guys im gutted by the news, sarah was the only promoter we have met who is enthusiastic about helping the smaller bands become succesfull, we could always get a gig in Toms when we've asked. We owe a lot to ya mate. anyways, ill still be around toms a lot though, only live up the road innit.

take care bud, see ya later.

sion

 

Gutted to hear that Sarah... we were really looking forward to playing there one day...  But I totally understand how you feel, I book all our gigs all over the UK and the amount of times we have showed up and the local bands have done fuck all.  And either there's no-one there or like you said the local band's crowd leaves when they do after they finish playing, we're pretty much always the out of town band and we're pretty much always the last people in the venue at the end of the night cos we believe in supporting and watching every other band on the bill, if even struggling bands can't be bothered to do that for each other then what hope have we got?!

I'm sorry it's beaten you as a promoter, I'm still hoping it wont beat us as a band!

*hugs*

Kelii xxx

 

 

THATS SAD TO HEAR THANX THOUGH FOR HELPING US OUT IN THE PAST.
WITH LETTING US TAG ALONG ON SOME GREAT LINE UPS.

KEEP UP GOOD WORK THE ROCK BAR.

MONDAY MASSACRE
 

shite...

love.

 

Hi

I just came accross this site and was dissapointed with this blog.  Sure the bands dont bring many people cause thats up to the venue to create a viable night at the venue that people go to regardless of whos on. 

Here is a list of examples of the finest venues ive been to and played at and they have all been full every time:

Jug of Ale in moseley:-  it was a pound in and a pound a pint and the bands were free, always packed and people always went upstairs to watch the bands.

JB's Dudley :- They had a regular student rock night with bands.  It was free in between 9pm and 11pm when the bands were on and £5 when the bands finished and the DJ came on.  Thus it was always packed when the bands played and people always stayed fore the djs after....Genius

Bands feel under pressure to always fill venues when all they wanna do is play live.  Its the venues that shud create a buzz and attract people in, then the bands can get a following instead of playing infront of there moms every gig.

ta

 

This used to be the case with us, people came no matter who was on, but then in such a small area, every pub started putting on bands in the back  room or stuck in a corner.  we are an 18+ venue and when  other pubs have no regard for the law, and serve everyone regardless of age. you are going to have a problem, your 18 year olds want to go where their friends are and don't care about the music anymore they just care about getting drunk. If everyone around this area cared for the music and the live bands as much as we do there would'nt be any problems at all.

I have never asked any band from outside the area to bring a crowd that is down to the local bands who ask to support them. 

 

that's just it though... i and most of my mates used to go to tom's when i was under 18... it was packed. and lately it's been empty, everyone's gone to places where they can get "served". so... people are about getting drunk and having a good time more than the music. that might just be a fact. unless you get some really big names on the bill...

i don't know what to say, to be honest. it will be shit if tom shuts down because it's the only reputable rock venue around here. so it will be super shit if it's closed. but, just like at the dog and muff, where i used to work, people/under 18s aren't gonna go there if they can't drink, they are gonna go somewhere else. and the people who can drink legally are going to go to the places that are crowded and where the bands are that they wanna see.

maybe it shouldn't be just over 18s... just be strict at the bar? good luck anyways. let me know if there's anything going down. i'll be there x
 

youve been so good to us, hope you enjoy your rest! see you downstairs WHEEE!!!!
 

Emz... Oh yes They Will Be THERE!!!!!!!!!! take it from the PRINCE!
 

Hey Sarah, if we can do anything to help let us know, we haven't played Toms in a while.

 

 

We'll definately play a fundraising gig for you.  SaidMike will aswell.

 

Contact us anytime

 

hi sarah hope you manage to get the money together & the people start coming back.

We've only played tom's once but really enjoyed it. It's people & venues like yours that keep music alive, would be a shame to see it close.

all the best & if there's anything we can do to help, give us a shout.

One Room Down

 

Shame and would be a sad loss to the area. I know you have worked so hard.

 

We would love to try and help!!! Not sure what we could do though?

£15,000 is alot of money, i wonder if Tom Jones would be able/willing to do anything? I'll shoot his manager an email.

Good Luck Sara

Shane

 

I have only ever been to Tom's once and that was recently for my sister-in-law's 21st birthday. I live locally and I was amazed by what Tom's actually had to offer. It is quite a large venue but yeah, it was pretty quiet there. When I ordered a pint there was no lager on tap... This was 8.30pm on a Sat night. It also reminded me of the local old man's social club the way the tables and chairs are set up, etc. I love to watch live bands but don't dress in the way most rock / indie / metal fans do. I'm also in the older group of people rather than the young students and I had several people comment on how we 'looked out of place' there. I think you need to do more to promote the venue as an open-minded arena where anyone who loves the music can go to have a good time, and not feel like an outcast. On a Sat night you also need to ensure you have drink stocked up. Maybe revamp slightly, clean the place up, new tables, chairs, etc, to attract the older crowd. Another blog mentioned under 18s. It is great that you abide by the law, but how about mid week under 18's parties. Most of my mates played in bands when we were in school and loved those nights down the Bute when they offered that.

