Cagney's Music

Firstly, I would like to thank the handful of individuals that ruined my trade, at Cagneys on Friday night as we had no music. We had 8 customers in total all night. I put out no food, my barman was bored out of his mind and Ricky sat and chatted with people to make converstion. We normally have approx 40-60 people in on our music nights, so thank you very much.
Secondly I would like to thank very much those that supported us in Cagneys last night. The Everlys played acoustically, not a microphone in sight, and it was terrific. It is a real strain on the voice but they were amazing. Our terrace was full, I put out many meals, our barman was running and our customers had 3 hours of quality talented entertainment. Thanks to everyone who openly declared they had come for the evening to support us. Too many of you to name individually but you know who you are.
In response to the few that have slated the little bars for not having music licences can I just say that I have been aware of this from day one of opening my bar. I looked into it and it would cost us thousands upon thousands to obtain one. I hold my hands up, I continued to have live music without the correct licence at Cagneys, as we do not have the earning capacity to purchase such a licence and it would be impossible for us to recoup such a vast amount of money. We still operate as a Euro bar, selling bottles of beer, glasses of wine, cans of fizzy drinks and draught canas for 1E. I guess I 'got away' with having live music without the licence for the best part of 3 years so now I have to hold my hands up. Everything else in my bar is legal. Even I was shocked to learn at the meeting held between bar owners and the mayor this summer that only 10 of the 45 bars and eateries on this urb are legal and some are still operating without kitchen licences and with uncontracted staff. I was fortunate that my landlord paid for Cagneys to be legal.Hence I have never missed a month's rent with him. I could never have afforded the money that I watched him hand out to architects/electricians/town hall etc. The reason why I have never missed a rent payment is solely down to my Friday/Sunday entertainment. Simples!
So here's what is happening at Cagneys over the next few weeks.
Tuesdays 8pm Bingo called by me! NO microphone with prizes supplied from behind the bar.
Wednesdays 8pm Fun quiz by our 100% legal quizmaster with No microphone
Friday 9th Nov - Buddy Holly Tribute Acoustic with Rick helping out on guitar for impact!
Friday 16th Nov - PDQ Rick on acoustic guitar, Pete on acoustic bass and Lee on his snare drum. Still the same old jokes, still the same old fun just no microphones.
Does this make the handful realise the lengths I have had to go to to keep my bar alive and afloat? So thankyou.
Kate & Ricky
(PS this one's for Michelle who loves long postings on the forum!!!)

La Marina

GOOD FOR YOU
Have to come and see you when next in town.
Good luck and keep the Entertainment coming !!!!

Commented FOX160 in La Marina 2012-11-05 19:30:13 UTC

Well done Kate,you have told it exactly how it is,
I know people will think I am your publicity agent,but you are one of the best places on the urb. to spend a few hours,and only a few euros.
You and Ricky make a great partnership,Unfortunately couldnt make last night,but Gloria and Val will be in for bingo as usual,Hopefully be in for Friday,probably grab some grub

Commented Alan in La Marina 2012-11-05 19:31:11 UTC

Good to see you back on the forum Alan. I knew something would get you back on here.

Commented Andi in La Marina 2012-11-05 19:39:05 UTC

cant say i am particulary pleased to be back,Andi
But i cannot sit by and watch a few people,Try to ruin La Marina,and by doing so will ruin my dream of living in a great place full of great people (and a few idiots) i have even been talked into Karma (what goes around comes around)cant wait for that day to arrive

Commented Alan in La Marina 2012-11-05 19:50:29 UTC

It's a crazy situation occurring. I enjoy having a coffee or two in Cagney's.
it still baffles me why this has happened, you would honestly think the council would push out the boat as far as it goes to have sorted this for all the bar owners. I just think the council best make the best of there next 3 years, and I can see a reduced number of councillors in next two years if this bar thing is not sorted.

Commented Andi in La Marina 2012-11-05 19:54:46 UTC

Can I just ask a question from those that may know more than me about this situation please?

