The Cactus Café is undoubtedly worth preserving, but is unsustainable in its present form. There is much potential for increased earnings, yet the University has spent scant time and resources exploring ways to make the venue relevant to the student body as well as profitable in keeping with the Texas Union’s Mission Statement. There are several ways to address UT’s primary criticism that the Cactus is largely used by non-students, and most are simple:
Advertising and Marketing The University is understandably uncomfortable promoting a venue that serves alcohol to students; thus advertisements of the café are not allowed on campus. Alcohol, however, is not at the center of the café’s mission. UT has not explored ways to allow the establishment to advertise those aspects that would further the Texas Union’s stated goals, while drawing more students and even tourists into the venue. The Cactus is awash with marketable elements. The problem that most students on campus have no idea the Cactus exists is easily rectifiable by posters and ads promoting Live Music, Landmark Historical Site, Microbrews, and so on.
Improving Food and Beverage Selection Although the Cactus has aged with grace, the same cannot be said of its food and beverages. Several years ago, the Texas Union opened a Starbucks next door, and the quality of their product is superior to the coffee that has been served in the Cactus for decades. It should offer better quality coffee and local snacks.
Introducing more Diverse and Pertinent Performers The Cactus should not limit itself to folk singer/songwriters almost exclusively; great as some of the music may be, there are scores of folk acts that attract only a handful of Baby Boomers. I do not suggest barring these groups entirely from the Cactus, but merely limiting the number of times they can perform during the year. Students who have their ear to the contemporary music scene should have their tastes and views considered. UT’s own student-run radio station 91.7 KVRX (and its Austin community counterpart KOOP) should have a stronger presence in the club, in much the same way that KGSR and KUT already do.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Revised: How to Save the Cactus Cafe
My friend Craig and I worked together to edit my previous post in order to make it into the version below. We printed this and passed it out at the Town Hall Meeting today regarding the recent budget cuts.
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As we all know, the Cactus Café has a culturally and historically storied past. Many of the Greats got their start here on the UT campus. This, however, is no justification for keeping the venue open during dire economic times if it is a financial liability. For many reasons, the Cactus Café is unsustainable in its present form. The suggestions offered here will focus both on keeping the Cactus Café profitable for the university as well as relevant to the student body in keeping with the Texas Union’s Mission Statement.
One of the university’s primary criticisms is that the Cactus Café is largely used by non-students. There are several ways to change this, and most are simple:
Advertising and Marketing
The University of Texas is understandably uncomfortable promoting a venue that serves alcohol to students; thus advertisements of the café are not allowed on campus. Alcohol, however, is not and never has been at the center of the Cactus Café’s mission. This is not a place that people go to “party.” It is, as noted earlier, a respected and storied live music venue that has been voted time and again “The Best Acoustic Venue in Austin.” The university has not explored ways to allow the establishment to advertise those aspects that would indeed further the Texas Union’s stated goals.
Recognizable images and names sell, and the Cactus is awash with marketable elements. The problem is that most students on campus have no idea the Cactus exists, a problem easily rectifiable by posters and ads promoting Free Trade Coffee, Live Music, Landmark Historical Site, Local Organic Food, Microbrews, and so on. The Cactus has the potential to draw not only students, but tourists as well.
Improving Food and Beverage Selection
Although the Cactus Café has aged with grace, the same cannot be said of its food and beverages. Several years ago, the Texas Union opened a Starbucks just next door, and the quality of their product is vastly superior to the coffee that has been served in the Cactus Café for decades. The Cactus can easily offer better quality coffee, such as Free Trade, and other local snacks. A primary difficulty with ordering from local vendors, however, is parking. Until several years ago, vendors were able to park and unload on the loading dock behind the café. When that policy was suddenly changed, vendors sought out parking whereever they could and were often cited by police. Thus a $25 parking ticket vastly offset a $10 delivery of bagels. Surely the University can accommodate local vendors in the interest of drawing more customers.
