Following the success of this summer’s 39 Days of July, Longevity John Falkner has decided to take the Duncan Showroom to the street — street level that is.
He’s keeping his upstairs venue at 133 Station St. and expanding to include a ground floor club he’ll be calling Duncan Showroom – Downstairs.
Having just turned 65, Falkner said he decided he needed to pursue his dreams, and listen to those music fans who found the 24 steep steps up to his Showroom were simply a bridge too far.
Amazingly, just as he decided to enquire about the possibility of getting the downstairs space, the tenants — Indigo Children’s Consignment — had given notice that they would be moving out at the end of September.
“It was serendipity,” Falkner said.
Now, he’s launched an ambitious fundraiser on indiegogo. Check it out at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/support-duncan-arts-and-cultural -development and make a donation.
Over the past 12 years, the Showroom in its different locations has offered varied programs for a variety of patrons and in the past year, has seen viewership on the club’s upstreams increase from 3,600 to 23,500.
Falkner said he expects the Duncan Showroom Downstairs Club to offer diverse programming: from biweekly stroller dancing for young moms and their toddlers to early evening concerts for elders and special needs in the community.
“I’m not looking at the after midnight crowd, though. We won’t be serving liquor,” he said. “It will be about people, mainly over 35, who want to come out and dance, when it’s appropriate. I hear there are still lots of them around.”
Falkner is aiming at providing a downtown gathering place for the arts and cultural community that would also include an all-day cafe featuring such fun items as morning spam and eggs, organic oatmeal and cinnamon toast, and daytime and evening gourmet hot dogs, popcorn with various toppings, desserts, hot chocolate and more.
However, he is holding firm to his vision of an all ages, no liquor venue both upstairs and downstairs.
The Duncan Showroom Upstairs would still be open because it’s proved itself to both audiences and touring performers.
“It’s still a gem on its own. The acoustics are fabulous. It’s just a very special place. We still plan to hold some shows there, and it would also be available for meetings, recording, live streams on our very own Duncan Showroom Internet TV and for private functions as well,” he said.
But he discovered, in talking to the folks who attending the fourth annual 39 Days this summer that there are people who long to be included but who just can’t get upstairs to the Showroom as it now exists.
And there are changes he could add in a different space, such as building an elevated stage so that people who want to stand up front by the stage could do so without blocking the view of those patrons who wish to sit.
So, he’s stepping up with a new idea for a street level venue and putting his own financial foot forward. However, there’s a lot of work and expense ahead to get the venue up and running.
Hence the indiegogo campaign.
“Please help us along financially,” he urged everyone who liked the 39 Days of July and want to see more going on in downtown Duncan.
There are incentives for donations, too, ranging from discounts on admissions to free Live at the Duncan Showroom compilation CDs.
And Falkner wants to meet personally with anyone who has more than $2,000 to give so projects can be discussed.
What is needed is $25,000 for renovations to secure “assembly occupancy” status plus $2,400 for five year lease.
In addition the first and last month’s rent required Oct. 1 add up to $5,040 and there is also a “substantial deposit for Hydro” needed at the new location that same day.
Falkner estimates that $10,000 will be needed for operating costs “while we get settled into programming” at the new downstairs location.
But, the brick structure, which dates back to 1909, has a lot of possibilities and within two to three years, he said, he hopes to own the building outright.
