Does Venue Size Matter?: A Review of the Best-Known Venues in the Twin Cities.
Smaller music venues: what works and what doesn't.
BY BIANCA LLERENA
Whether it be setting 5 a.m. alarms to purchase tickets, shivering for hours, or waiting for doors to open, you’re more than likely expecting that concert to be the most amazing and life-changing experience: it is basically a rite of passage for college students.
Bands with popular and underground followings alike are back to touring, increasing both supply and demand for tickets. Music connects people, and there’s something so refreshing about discovering a new artist for yourself; with COVID-19 no longer playing such a heavy role in our lives in the Twin Cities, concerts are finally back with fewer restrictions. And within the Twin Cities, there are many different venues where one can support their favorite artists.
First Avenue, Fine Line, The Armory, Varsity Theater, and Palace Theater are all popular concert venues located in either Minneapolis or St. Paul, whose highest capacity caps out at 5,000. While being some of the biggest, most well-known venues in the cities, they are smaller concert venues when in comparison to the Target Center located in Minneapolis, which has a capacity of 19,356. Even smaller venues in the area include 7th St. Entry, The Treasury, The Whole, Underground Cafe, Caydence Coffee, and The Rose Club.
Capacity of Minneapolis/St. Paul Concert Venues
The Armory: 5,000
Palace Theater: 2,500
First Avenue: 1,550
Varsity Theater: 700
Fine Line: 650
7th St. Entry: 250
The Rose Club: 200
The Treasury: 180
Underground Cafe: 166
The Whole: 119
Caydence Coffee: 50
According to Ticketsmarter, “Tickets to Minnesota upcoming tour dates average at $56.00 a ticket,” but depending on the artist, you can purchase tickets as cheap at $15. Because of these venues, you don’t have to pay as much to enjoy your favorite music live. More popular bands like Wallows, Half Alive, The Garden, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, King Gizzard, and the Lizard Wizard, as well as more underground ones like 12th House Sun, Virginia's Basement, Gramma, Alien Book Club, have all either performed or are scheduled to perform in one of the previously mentioned venues.
So what are some of the negatives of performing in smaller music venues?
Less space.
Because you’re most likely paying less to be there, there is a good chance that you will not have a place to sit. Usually, these venues only have General Admission tickets which means you are standing front and center in a crowd of people. Just like any other concert, it will be crowded. And because there is less space than in a more traditional venue, you might feel a little more packed than usual. This can also mean limited parking, which is unnecessary stress before an amazing performance.
I didn’t even know my favorite band was performing.
Another con would be that you might not have even known that the band you like was going to perform at this venue. Smaller venues usually provide less advertising and promotions because they have fewer funds to do so. Compare it to bigger artists performing at bigger venues: you see posters and advertisements everywhere you look. But thankfully, other promoters in the cities can keep you up to date on upcoming concerts. UnderCurrentMPLS and RadioK are two reliable promoters for local music in the Twin Cities that continuously post the bands and artists and where to purchase tickets. Remember, they're always promoted somewhere; you just need to know where to look.
A muffled sound.
Apart from that, the acoustics in these smaller venues might not resonate with the audience. Because of the less square footage, the sound quality can be less pure and the singers can sound more muffled. It can vary, but usually larger venues have a clearer and stronger sound for those farther away. More room allows for better acoustics. Fun fact: most professional sound techs HATE working the entry because all the punk / experimental / grunge bands destroy the amps and sound systems just by playing so loudly so regularly.
Where am I?
Another con of these smaller venues is that sometimes you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. You might be behind some restaurants or in a strip mall, and if you’re from out of town, it might feel a little scary. It is not uncommon, especially in Minneapolis, to find yourself in a busy and confusing area.
Now onto the pros of smaller music venues!
It is so much more personable.
At a concert, knowing that the performance will only be experienced by the audience alone can be very powerful; the smaller the audience, the more special and thrilling the experience. There are no huge crowds with screaming fans or large-scale cameras propped at every corner; you feel like the artist is really there just to make music.
The prices are amazing.
The prices at smaller venues are unbeatable. It doesn’t really matter whether the artist is popular or not: as long as you enjoy them, it is an amazing experience worthy of seeing live. In comparison to the price for larger venues, you are spending less money for more concert experiences.
It feels like a secret.
Although there is less advertising and public awareness, smaller venues usually have more accessible tickets; some of these venues even have ticket sales at their doors the day of. Sure, everyone knows who's performing at the Target Center, but not all are aware of smaller venues.
Intimacy with your favorite.
Close proximity to your favorite artist can feel unreal; there is much more fan/artist interaction when fewer people are in the crowd. At smaller venues, performers are more likely to read signs, talk to audience members and tell personal stories and jokes; you might even see artists asking for and listening to song requests from their own audience. The feeling of a comfortable artist heavily translates to their audience and creates a feedback loop of raw happiness for their music. Who knows, you might even be able to get a selfie with the band on your way out if you’re lucky.
You actually get to see the artist. In-person.
Huge artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Kendrick Lamar, Adele, and Tyler, the Creator, perform in venues where, unless you buy the best (and most expensive) tickets, you end up watching them perform on a screen. In my opinion, the whole point of paying money to go see an artist is to see the artist. These smaller venues let you be up close and personal to the artists, especially since their stages are usually less elevated.
Although there are both pros and cons to smaller concert venues, enjoying any artist at any venue can be electrifying and lively. The Twin Cities is filled with diverse music and venues that create unique experiences. Being a student at the University of Minnesota, attending different venues can help expand your grasp and appreciation of the city. Choosing based on the venue has its perks, but ultimately, the music and the feeling it gives you determine whether or not the concert was a success.
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