Introducing more Diverse and Pertinent Performers
As noted above, the Cactus Café has been voted time and again as “The Best Live Music Venue in Austin.” Many performers, however, do not draw crowds and are of little interest to students. Therefore we suggest involving students in the music selection via UT’s own student-run radio station 91.7 KVRX (and its Austin community counterpart KOOP) in much the same way that KGSR and KUT already are involved. KVRX should have a stronger presence in the only music club on campus.
Moreover, the Cactus should not limit itself to folk singer/songwriters almost exclusively. Much good and great music is performed at the Cactus, but there are scores of folk acts that attract only a handful of baby boomers. We do not suggest barring these groups entirely from the Cactus, but merely limiting the number of times they can perform during the year. It is students who have their ear to the contemporary music scene, and their tastes and views should be considered. There is a profusion of groups performing acoustically in genres as varied as jazz, rock, indie, metal and so on.
More Reasonable Alcohol Options
Remove the items that do not sell from the shelves. In addition, introduce more high-caliber products as well a few popular low-caliber ones. Although the Cactus boasts a few excellent bottled brews and liquors, its assortment of draught beers and wine is less than noteworthy in both quantity and quality. Not only do microbrews and imports sell well, they are also vital in establishing a safe drinking environment. Rarely does one buy high quality beer to binge drink. We realize however that many students cannot afford the pricier beer (some, alas, cannot even appreciate the taste); therefore, we suggest offering in addition lower priced popular beer such as Lone Star.
Accept Payment With Credit and Debit Cards
It is currently a cash-only establishment, which is fine for the more financially secure, typically older customers, but it often turns away younger students who can get their chips, tea, and coffee at the Starbucks around the corner without ever having to handle paper money.
The Cactus Café is worth preserving. To close its doors would be not only a grave loss for the greater Austin community and university student body, it would also be an imprudent financial decision. There is much potential for increased earnings. The university has spent scant time and resources exploring ways of making the Cactus Café relevant to the student body as well as financially successful.
We believe that with the assistance of the administration, the student body, and the entire Austin community, the best of the Cactus Café is yet to come.
Please send questions or comments to either of the email addresses listed below.
Erin Hazel, Former Cactus Cafe Employee (____@_______.com)
Craig Cravens, Senior Lecturer, UT Austin (__________@_____.com)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As we all know, the Cactus Café has a culturally and historically storied past. Many of the Greats got their start here on the UT campus. This, however, is no justification for keeping the venue open during dire economic times if it is a financial liability. For many reasons, the Cactus Café is unsustainable in its present form. The suggestions offered here will focus both on keeping the Cactus Café profitable for the university as well as relevant to the student body in keeping with the Texas Union’s Mission Statement.
One of the university’s primary criticisms is that the Cactus Café is largely used by non-students. There are several ways to change this, and most are simple:
Advertising and Marketing
The University of Texas is understandably uncomfortable promoting a venue that serves alcohol to students; thus advertisements of the café are not allowed on campus. Alcohol, however, is not and never has been at the center of the Cactus Café’s mission. This is not a place that people go to “party.” It is, as noted earlier, a respected and storied live music venue that has been voted time and again “The Best Acoustic Venue in Austin.” The university has not explored ways to allow the establishment to advertise those aspects that would indeed further the Texas Union’s stated goals.
Recognizable images and names sell, and the Cactus is awash with marketable elements. The problem is that most students on campus have no idea the Cactus exists, a problem easily rectifiable by posters and ads promoting Free Trade Coffee, Live Music, Landmark Historical Site, Local Organic Food, Microbrews, and so on. The Cactus has the potential to draw not only students, but tourists as well.
Improving Food and Beverage Selection
Although the Cactus Café has aged with grace, the same cannot be said of its food and beverages. Several years ago, the Texas Union opened a Starbucks just next door, and the quality of their product is vastly superior to the coffee that has been served in the Cactus Café for decades. The Cactus can easily offer better quality coffee, such as Free Trade, and other local snacks. A primary difficulty with ordering from local vendors, however, is parking. Until several years ago, vendors were able to park and unload on the loading dock behind the café. When that policy was suddenly changed, vendors sought out parking whereever they could and were often cited by police. Thus a $25 parking ticket vastly offset a $10 delivery of bagels. Surely the University can accommodate local vendors in the interest of drawing more customers.
