The Easterner: Big Dipper easily beats the Big Easy for music, price Category: The Big Dipper This article has been read: 1661 times. Big Dipper easily beats the Big Easy for music, price By John Sanders, Staff Reporter November 09, 2004 The Big Easy in Spokane is described by it’s Web site as “The Northwest’s premier concert house, restaurant and nightclub.” I tend to disagree. The venue itself is fine. There are plenty of places to sit and catch a view, but it’s the little things that get to me. For one, the staff comes off as pretentious. I was at the club two hours before the show started and watched a bumbling display of un-organization. Nobody knew when the box office would open, and nobody knew when the will-call line would open. When I tried to ask a simple question, I would get shot down in a sarcastic fashion. After waiting in an excruciatingly long line, we finally got into the venue. The restaurant staff was very helpful. However, they were a bit on the slow side. I expect to be treated like royalty in an establishment where a plate of cheese fries will run you about $8. When I ask to see a menu, I don’t want to have to wait a half an hour for it. The food is alright, nothing special. Though, it’s definitely not worth the price. One thing I like about the Big Easy is the way they separate adults from minors. In Seattle, a venue would rather have a show be 21-and-over than jump through hoops to make it all ages and still be able to serve alcohol. In all actuality, eating expensive food that isn’t very good and having to put up with rude employees is all part of the concert experience. For the most part, the Big Easy is a decent venue. It’s not great, but I doubt it will ever get better. If you think you can avoid catching a concert there, good luck. Most “big name” acts in Spokane will be at The Big Easy, so you’ll just have to learn to put up with attitudes. The Big Dipper, on the other hand, is a better venue at a better price. There are really not a lot of things to do if you’re a poor college student on a budget. Typically, concerts can cost anywhere from $15 to $40, and it’s hard to shell out that kind of cash, even on a monthly basis. When I do end up spending that much money on a concert, I tend to overanalyze the event and ask myself, “Was it worth it?” There’s a club in Spokane right on Second Street that offers quality entertainment at an affordable price. Some nights the prices are so affordable, they are free. This club is called the Big Dipper. They promote a positive atmosphere and good music. On Thursday nights, the Dipper opens its doors for free. Their philosophy is that it is better for teenagers to have a free place to go between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. than “the streets.” Usually Thursdays start off with an open mic from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. After that there are two bands that play a full set each. The atmosphere of the Big Dipper is that of a coffee house. There is an area right in front of the stage for people who wish to stand, and there are seats and tables in the back. On Saturdays, the shows at the Dipper usually cost $8. RAWK Online (The group that makes the venue possible) also puts on shows in other venues. In fact, this past Saturday at Fat Tuesday’s, Emery, a Seattle-based band, played. I would definitely recommend the Big Dipper to anyone who is a fan of music and live shows. The venue is a cheap way to get your music fix, and it promises to become the “happening location” of Spokane. Posted by: rawkmandale - November 12th, 2004 Back to News Articles View Articles From The Big Dipper Category