The Wailers are scheduled to play at the Venue of Scottsdale on Jan. 30, but where or what is that place exactly?
The Venue of Scottsdale was formerly known by the established name, The Cajun House.
Those who own the Venue of Scottsdale purchased the half block adjacent to the building, including Beads & More & Knives. The timing seemed appropriate for a change in the name, says Marty Olson, Venue of Scottsdale managing partner.
The former Cajun House is under new management, but retains the same proprietors.
Kim Deryck, journalism sophomore, visits the former Cajun House mostly for rock concerts. She does not feel that the new name embodies the notion of a great music venue.
"[The name] Venue of Scottsdale has no personality," Deryck says.
"We wanted something generic [for the name]," Olson says bluntly.
Along with the name change, the Venue is getting an exterior face-lift. Olson said that along with the new logo, the front of the building is being painted.
"We are going to remove the prison look and flow towards a more artistic feel," he says.
At first the management of Venue of Scottsdale considered names like "Liquid" to replace "Cajun House," Olson says.
"We looked at names similar to 'Rain' and other popular places in Las Vegas, but they all sounded too much like bars," he says. "We didn't want a name that sounded like a bar, we haven't been a bar for over three years."
Olson explains that the Cajun House has a bar, but is not the kind of place that you can walk into any time of the day and get a drink.
He was quick to clarify that the Venue still has the bar open during concerts and events.
"I would love to see this place become a 21 and over venue," Olson says.
Being a club specific to 21 and over shows allows the venue to seem more mature and could help to keep with the new, cultural feel of the area, Olson says.
"The name Venue of Scottsdale evolved through what the corporate community was looking for as well as what Nobody in Particular Productions and Clear Channel look for: a venue," Olson says.
The generic name change does not sit will with concert-goers.
"Coming from the Cajun House, Venue of Scottsdale sounds like a sellout name," Deryck says.
Deryck emphasizes that the new name sounds just like every other place in Scottsdale. Her view is the club name is much more corporate than cultural.
The management team believes that the name change allows the Venue more flexibility and will make the place more versatile, Olson says, adding that Old Town Scottsdale is changing to develop a more cultural and theatre-oriented feel.
The Venue of Scottsdale's management wants to support the move away from the bar focus, Olson says.
The Venue has acquired materials to create Western, Harley or South-of-the-border themes inside the building. With the new themes, the Venue can tailor the signs and artwork to a client or act's desire, he explains. Olson says the themes are mainly for corporate events. Themes might also be implemented for concerts, such as a Western theme for a country band.
The Venue holds an average six to eight corporate events per month.
The interior of Venue of Scottsdale will remain that of Bourbon Street, cut directly out of New Orleans, and there will be the annual Mardi Gras celebration at the Venue as well, Olson says.
"By becoming the Venue of Scottsdale, we aren't pigeon-holed into only the Cajun theme," Olson says.
Reach the reporter at chelsea.ide@asu.edu.
