 Introduction to City Winery's New Policy01:16 Personal Experience with Minimum Spend Policies02:38 Reading the CEO's Email05:00 Analyzing the Email and Menu Changes06:22 Challenges Faced by City Winery09:02 Impact on Artists and Venues11:07 Case Study: Rockwood Music Hall15:42 Balancing Acts and Business Models18:14 Potential Solutions and Final Thoughts25:09 Service Quality and Final Wrap-Up Get full access to After the Gig at afterthegig.substack.com/subscribe