Syracuse University students Joe Giordano and Bret Rodgers consider establishing a new venue for music and vocal performance on the Hill their personal mission, and the former site of Konrad’s Sports Bar is their target.

‘It’s basically just in the dream stages right now,’ said Giordano, a senior philosophy major. ‘But first and foremost we want it to be an outlet for all kinds of creativity.’

Giordano and Rodgers, a senior political science and history major, are meeting tomorrow afternoon with members of the Student Assembly, WERW, Z89 and University Union to discuss options for converting the vacant space in Konrad’s to a student-managed business that provides space for local bands, comedy, poetry and spoken word performers, and maybe an art gallery.

‘The fact is that there’s not an outlet for any kind of expression musically,’ Giordano said. ‘We want an ability to gather.’

While venues like the Jabberwocky Caf or Planet 505 do offer musical acts, Giordano and Rodgers think the Syracuse music scene has more to offer than can currently be accommodated. One of the most important issues they are focusing on is making the proposed club free for students to reserve as an arts venue, citing prices upward of $3,000 to rent the Underground in Schine Student Center.

Rodgers has been especially frustrated since a concert held at his house was broken up by the police.

‘Literally, one minute into the first song, the police were on my porch,’ Rodgers said. ‘If someone gets shot, there’s not a one-minute response time.’

With the demise of the RedHouse last spring as well as an area music club called Armory High, Giordano and Rodgers said there is a void existing between small-time student and local bands, and the higher profile acts signed by University Union.

‘If they’re trying to provide a place for students to hang out, perform and have a good time, there’s no way I’m against that,’ said Andrew Lederman, president of SA. ‘This could be a completely unique undergraduate club-type place.’

Lederman, who will attend the planning meeting tomorrow, said that to gain support for the project from the university, Giordano and Rodgers will have to show there is student interest in the project and that the proposed club will have a positive influence on Marshall Street and SU.

The lack of a central or prominent venue for student performance also bothered Lederman, who said that a gap exists between the acts that play at Jabberwocky or the Inn Complete and what Giordano and Rodgers are imagining.

Jerry Dellas, president of the Crouse-Marshall Business Association, said that the project, if backed by the university, would likely be a long time in coming.

‘They can’t just sign a lease with the guy who owns it and open up a couple weeks later,’ Dellas said. ‘There certainly would be an occupancy rating.’

The plans would have to be presented to the city’s Common Council, Dellas said, and the rent would be approximately $3,000 to $5,000 a month, based on past leases.

Otherwise, Dellas said he was supportive of the program, as long as underage drinking did not become an issue.

‘What the area doesn’t need is more underage drinking,’ Dellas said. ‘If what goes in there is promoting dancing, and nothing to do with alcohol, I guess it would be OK.’

Lederman, however, said that despite the length of the process, it could be a worthy project.

‘(Giordano and Rodgers) recognize this is a process, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start it,’ Lederman said. ‘Not everything we do, we get to see the benefits of – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.’

Giordano said that students looking to get involved or add suggestions to the project can contact him through e-mail at radio_snob@yahoo.com.

Published on September 9, 2004 at 12:00 pm