BADA BING!

I won't say much about James Spero. I only know him vaguely, but he's one of those people in life that you remember. This can be good or bad and it's up to each person to decide. He's a bar promoter and apparently was so impressed with his latest promoting venture that he now owns the bar he was promoting.

Geneseo is a small, tight-knit community. I've been there before for a weekend conference and seen the "nightlife". It's a college town where SUNY Geneseo is a big deal. The selection process for students is pretty stringent for a public university and I'd say the students are brighter than your average college kid. The community in Geneseo (the city) has been described as "ultra-conservative". The population is around 8,000 people and the student population sits usually around 4,500 - 5,000. It's a small place. People know each other. Students know each other. Values matter.

So the perfect way for a slick Long Islander to ingratiate himself in such a community would be to take over one of their most cherished taverns and turn it into an "NYC/Long Island" type club that plays EDM music and has fog machines and to send out fliers to everyone letting them know during their Mardi Gras night (a few weeks after the grand opening) chicks can get in free if they flash the bouncer and to name the place after a fictitious strip club from The Sopranos. In case people were not aware of the Mardi Gras concept, the flier explains it in detail, letting the ladies know only guys will get beads at the door and the females should do "everything" they can to get them. Directions to the glory hole in the unisex bathroom were not provided.

Not surprisingly, a segment of the student population took offense and began to petition the club to change its ways (before it even opened!). Some staff from the club apparently made some statements explaining they were considering such changes, only to have Spero audaciously squash such a terrible rumor. The premiere night would go forward and women were still going to be expected to dress well enough to "catch the eye of a taken man."

The protest group took issues with the objectification of women, "aggressive" nature of the ads, and the sexual themes.

Both Spero and the protesters have every right to do what they are doing. I suppose Spero may be trying to incite someone to break the law (flashing the bouncer may be actually be a crime), but other than that, I see no legal land mines he's setting for himself.

So is any publicity good publicity? That has to be his thought as the provocative nature of the advertisements is clearly not accidental and surely he can't be so ignorant to think in this sleepy college town nobody would bat an eyelash. If the profits come in, I wouldn't expect the themes to be toned down. Bukkakke night is surely just around the corner.

But allegedly, the premiere showing was "meager". What will Spero do? Most people would switch course immediately and send out new fliers simply advertising drink specials, dancing, etc. But Spero is just the type of ballsy guy to take it as a challenge.

I can tell you the idea to set up a club there is an interesting one. It provides an alternative to the bar scene and immediately corners any market that was waiting to exist for EDM or simply a club atmosphere. With 5,000 students, not all of them are going to be offended by this stuff. Plenty may not take it too seriously and go there because it's the most fun place in town (if it is).

So I applaud Spero for going balls to the wall in a way that only he could. This stuff would not only work in Tampa, but would probably have too much competition. In Geneseo?! It's borderline absurd. Most signs point to this being a disaster. But maybe it's brilliant? The dollars that come in (or don't) will answer that question for Spero. The rest of the protesters have already decided.

If this doesn't work, he can always go open up a mega-club in Colorado City and hit them with wet t-shirt contest, Jell-O wrestling (this might actually entice some), and a thong contest.