Is it not the case that these bars have got a problem because they have broken Spanish law? They are running a business without the correct licenses.

No matter how British you want to be its wrong and the law is the law

Commented Charly in La Marina 2012-11-05 20:06:42 UTC

Ok Charly.

What about this. What about the Charities that are breaking Spanish Law, there are Charities receiving money donations but do not have the correct licences or, are not registered as a charity.

You may say its not the same, well it is there breaking Spanish law but no one bars a eyelid.
The fact is the economy of La Marina depends on these bars so they need to stay around as long as possible.

Commented Andi in La Marina 2012-11-05 20:10:26 UTC

How about the fact that smoking kills people and cost the health service Millions each year, but the government makes more out of tax from selling them.

There is no answer to these things and I for one am not saying its right, but things have to be put in order, I like the post from Cagnay's who said " well I got away with it for 3 years" good for them but now its time to pay up or close up.

Commented Charly in La Marina 2012-11-05 20:19:25 UTC

Exactly. There's no real answer to it unless its followed correctly. Hence why there's a by-law being passes right now regarding charities or soon to be in the near future.
No one knows what's going to happen with the bars,I hope it can be resolved and bars don't close.

Commented Andi in La Marina 2012-11-05 20:22:43 UTC

Another one Charly what about when a Mayor gives a tender to a member of a Councillors family,i hear thats against the law
And of course what about paying or receiving black money.
And what about a Deputy Mayor receiving a part payment of what could of been a 240000 Euro bribe,and his penalty being a 720 euro fine.
I would think Spanish law is not exactly upstanding is it charly.

Commented Alan in La Marina 2012-11-05 20:25:48 UTC

And what about a man who is given the keys to bedrooms where there are children and allowed to have sex with them for years and years under the eyes of those that say they care.

People in glass houses, we are no better than them and some of us should remember that.

And just for those that are not on the same wave length ( JIMMY SAVILE )

Commented Charly in La Marina 2012-11-05 20:39:20 UTC

Yes and as an auditor in 1988, who worked in Stoke Mandiville I passed Jimmy Savile every morning in my mark 3 Escort and he was in his lycra shorts. Where was he going? Back to the hospital??? I knew it was going on and i was only young!!! Never the less what does this have to do with La Marina music??

Commented cagneys in La Marina 2012-11-05 21:25:02 UTC

Well done Kate, still not quite up to Al's standard yet!
Keep smiling and don't let them grind you down.

Commented Squash in San Fulgencio 2012-11-06 13:04:55 UTC

Sorry to hear you are having this problem guys. I hope the few who are trying to ruin your business realise the knock on effect to other businesses.

Commented jimdon1102 in La Marina 2012-11-06 17:53:29 UTC

Good posting, makes me realize how tough it is for bar owners out here.
So to clarify, you can still have singers and entertainers providing they don´t use a mic or electric?

Commented Kas in Los Balcones 2012-11-07 11:19:47 UTC

Why oh why do all the illegal bars etc think it is ok to carry on without the proper paperwork cant they see that by running a un viable business model that you are partly to blame for the problem by taking punters from those that do its not surprising there have been back/lashes/biting as one says "we got away with it for 3 years" what comes around goes around if you run an un sustainable illegal business maybe this is what happens when others have had enough they fight back with all they have got then everyone suffers

Commented 2nd Casa in La Marina 2012-11-07 12:26:46 UTC

Kaz, that's about the extent of it, crazy as it sounds! It's a crying shame. Still, we will continue to battle on as we are not prepared to let these individuals win. I know on a previous posting I suggested naming and shaming these people but I now retract that as not a good idea. We have many irate customers who are gunning for them and are prepared to take the law into their own hands and deal with them personally. Probably best for them to lock themselves away behind closed doors because if it does ever get out as to who has been denouncing the bars then they should be quaking in their boots. I do not condone this but at the same time am a great believer in what goes around comes around.
Stop it now and let the people of La Marina, and I use the international word, 'Fiesta'.

