Pan9?

[jim_p]

Is anybody familiar with the "Pan9" art space in Boston?
I got the following from the Pan9 entry on myspace:


Pan9, for those unfamiliar, is an Allston art space that hosts private salons showcasing acts that don’t fit the mold of the Boston Art/Theatre/Music© scene. We've presented a lot of incredible acts: the Dresden Dolls (1st show here), Fluttr Effect (house band), Ad Frank, Valhalla Kittens, Uncle Monsterface, Beat Circus, Neptune, Daredevil Chicken Club, and many others.

"The Noise said about us: "Not unlike Andy Warhol's New York avant-garde Factory, this factory is an eclectic mélange of musicians, dancers, live painters, singers and poets... PAN 9 throws a party about once a month. PAN 9 does not advertise. PAN 9 has no web site. You pretty much either just know about it or you don't. Now you do"


The reason I ask is that Tam and I looked at a live/work studio space in the same building as they are (20 Rugg Rd, Allston). It's one floor above them. Since this is a walkup, anyone coming to our space will have to pass them to get to it. The hallway outside their door is illuminated only by a blue bulb and christmas lights, and the banners and graffiti on the wall have a definite "grunge" vibe to them.

The space we looked at is big and versatile. We would like to turn it into a combination living space, exhibition space, gallery, and frame shop. I'm wondering to what extent (a) our customers might be turned off by their vibe as they pass their space to get to ours, and (b) whether we'll be able to sleep at night when they're having an "event"... we're going to be targeting the art-collector demographic. We're not sure how their presence is going to affect us...

So, anybody more familiar with what they're up to?

Comments

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Talk to cos.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

everything I see is that they do live music there a fair bit; you might want to ask about sound leakage. I don't mind if I can hear it clearly, but the sound of base and half-heard music drives me nuts.

[donnad.livejournal.com]

I don't know what demographic you may be looking for when it comes to the framing business, but if you are likely to get more mainstream clients or are looking for more mainstream *art collector* type clients (They are the ones with the money) I would look for a place that is a little more mainstream. They would likely be put off by the decor and unless they are already established clients may change their mind just seeing the place.

The place you describe, seems like it is more geared toward the goth and grunge crowd and they tend to not have the money to get posters or art framed. If they want stuff framed they are likely to just go buy a poster frame from Target and do it themselves.

Then if you are thinking about using the space as living quarters, there is the noise issue. And the access issue, who will be hanging out in the hallways outside your living space? How secure is that space going to be? Will they be smoking? and what?

Have you looking into store fronts with attached apartments? Something that you might be able to make the front half of the shop the frame shop, open to the public, easily accessible from the street and visible, and the back section the studio. The space could be easily divided with a wall or temporary movable folding screens for when you want to open up the space for exhibitions or something.

Things to think about.

they're cool

[cthulhia]

although, I seemed to have fallen off their party list. hrm.