P3

[zoeysmom]

I don't know about you guys, but I have mixed feelings about Piper's club. I kind of liked P3, because I liked the bands and musical artists, but I also had some issues with it.

1. In Witch Trial, Piper tells the banker dude that she wants to start the club because it’s less risky than starting a restaurant, which was what she really wanted to do. But now that I’ve watched the reruns on TNT a couple times and started my own business, starting a club like P3 seems like it’d be every bit as risky as the restaurant she wants to start, if not more risky. Lots of drunk people means more potential for bar fights and stuff, and from what I can tell, she didn't serve food. Some food would help bring in more money, probably more people on dates, etc. 
2. The $60,000 Piper says she needs seems a bit paltry. The west coast is notorious for being super expensive. Things would have been less expensive when Piper was starting her club compared to now, but I can't picture $60,000 plus whatever she had saved up being enough, and nobody said anything about her setting aside money for the club or getting a loan beyond what she was hoping to get from the banker or what her sisters actually did give her. it looks like she hired a manager, assistant manager, and some bartenders, and employees tend to be one of the more expensive things you need to think about.
3. Since Piper says she really wants to open a restaurant, why not just go for that, instead of doing the club first for 7 years and then opening up Halliwell's at the end of Season 8? I know the writers did it as as rating gimmick, but there's several restaurants, or at least bars that serve decent food near me, that have bands coming in to perform.

[stratego]

I've never liked the club and it's exactly because it was never Piper's dream and because I don't believe a club would be less risky than a restaurant. If they really felt the need to promote musicians on the show, they could've let them preform during cocktail hour at Quake or something. And if they so desperately wanted a club, it would've made more sense if the owner of Quake decided to turn the restaurant into club and keep Piper on as the manager.

[zoeysmom]

True about cocktail hour. I think that would make sense, or adding a bar to Quake. A restaurant I go to sometimes did that- they started as a coffee shop that catered to people working at or visiting the main branch of the county library and the county court, then added a bar with high-priced drinks 11 years ago.

[Julian]

I've been to a restaurant that has a stage where entertainment and performers perform on a Friday or Saturday night.

As for P3, I saw no purpose for it at all, other than being what the WB demanded (and what Piper said about a club being less risky all felt out of character for her, as it was never her dream). Apart from a few bands, it didn't really add anything to the show. We barely saw Piper having her own subplot as we did with Quake, the only one they did was Abbey.

Maybe Piper could have catered out of the manor for a year, and planned her own restaurant along the way until she was ready and had the finances.

I didn't see any reason why she couldn't have just kept working at Quake, until she eventually became manager, and or the owner sold it, and then she could buy it and redevelope it as her own.

[thepowerofnicki]

You raise some great points. I think the 60k was meant for the down payment for the business loan. Piper was schmoozing the banker to avoid the downpayment... I think? (Geez you can so tell Brad Kern wrote this).

I think it was great for Piper's arc when she opened the business. It was amazing to see her grow and become more confident over season 2 and 3. I also liked seeing the bands that played at P3 but it was so forced that Piper owned a club because it was less risky than opening up a restaurant.

Instead it would have been great if Piper ran a catering service. First from the manor and then maybe she could have expanded it a bit and had a full staff. Eventually she could have opened her own restaurant around season 7 or 8.

[Julian]

Apr 14, 2021 21:42:28 GMT -5 thepowerofnicki said:

Instead it would have been great if Piper ran a catering service. First from the manor and then maybe she could have expanded it a bit and had a full staff. Eventually she could have opened her own restaurant around season 7 or 8.

This would have so good for Piper's arc over the course of the series. I'd love to watch her grow and finally get her dream later on with her restaurant. 
 

[squint]

Good points. A restaurant probably would have suited Piper better although I don't really mind a club. She just should have served some food and probably found a better location. What disappoints me about the club is really the set and the lighting that was just so boring. Come on, it's a nightclub! Give me some colors and overall more excitement! Quake was "just" a restaurant and felt more vivid than P3^^

[Elle Em]

I like the coziness and dark atmosphere of the club. It's fun to see them hanging out in the alcove or at the bar with the low lights and music playing. The club to me is a bit like what the city is: the sisters in their own little group in a crowded and noisy place. It's got an intimate feel to it. 

But I don't like how it was Piper's, and supposedly her dream business, or at least a stepping stone to her dream. I don't know anything about either business, but to me it seems like it would be much harder to book bands that people would pay to see rather than running a restaurant. And if Piper's real dream was to own her own restaurant, but she wasn't yet ready to do so, what better thing to do than stay on at Quake as the manager? That at least seems closer to owning a restaurant than starting up an entirely different business does. 

Like others have said in this thread, a catering business would have been the way to go if she was absolutely sick of being a restaurant manager. Have her start out at home to save money on a space to cook, which also gives us more time at the manor. It would also give us more views of places around the city, like if she catered some big event somewhere. Then as her popularity grows she could start her own restaurant midway through the series or something. 

[zoeysmom]

Apr 14, 2021 21:42:28 GMT -5 thepowerofnicki said:

You raise some great points. I think the 60k was meant for the down payment for the business loan. Piper was schmoozing the banker to avoid the downpayment... I think? (Geez you can so tell Brad Kern wrote this).

I think it was great for Piper's arc when she opened the business. It was amazing to see her grow and become more confident over season 2 and 3. I also liked seeing the bands that played at P3 but it was so forced that Piper owned a club because it was less risky than opening up a restaurant.

Instead it would have been great if Piper ran a catering service. First from the manor and then maybe she could have expanded it a bit and had a full staff. Eventually she could have opened her own restaurant around season 7 or 8.

I agree, it felt forced. And thank you on the great points part.