In addition to that... I think you need to do other forms of promotion as other than word of mouth (And now myspace - I'm new here) I've not seen any promotions for nights at Tom's. I drink in the Otley and it's always full there, as is the Forest. So why aren't these people going to Tom's? I'd happily help try and promote the bar (I have a MSc Marketing and years of experience in a different field) so shout if you want my assistance. I want to help save Tom's bar, but a lot of work is required at every angle, so Good Luck.
 

hiya i am sooooo  sorry to hear the sad news about the bastard fat cat coucillors!!!! i for one have enjoyed many fantastic nights out in toms!!!! i was in uni in treff and really enjoyed exploring the local music scene! as i do now in carmarthen! i was just wondering if u had thought of asking the council for a grant! im sure that maybe with the right reasons u wouldn't have a problem with it! or why not throw one hell of a party! where people can raise money for toms bar!!! the one problem that u might encounter is that the magority of people living in trefforest are in fact students and they dont have much money so you might need to do something that'll bring in people from cardiff or bristol even! get a battle of the bands goin theyre always good crack!!! anyway ill be keepin an eye out for any events you have coming up and ill do my best to support u!

big up the south wales music scene! and i hope that there will be a good future for it

lois

xx

 

its a fucking awsome venue and it cant get shut down. youve gotta have more fund raising shows. i recon soon you have an all dayer with about 10 bands, and have something else going on in the middle like corset modelling, try and attract a few different crowds.
 

hi guys, never been to oyour place, only just found you on the web, sounds like just the kinda venue we need locally will be there in future as often as possible!
gang from work looking to arrange a night out there soon
 

Shiiiiiiit,

Never realised that you guys were havin so much trouble... all the more credit to ya for making it so cool on the occasions I have come down that way.

Toms is an awsome bar and this kind of crap is tottally out of order.

Anything that I can do to help (minor as that offer may be)... just ask!!

PS - Really looking forward to the gig supporting Fatal Taunt in October >80)

--
Martin - My Only Enemy
 

This fcuking society makes me so angry tell em to go fcuk themselves its all fcuking politics and money run by arseholes hell bent on creating a dull boring expressionless society without any difference wat so ever decent people like yourselves trying to make a living and caring about the needs of other people and this is the thanks you get damm them all.

well support you sarah and in doing so well write a song for the club.all the best
 

Tonight, live @ Toms are ByeBye dollface / Jizzwagon / Axe to grind and Purple Thursday, please come and support the venue and the bands involed. This WILL be a good night, loud is loud afterall!!!!!!!!!
Cheers Sarah,
Jason (Byebye Dollface / Dirty Bob)
 

Toms is a good venue, we've played there a number of times in the last few months, but as much i'd hate to see such a great place close, it can't be left up to band's to fill the venue. Over the past 3-4 months we have played around 16 gigs in local areas such as Merthyr, Ponty, Risca, Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend and Ytsrad Mynach. It's just not possible to bring people to every single gig, theres only so many gigs you can ask your friends to come to and theres only so many gigs you WANT your friends to come to, otherwise you end up playing all over South Wales to the EXACT same bunch of people, which defeats the object of "touring".

In my opinion there needs to be some proper promoters working there that that know how to reach and draw in a crowd like for example, Martin of LastManStanding Promotions has done with the Studio Bar in Merthyr Tydfil.

We don't mind helping out a place in a need by doing a benefit gig but out of all the gigs we've played at Toms to date we have never been paid so essentially every gig we've done there was for the bar.

Dan - H.P.I.B
 

DON'T GIVE UP HONEY! WE THINK YOU'RE DOIN A GRAND JOB. AND IF THE COUNCIL KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT ROCK THEY'D KNOW THIS BROTHERHOOD DON'T GO OUT TO MAKE TROUBLE..
WE GO OUT TO MAKE MUSIC!
...AND FUCK YEAH! MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!

SO KEEP AT IT. WE'RE ALL BEHIND YOU.

SWINE!, MAX + DAI
RIGHT TURN BLIND.
 

to sarah and gareth and all the staff of toms i have been going there for sevral years and it had been well run and always amazes me wen they get some kick ass bands there and always putting on new events with diffrent taste there is never any trouble there evryone is given a warm welcome apart from wendy she scares me lol but all in all the guys at toms are awsome people and we all should do wot we can to help them make this a success anytime you need help sarah & gareth you know where i am all the best


wes
 

fuck aye do a fund raiser wed be up for helping you out and i bet most of the other local bands would be up for it like u guys have tried to keep the scene alive so we need to get upstairs open and crowds in again!!