Introducing more Diverse and Pertinent Performers
As noted above, the Cactus Café has been voted time and again as “The Best Live Music Venue in Austin.” Many performers, however, do not draw crowds and are of little interest to students. Therefore we suggest involving students in the music selection via UT’s own student-run radio station 91.7 KVRX (and its Austin community counterpart KOOP) in much the same way that KGSR and KUT already are involved. KVRX should have a stronger presence in the only music club on campus.
Moreover, the Cactus should not limit itself to folk singer/songwriters almost exclusively. Much good and great music is performed at the Cactus, but there are scores of folk acts that attract only a handful of baby boomers. We do not suggest barring these groups entirely from the Cactus, but merely limiting the number of times they can perform during the year. It is students who have their ear to the contemporary music scene, and their tastes and views should be considered. There is a profusion of groups performing acoustically in genres as varied as jazz, rock, indie, metal and so on.
More Reasonable Alcohol Options
Remove the items that do not sell from the shelves. In addition, introduce more high-caliber products as well a few popular low-caliber ones. Although the Cactus boasts a few excellent bottled brews and liquors, its assortment of draught beers and wine is less than noteworthy in both quantity and quality. Not only do microbrews and imports sell well, they are also vital in establishing a safe drinking environment. Rarely does one buy high quality beer to binge drink. We realize however that many students cannot afford the pricier beer (some, alas, cannot even appreciate the taste); therefore, we suggest offering in addition lower priced popular beer such as Lone Star.
Accept Payment With Credit and Debit Cards
It is currently a cash-only establishment, which is fine for the more financially secure, typically older customers, but it often turns away younger students who can get their chips, tea, and coffee at the Starbucks around the corner without ever having to handle paper money.
The Cactus Café is worth preserving. To close its doors would be not only a grave loss for the greater Austin community and university student body, it would also be an imprudent financial decision. There is much potential for increased earnings. The university has spent scant time and resources exploring ways of making the Cactus Café relevant to the student body as well as financially successful.
We believe that with the assistance of the administration, the student body, and the entire Austin community, the best of the Cactus Café is yet to come.
Please send questions or comments to either of the email addresses listed below.
Erin Hazel, Former Cactus Cafe Employee (____@_______.com)
Craig Cravens, Senior Lecturer, UT Austin (__________@_____.com)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
How to Actually Save the Cactus Café (and the University of Texas Student Union’s Budget at the Same Time)
I’m considering writing an Op-Ed piece for the Austin Chronicle and the Austin American Statesman regarding the following. Please read and let me know what you think. Thanks!
I love the Cactus Café. It is my home away from home. I’ve been an employee and/or close friend of the place since February 2004, and have shared some of life’s most memorable moments with fellow employees and customers who made up my closest circle of family, comrades and lovers. Although I’m too young to have been privy to the birth and subsequent heyday of the Cactus (How I wish I had witnessed the era of Townes Van Zandt!), I’m blessed to have known it in the capacity that I have. I will not waste time here speaking of the true, irreplaceable, magical, spiritual, historical and cultural qualities of that unique room. You can read or hear about those on just about any other local media forum right now, and the last thing I wish to do is make those things abstract or redundant from my humble point of view. Although I’m only one woman with one opinion, I feel compelled to offer a non-comprehensive alternative to UT’s decision to close the Cactus doors this August. As controversial as this may sound to my aforementioned loved ones and to other Cactus die-hards, I believe the best solution for the Cactus to live on does not allow for it to remain in its current state. The reasons that UT has given for shutting it down are not irreversible or otherwise unfixable. I recognize that a revamping of the Cactus would be more complicated than the basic resolutions listed below. Yet the Cactus can continue to be true to itself and to its fans while also being repurposed for a higher chance of long-term [financial] success. (Note: This particular commentary does not really address issues of management –booking or otherwise-, though your correspondent has her opinions on that topic as well.) In response to the University’s position in the press release that the venue is largely used by non-students, I propose to make it more relevant to the UT student body by:
Thank you for your time in reading my opinionated suggestions. Please feel free to comment or post suggestions of your own.
