The last few years, as you know, have been a wincey bit challenging.
The last few months however, things have started to escalate from 'hot mess' to 'spicy disaster'.
Launching any new business is hard work, time consuming, expensive and stressful. But knowing this and experiencing it are two very different things. Add into the mix a global pandemic, lockdowns, scotch eggs, Liz Truss tanking the economy before her salad wilted, monumental hikes in energy costs, rises in the cost of stock, and an economically strapped market, it seemed the 'L' in our luck had been replaced by a giant 'F'.
I won't bore you with the details of how the pandemic damaged the entertainment industry, after all, I wouldn't be telling you anything I haven't already overshared exhaustively in the past. But in relationship to our business, it resulted in us being unable to do the usual things that a fledgling business needs to do for it's survival: advertising, growing, establishing itself and getting some cash reserves. Instead we left those first few years, no further along, yet absolutely crackered and carrying an unavoidable debt.
We had survived, but The CCB had become all life consuming. My home life and social life had taken a battering and any self care routine had long been abandoned. I had morphed into a haggard, intolerant, panda-esque being. Clothes were for comfort... full stop. In fact, if I wasn't likely to have to deal with the blood-curdling screams of the horrified and have to hide anything sharp enough for them to stab in their eyes, I'd probably forgo wearing clothes altogether, (well that and the fact my baps would likely dangle in the drip trays). With eyebags the size of bouncy castles, makeup was now pointless, unless the desired goal was to be transformed from a lumpy 1970's space-hopper to a lightly tanned mime artist that had been recently stung by bees. My hair still looked like I superglued my scalp before lying down in a field of angora rabbits with a daffodil between my teeth and my bottom was just a cupcake away from being listed as a roundabout on Google Maps.
But, having an epic arse, potentially rabid hair and all the feminine charm of a burly brick-layer with norks, were the least of my worries...
We were in our fifth year of trading. Our manager and my business partner had left (albeit both remaining good friends and part of the Crow Crew for the odd shift) and decisions needed to be made as to whether we... well, I, renew the lease for The Crooked Crow Bar to continue.
Having been so consumed by the business for so long, making an impartial decision about it's future was impossible. It felt like a head or heart decision, but my head was more chaotic than a game of Jamanji and following my heart would probably lead me straight to the fridge!
Sometimes you just have to make a decision - good or bad, left or right, roads are covered in flat hedgehogs that are noncommittal... So I put on my big-girl porky-pants, sorted through the books and plans, and took the accounts and projections to a music venue finance specialist to see if he believed we were a viable business. The good news is that the specialist thought the business was sound. In fact, given our journey so far, the books were pretty good. Ideally we would need a 20% increase overall if we were ever going to shake off those first few years and start to grow. Hoorah! But...
Usually 20% is the natural increase in trade after the first quarter, but this year, frustratingly, the weather dragged out those quieter months and we, (along with almost every venue and high-street business), were left feeling the pinch.
If we can't find the 20% increase is it game over? Well, I guess the honest answer is: maybe. We are trading in the black, which is fantastic, but without any cash reserves, a quiet few weeks could mean no cashflow which could potentially topple us. But 20% is not insurmountable.... it equates to two more events per week (on top of our usual Fridays, Saturdays and bi Wednesdays) and/or a slight increase in trade on our non-event times.
I had made my decision. Somebody queue the Whitesnake!
I wasn't ready to let The CCB go down. We had put in SO much work, it had become such a fantastic venue, we had hosted some absolutely epic events. To walk away from the business when it was finally in the black and so close to succeeding was just not an option. It may transpire that I am completely mental, but hey, anyone who doesn't like it can get off of my unicorn.
Our accountant and our new business manager both got to work restructuring the covid debt and creating new budgets and targets and I got to work starting negotiations for a new long-term lease. It was going to be a bit of a bumpy ride if we were going to trade our way through this, but with a bit of luck, minor juggling and meticulous management, the future of The CCB would soon be secure.
I love our little venue and it's a fantastic place to work... We host some amazing events, have a brilliant team and most people that frequent the bar are absolutely lovely. But running the business, bar and events on my own was problematic, even with a great team behind me. I was already tired and and running on empty and now, the business needed even more of my time! I needed to be writing, booking, running and promoting events, but the business negotiations, meetings, plans and paperwork, couldn't be avoided. Making changes at the bar also meant being at the bar, and so the hours started to clock up more and more.
