The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 74, No. 21, Ed. 1, Friday, November 7, 1986 Page: 3 of 14
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Abilene Christian University Library.
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Until now there hasn't been much of a
choice for entertainment in this fair city.
ACU students who wanted to follow the
rules could go to movies play putt-putt roller-
skate or stay in die dorm and bemoan die lack
of things to do in Abilene.
ACU students Who didn't want to follow the
rules could take their chances at places that vio-
lated the student (handbook policies not to
Petition Christian principles like Graham
Central Station or The Upstairs Club.
Abilene has lacked live entertainment. Al-
though it has three colleges and is about 200
miles from other major Texas cities it only
hosts about two concerts a year.
Some very enthusiastic people have deckled
to fill that gap with g non-alcoholic live enter
tainment club and they are determined to
make it work. The Backstage Entertainment
Cafe opened in Abilene Oct. 24 and is ex-
periencing a quiet but positive response.
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tH&e area with the largest demand for such a
venue Jennifer Maggot and Katrina Femandiz
now commute from their Dallas home to
Abilene to work with Backstage.
Femandiz marketing and promotions direc-
tor said although West Texas has never been
big for live entertainment Abilene was the
perfect town for such a club because of its
needs.
"This town is starved for music and we arc
the fust to be ready to give it what it needs"
saidFerMndiz.
a After choosing the city the women con-
xRucted research within Abilene at the colleges
radio stations newspapers and other clubs on
what would make Backstage effective. This
resulted in a nen-akobolic entertainment cafe
that has live bands at least once a week. It k
-Bot a "teen club" but provides an opportunity
y$x peepk 17 years old and up to enjoy live
music
Femandiz said "I think the decision for a
non-alcoholic format is best for this area not
only because the drinking age has been raised
but also because there are not many things for
people to do in this town."
Backstage is open until 3 a.m. and serves
food continuously something new to Abilene
where most restaurants close at 11 p.m. and
clubs close at midnight or 1 a.m. on weekends.
Jennifer Maggot co-owner said she had no
oubt that the club would work because they
'ere "going to make it work by using all the
right formats." She also said they would not
cater down to the town like other clubs seem
to.
"We are going to run this like we were cater-
ing to a major city" Maggot said. "That is
what people in this area want and need
esneriallv collem students who are from maior
HHm "
Femandiz said the key is the music which
will take the place of alcohol. "We want to at-
tract people who appreciate the music and
(mtfith the music we appeal to a higher level of
r3people" she said. "That is what the place is
about people. They make the place."
The club opened its first weekend with a
Texas band Boyfriend and last weekend
hosted Timbuk 3 a fast-rising band from
Austin.
Other bands lined up are Nice Dreams
gt
Vince Vance and the Valients Love and
Rockets For Reasons Unknown and EIEIO
who is now on tour with the Bangles.
Backstage is also in negotiations with David
and David.
Maggot said agents have been very coopera-
tive and bands arc readily available because
Abilene is a strategic point in routing.
"The agents have been very receptive and are
excited that we are working with this area.
They're even calling us" she said.
Not only is Backstage an opportunity for en-
tertainment for Abilene residents but it is an
opportunity for bands. Femandiz not only
handles promotions for the club but does a
great deal of promotion for each band that
plays the club. She works closely with one of
the Abilene radio stations and gets air play at
least two weeks before the show.
Many bands lined up for Backstage are up-and-coming
bands and groups big on the col-
lege charts while Abilene radio stations gener-
ally stick to a top-40 format. Promotions have
been effective so far with Timbuk-3's album
selling out at every record store in town before
the show was produced.
Backstage personnel researched the type of
recorded music to be used and are receiving
music straight from the labels. Femandiz said
"We get the new music as soon as it is released.
We were the first Texas club to premier the
new A-ha and Dead or Alive videos."
Femandiz and Maggot are taking on a large
challenge but they have the determination and
experience to make it work. Femandiz has
worked with the L Group a large PR firm in
Dallas and spent two years with a news station
in the Dallas area. Maggot worked with Merv
Griffin Productions for six years as a talent
scout for the television show Dance Fever and
also worked with a club in Dallas.
Barbara K. and Pat McDonald of Timbuk 3
said playing to the Abilene market was a
challenge. The night before performing at
Backstage they played at hc Lone Star Cafe in
New York and Pat said "The response was
very different here. I felt like the audience ex-
pected us to play a whole set of 'Shades'."
Barbara said she felt the audience did not
know how to react. "We didn't get the type of
response we do in Atlanta or Washington
D.C. or other music cities."
Barbara and Pat said they thought the
Backstage club in the Abilene area was a great
idea and that it was run very effectively.
"Venues like this are needed in other places''
Pat said. "I like the non-alcoholic format for
several reasons. We have prime listeners in the
18 to 21 age group and I think all-age shows
are great."
Barbara said "We never drink when we per-
form so it's nice when the audience is on the
same level as we are."
Pat said "People need to know they can have
fun without alcohol."
The decor of Backstage is music-oriented and
includes autographed album covers posters
autographed photographs backstage passes and
other music paraphernalia.
"This is our baby and we are dedicated to it
but in the future we would like to expand into
a chain" said Maggot. "We would like to open
such clubs in Oklahoma City Amarillo and
Lubbock."
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Above
Barbara K. of Timbuk 3 plays
the violin during tho band's
show at Backstago. Barbara K
and Pat McDonald are the two
human members of Timbuk 3
The third party Is their Jambox
which accompanies them to
every concert to play program-
med drum backup.
Far Right
Pat McDonald plays the har-
monica incognito white in con-
cert. Th group's popular single
"The Future's So Bright I Gotta
Wear Shades" closed' put the
show Saturday with both
members of tHe'band donning
sunglasses.
Right
Backstage located at 1874 S.
Clack Is open Thursday through
Saturday nights until 3 a.m. and
features a live concert every Fri-
day In November. This weekend
backstage features Tho Nice
Brothers and their brand of
"Texas Rock and Roll "
Story by
Kris Fanning
Photos by
J. Mark Kegans
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 74, No. 21, Ed. 1, Friday, November 7, 1986, newspaper, November 7, 1986; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth92081/m1/3/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.