I love the Cactus Café. It is my home away from home. I’ve been an employee and/or close friend of the place since February 2004, and have shared some of life’s most memorable moments with fellow employees and customers who made up my closest circle of family, comrades and lovers. Although I’m too young to have been privy to the birth and subsequent heyday of the Cactus (How I wish I had witnessed the era of Townes Van Zandt!), I’m blessed to have known it in the capacity that I have. I will not waste time here speaking of the true, irreplaceable, magical, spiritual, historical and cultural qualities of that unique room. You can read or hear about those on just about any other local media forum right now, and the last thing I wish to do is make those things abstract or redundant from my humble point of view. Although I’m only one woman with one opinion, I feel compelled to offer a non-comprehensive alternative to UT’s decision to close the Cactus doors this August. As controversial as this may sound to my aforementioned loved ones and to other Cactus die-hards, I believe the best solution for the Cactus to live on does not allow for it to remain in its current state. The reasons that UT has given for shutting it down are not irreversible or otherwise unfixable. I recognize that a revamping of the Cactus would be more complicated than the basic resolutions listed below. Yet the Cactus can continue to be true to itself and to its fans while also being repurposed for a higher chance of long-term [financial] success. (Note: This particular commentary does not really address issues of management –booking or otherwise-, though your correspondent has her opinions on that topic as well.) In response to the University’s position in the press release that the venue is largely used by non-students, I propose to make it more relevant to the UT student body by:
-
Introducing more diverse and pertinent acoustic music to the repertoire (Just because it is arguably the best listening room in all of Texas and has been voted best acoustic venue year after year by the people of Austin does not mean that it should limit itself to folk singer-songwriters almost exclusively. There are plenty of Greats and Up-And-Comings in the latter category that should still have airtime in the club, but the rest of the washed-up folk acts hog valuable concert time night after night, and are only attended by baby boomers or post-boomers who have little connection to the current music scene. Keep the better folk acts, keep the talented world musicians, and even keep the ones who are on their way out because they’ve been there for years and are favorites of the Austin old-timers. Just don't give them as many gigs as is the custom; there is far too much supply and not enough demand. Please also add some acts that young men and women alike want to see. Add sets (acoustic, even!) by metal/jazz/rock/indie/punk/shoegaze/ambient/experimental/etc bands. It can be done without compromising the magic and history of the Cactus Café. It absolutely can!) - Improving beverage/food selection with:
Better coffee (It is no small secret that the Texas Union opened a Starbucks right next door just a couple of years ago. Although the quality of Starbucks product is severely lacking, it is infinitely better than the same DeCoty brand drip coffee served up at the Cactus for decades.
Locally made snacks (People like to eat, and more often than not a bag of chips just doesn’t satisfy.)
More reasonable alcohol options (Remove the items that do not sell from the shelves. In addition, introduce some more high-caliber products as well as popular low-caliber ones. Although the Cactus boasts a few excellent bottled brews and liquors, its assortment of draught pours as well as wine are less than noteworthy in both quantity and quality. More microbrews! More quality imports! However, the majority of the Cactus constituents do not partake of the finest selections available (speculations as to why this is the case could make for another op-ed piece), so in addition to offering better quality alcohol for the connoisseurs of its patronage, it should offer the more popular lesser quality beers such as Lonestar, PBR, Miller High Life and Budweiser Select in lieu of regular Budweiser and Miller Light. This way, the young and hip and financially constrained students of drinking age can find more familiar beverages that appeal to their having a good time more than to their taste buds.)
- Allowing credit/debit cards as an accepted form of payment (It is currently a cash-only establishment, which is fine for the more financially savvy, typically older customers, but often turns off younger students who can get their chips, tea, and coffee at the Starbucks around the corner without ever having to handle paper money).
- Advertising (Even though UT is uncomfortable promoting a venue that serves alcohol to the over-21 student population on campus, it hasn’t exactly explored smart, safe ways to approach the issue of responsible drinking while at the same time increasing appreciation and awareness of the Cactus’s rich history and vital contribution to Austin’s music scene.)
Thank you for your time in reading my opinionated suggestions. Please feel free to comment or post suggestions of your own.
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