Flamenco night at Cafe Bonaparte – February 11, 2009

José Oretea and Ramin Rad. February 11, 2009 10:25pm

It's always been my thing: supporting my fellow artists. And it just so happens that Café Bonaparte is walking distance from my house so I really have no excuse not to go.

I know what you're probably thinking..."Miguelito? Why? You've heard them play many times before." True, but the only way we professional musicians can continue to do what we do is to bring in business. So that's why I'm there: to do my small part to contributing to the business by sitting down at the bar and ordering a few drinks and an appetizer or two. My fellow artists do the same for me too.

José. February 11, 2009 10:26pm

It's Economics 101. Let's face it, from the restaurant's point of view, the purpose of having live entertainment is to attract customers and increase sales. This is not to say that the restaurant doesn't also want to do its part to support the local arts community...I'm sure they do. But if business isn't good, they can't afford live music and the artists end up losing work too.

José and Ramin. February 11, 2009 10:26pm

Being that I'm a fairly well-known person in the DC flamenco community, it's especially important for me to be out there at as many local shows as I can go to (as long as I can afford it, of course). Hopefully through my efforts, I can set an example that we should all go out and support our local artists as much as we can.

Ramin's mixer of choice: PMH3000 by Behringer. February 11, 2009 11:02pm

I'm also the DC flamenco community's self-appointed offical photographer. Funny thing is that I used to get annoyed sometimes when my own Dad would take pics of everything our family did as we grew up. And I probably thought at time, I'm not going to do that. Well guess what? I am just like my Dad! And it's a good thing.

Ramin. February 11, 2009 11:02pm

So yeah, it can get annoying with me showing up everywhere taking pics of everyone and everything. I know. I used to be the one on the other side of the camera growing up. But because of my relentless pursuit of photographically documenting everything flamenco in DC, you now have access to thousands of pics in this blog over the past 8 or 9 years that tells the story (from my point of view) of the DC flamenco community. And hopefully these many pics will entice those of you who don't go out to flamenco shows much.

Miguelito doing palmas with Anna and Isabella. February 11, 2009 11:15pm

So the whole point of my website is to promote the DC flamenco community as well as help that same community keep up with what everyone else is doing. And the whole point of this blog entry is to remind to go out and support your local artists. It's more than that of course. Go out, relax and enjoy yourself, shout an Olé or two. Bring along some friends who have never seen flamenco before.

Us local performers are doing more than just making a buck doing what we love. We're also the ones on the front lines, so to speak, introducing flamenco to people who might wander into Café Bonaparte (or Cafe Citron etc) checking out this curious thing called "flamingo." C'mon admit it: you at one time used to say "flamingo." Don't lie!

My Armenian friends and fellow flamenco lovers: Isabella, Anna, Gayane and friend. February 11, 2009 11:19pm

We all had our first intro to the flamenco experience and not all of us can say we were in Spain when that happened. For some of us, it was in a local club or restaurant, like Café Bonaparte where they had live entertainment. Can you imagine what your life would be like if you didn't discover flamenco for yourself?

Anywayz, I know times are tough, economically, but if a struggling musician like me can manage to go out at least once a week and checkout one of the local shows, you should be able to the same. And if you are already doing your part, thank you!

PS...yes I'm finally getting backing to blogging again, yay! And psssst!!! Don't forget to come out to one of my flamenco shows at Café Citron on Mondays, Las Tapas on Tuesdays or Cabanas on Fridays!

PPS...the next "Flamenco [actually rumba] Night" at Café Bonaparte will be on Wednesday February 25, 2009 starting at 8:00pm. Call 202-333-8830 to make a reservation.

PPPS...checkout this flashback of Café Bonaparte from a year ago.