[zoeysmom]

Apr 15, 2021 1:12:27 GMT -5 squint said:

Good points. A restaurant probably would have suited Piper better although I don't really mind a club. She just should have served some food and probably found a better location. What disappoints me about the club is really the set and the lighting that was just so boring. Come on, it's a nightclub! Give me some colors and overall more excitement! Quake was "just" a restaurant and felt more vivid than P3^^

Thanks

[zoeysmom]

Apr 15, 2021 7:20:00 GMT -5 Elle Em said:

I like the coziness and dark atmosphere of the club. It's fun to see them hanging out in the alcove or at the bar with the low lights and music playing. The club to me is a bit like what the city is: the sisters in their own little group in a crowded and noisy place. It's got an intimate feel to it. 

But I don't like how it was Piper's, and supposedly her dream business, or at least a stepping stone to her dream. I don't know anything about either business, but to me it seems like it would be much harder to book bands that people would pay to see rather than running a restaurant. And if Piper's real dream was to own her own restaurant, but she wasn't yet ready to do so, what better thing to do than stay on at Quake as the manager? That at least seems closer to owning a restaurant than starting up an entirely different business does. 

Like others have said in this thread, a catering business would have been the way to go if she was absolutely sick of being a restaurant manager. Have her start out at home to save money on a space to cook, which also gives us more time at the manor. It would also give us more views of places around the city, like if she catered some big event somewhere. Then as her popularity grows she could start her own restaurant midway through the series or something. 

True, I think it would be harder booking bands than the show made it seem. Honestly, I think everything would be harder than the show made it seem. I think a catering business easily could've worked for Piper, or being a personal chef.

[zoeysmom]

Apr 14, 2021 20:36:56 GMT -5 Julian said:

I've been to a restaurant that has a stage where entertainment and performers perform on a Friday or Saturday night.

As for P3, I saw no purpose for it at all, other than being what the WB demanded (and what Piper said about a club being less risky all felt out of character for her, as it was never her dream). Apart from a few bands, it didn't really add anything to the show. We barely saw Piper having her own subplot as we did with Quake, the only one they did was Abbey.

Maybe Piper could have catered out of the manor for a year, and planned her own restaurant along the way until she was ready and had the finances.

I didn't see any reason why she couldn't have just kept working at Quake, until she eventually became manager, and or the owner sold it, and then she could buy it and redevelope it as her own.

I agree, it didn't really add a whole lot to the show, other than some bands.

[Elle Em]

Another thing about the club is that while I enjoy seeing all the older bands performing, that type of thing isn't going to age well. It doesn't bother me because I like being reminded of that time period and what was popular, but most people are more drawn to things happening right now, and music from, at the latest, 2006 is not going to draw a lot of new fans in. 

[Julian]

Apr 17, 2021 13:09:15 GMT -5 zoeysmom said:

Apr 14, 2021 20:36:56 GMT -5 Julian said:

I've been to a restaurant that has a stage where entertainment and performers perform on a Friday or Saturday night.

As for P3, I saw no purpose for it at all, other than being what the WB demanded (and what Piper said about a club being less risky all felt out of character for her, as it was never her dream). Apart from a few bands, it didn't really add anything to the show. We barely saw Piper having her own subplot as we did with Quake, the only one they did was Abbey.

Maybe Piper could have catered out of the manor for a year, and planned her own restaurant along the way until she was ready and had the finances.

I didn't see any reason why she couldn't have just kept working at Quake, until she eventually became manager, and or the owner sold it, and then she could buy it and redevelope it as her own.

I agree, it didn't really add a whole lot to the show, other than some bands.

Exactly.

Apr 17, 2021 16:33:45 GMT -5 Elle Em said:

Another thing about the club is that while I enjoy seeing all the older bands performing, that type of thing isn't going to age well. It doesn't bother me because I like being reminded of that time period and what was popular, but most people are more drawn to things happening right now, and music from, at the latest, 2006 is not going to draw a lot of new fans in. 

Yeah, that must date the show for new younger fans watching, having no idea who any of those bands are.

[BriannaWarren2.0]

Apr 14, 2021 19:39:19 GMT -5 stratego said:

I've never liked the club and it's exactly because it was never Piper's dream and because I don't believe a club would be less risky than a restaurant. If they really felt the need to promote musicians on the show, they could've let them preform during cocktail hour at Quake or something. And if they so desperately wanted a club, it would've made more sense if the owner of Quake decided to turn the restaurant into club and keep Piper on as the manager.

I love this idea, I would have actually preferred this.

[Aaeiyn]

I never understood her quest in owning a Club, either. Probably the only sister I really wished didn't quit their job. I was fine with Prue quitting Bucklands, along with Paige quitting being a Social Worker.  But, never really understood Piper quitting Quake.  I mean, I do, but the pay off made her reasoning moot.

[zoeysmom]

I got a little bored, so I did a mock budget for P3. For the last 20 years, the experts have been telling people to have enough working capital (or enough money to pay all the bills) on hand for 3-6 months, so I put down 6 months and what Google says is the median salary for bar managers.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dUTtV1-a8a-cPouxmfVfjEmO0ZXlkRXC6Z0S2hH0T1o/edit?usp=sharing

[BriannaWarren2.0]

I believe that P3 should have been a Café or Piper should have brought Quake and renamed it.  

[Esmeralda]

Piper should've had her restaurant and there should've been a club across the street from it. Then The WB could have its bands and the sisters would have a place to gather, but Piper would have her dream.

[zoeysmom]

Mar 3, 2022 6:34:00 GMT -5 BriannaWarren2.0 said:

I believe that P3 should have been a Café or Piper should have brought Quake and renamed it.  

Agreed.