The Adopt a Clueless Student Program

Because nothing says sketchy like a Believe sign on a drum.

So I was clicking around Facebook when I saw one of my friends (the lovely Kay) post this status:

“I just heard a student say to another student, “have you ever heard of the Caledonia Lounge? It’s really sketchy.”

Needless to say, the Yoo-hoo I was drinking nearly went up my nose as I laughed. Oh children of the university. The things they say. Heck, there’s an entire website built on the things we overhear people say while we’re around. The above status naturally ended up with a bunch of us joking about how “sketchy” Caledonia is and how we’re all terrified of the door guy. Poor Gordon.

But the more I got to thinking about it, the more I understood the confusion about Caledonia. It’s FAR from sketchy. But it’s pretty hard to find. Especially if you’re not sure where you’re going. I remember walking around that block several times before it occurred to me that maybe that gate type thing over there was the venue entrance.

I wonder what students think about these venues around town, especially if they’re not the typical music type. Does the Georgia Theatre seem like a good place to party? The 40 Watt look like it sounds? Is the Caledonia sketch? Is this kind of rumor-mongering the reason we were voted a Top Hipster Town (despite a serious lack of hipsters)? Strange.

But it’s all in how you look at it, I suppose. So all you music scene veterans, for the sake of the children, find a clueless student, be nice, and teach them about our fair town. Tell them how to get a gig at WUOG or how to find Little Kings. Show them a Flagpole or the like and bring in some fresh blood. Now if you’ll excuse me, all my sketchy friends and I will be at the Caledonia