Being in a customer facing, customer service role is never going to be a good fit for me. Even when on best behaviour, my blunt honesty, savage sense of humour (if they cry, they cry) and lack of tolerance, is inescapable. The reality is that best behaviour is generally reserved for those that aren't doubling as an extra from Shaun of the Dead. I am not responsible for what my face does when idiots talk to me. I used to try and curb my language, but as studies have shown that intelligent people swear more than stupid b*st*rds, I've decided, F**k it!
The CCB is like a giant wheel and it keeps turning. The things that need improving keep flashing passed me lap after lap, but trying to change things while it's in motion is not an easy task. To stop the wheel would be disastrous, so we keep turning and accept that changes may seem tediously slow. But they are changing... Life will get easier.... The CCB will survive.
This month we had our new swanky lighting rig fitted, we've streamlined the stock, we've had a little spruce up of the paintwork and furnishings and come up with a plan which will help us reach our target.
We will be introducing extra weekly events, however, as holiday season is upon us, they will be introduced slowly, ready for the autumn.
Starting next month, we will trial opening during the day as a work from home space. Details coming soon.
Works on the escape room on the 1st floor have resumed and we will be announcing our opening date very soon.
We will be introducing a small levy on drinks during event times (after I recently went on a pub crawl... I mean, 'Market Research Evening', and realised that even with the levy in place, we would still be pretty competitive).
We will also be introducing limited drinks deals during events and a happy hour.
We will be advertising and establishing our brand - we are an events venue (not a pub, not a rock bar, not a sports bar, not a yummy mummy or child friendly space) - but an alternative bar, home for the weird and the wonderful, saviour of the music-loving p*sshead and venue for oodles of amazing live music, comedy and events.
All events for the rest of year will be going up on our website and socials (with ticket links) by the end of next week.
We will be making flyers of each months event schedules for you to collect or view online on our socials.
We will run two annual fundraisers. THE BIG WEEKS. One in September and one in January. The idea is they will help us catch up after the holiday seasons and give us the opportunity to be able to showcase what we are all about: live music festivals, panto's/musicals, games nights and more. This September will be our 1st BIG WEEK (1st-7th Sept) and your support is needed now more than ever! Details will be announced next week.
So buckle up Crow Lovers, the mission is a foot!!!
COMING UP AT THE CROOKED CROW BAR:
FRI 9th: 2TONE ALL SKA's
Live ska & 2Tone classics from Bad Manners, The Specials, The Beat, Madness & more!
Tickets just £5: www.crookedcrowbar.com
Sat 10th, 12-6pm: BYO Vinyl
All genres welcome, no pre booking needed, great atmosphere, great decks & pa, dogs welcome (though not on the decks) and outside food allowed. Just dig out your favourite vinyl and pop down and play! Free entry. 18+
Sat 10th, 9pm: The Reformers
Live mashed up, rocked up, 80s pop classics! Free entry. 18+
Sun 11th, 12-4pm: Sunday Vibes
Great beer/coffee, fantastic tunes, pool table, board games, indoor & outdoor seating. Dogs welcome. Outside food allowed. Free entry. 18+
Next week we have our Big Fat Quiz of The Crow on Wednesday, Fridays gig with 'Reckless' has completely sold out! Saturday we have our BYO vinyl then live music from Radio Generation and Sunday sees the return of The Lounge Buzzardz 12-4pm.
Gazza Records Presents: An audience with Richard Jobson.
Sunday 8th September, 4pm.
The Skids front man will be at The Crooked Crow Bar for an afternoon of stories, book reading & Q+A
Plus DJ Double Deckers will be spinning some classic punk vinyl.
Entry is free, but due to demand, you will need to pre-book your place. To book, email:
Do you love all things drag?! Well strut right up because “NOW! That’s What I Call…DRAG!” RETURNS to Leighton Buzzard with a gorgeous night of drag in The Crooked Crow Bar! Serving up a classic slice of British drag cabaret, expect electrifying lip synching, stunning live vocals, camp comedy, audience games and of course…CHAOS!
Hosted by UK drag stars Knuckle Sandwich and Will Power (with special guests TBA!) you'll be in for a camp night of drag entertainment you won't forget! After their sell-out success in 2022 and 2023, you won't want to miss their return to Leighton Buzzard with this ICONIC drag cabaret night! So put on those heels, throw on some glitter and let's get ready for the drag mixtape to begin! Trust us, you won't want it to end!
This event is seated, with limited standing room available! Seating is first come, first served!
Doors at 7pm! Show at 7.45pm(ish)!
There will be limited tickets available on the door at £12.50 each
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