Commented cagneys in La Marina 2012-11-07 12:31:27 UTC

I have been watching this post for a while and I was wondering why we have had no comment from one bar who was always commenting about unreasonable behavior of the Local Police when they had been called to his bar about the noise when he only had a quiz.
If people could only see the big picture if the bars close we get a drop in tourism and then nobody will want to buy property in La Marina House prices fall less people living here no need to employ as many working for the council and less money in the local economy. This is bad for everybody not just Bar Owners

Commented david in La Marina 2012-11-07 12:54:17 UTC

Thanks for your 'support', 2nd Casa. What you don't realise is that there are 6 levels of music licence. It could be that the 3 establishments have a level 1 licence but think they are entitled to play live music 'til 4am 7 days a week. We don't know the facts and we could all try that one. As I have mentioned before, I looked at a level 6 licence which includes staying open virtually 24 hours a day with constant live music and the cost was way beyond reach. To add to that I'm sure the residents here would love to be disturbed at 4am by people leaving my bar if I did obtain the licence. If you read Eve's posting on the forum the 2 bars with licences in the Consum area attract the most noise up to 4am with youngsters milling around, setting fire to the bins and fighting in the street. Ricky used to play regularly in Chief O'neill's bar with the gig finishing around 1am. He would come out of the bar to find youngsters sitting on the bonnet of his car! It's not good for the urb and I can understand people ringing the police for that. I still maintain that music at a reasonable level finishing at a reasonable hour is acceptable. And as for this rubbish about not using a microphone for a quizzes and bingo is beyond a joke. It seems that people have taken leave of their senses.
As your name suggests you have 2 houses here in La Marina. I'm surprised that you want to kill the urb by stopping all the entertainment as you would be hit doubly when the house prices plummet!!

Commented cagneys in La Marina 2012-11-07 13:09:50 UTC

Can't understand why microphones can't be used ! What about the pubs that play loud background music? (one very close to yourselves, which we frequented one night for a chat with friends, and it was difficult to hold a conversation above the music).
Live and let live, I say. The bar owners have a tough enough time without any further aggro.
I know personally how hard it is to make a living in Spain, so wish you all the best

Commented Bill in La Marina 2012-11-07 14:02:17 UTC

Thanks for your 'support', 2nd Casa. What you don't realise is that there are 6 levels of music licence. It could be that the 3 establishments have a level 1 licence but think they are entitled to play live music 'til 4am 7 days a week. We don't know the facts and we could all try that one. As I have mentioned before, I looked at a level 6 licence which includes staying open virtually 24 hours a day with constant live music and the cost was way beyond reach. To add to that I'm sure the residents here would love to be disturbed at 4am by people leaving my bar if I did obtain the licence. If you read Eve's posting on the forum the 2 bars with licences in the Consum area attract the most noise up to 4am with youngsters milling around, setting fire to the bins and fighting in the street. Ricky used to play regularly in Chief O'neill's bar with the gig finishing around 1am. He would come out of the bar to find youngsters sitting on the bonnet of his car! It's not good for the urb and I can understand people ringing the police for that. I still maintain that music at a reasonable level finishing at a reasonable hour is acceptable. And as for this rubbish about not using a microphone for a quizzes and bingo is beyond a joke. It seems that people have taken leave of their senses.
As your name suggests you have 2 houses here in La Marina. I'm surprised that you want to kill the urb by stopping all the entertainment as you would be hit doubly when the house prices plummet!!

Oh but I do "support " all the correct ways of doing things! and I dont just support the parts that suit me, you seem to have got the wrong measure of me I love all the entertainment but in the right places with out annoyance or cost to others can you not see that if a free for all is left to carry on something positive has to be done to end this fiasco before we all lose out if that means shutting down the offenders so be it BUT it needs everyone's backing not just a few that want to

PS if you read my postings carefully you see will I am not anti entertainment if any thing the urb could do with more, and to go on later in the right place

Commented 2nd Casa in La Marina 2012-11-07 17:18:38 UTC