Chapter Thirty-Four: A New Plan for the Bar

Sister Mei moved swiftly, gathering everyone together that afternoon.

“We’re here today to discuss the bar’s development plans and to ask for your cooperation on a few matters,” she began.

Present at the meeting were the bar’s middle management and the main leaders of the three bands, among them Ah Hui and Lin Qihua.

“Sister Mei, just tell us what you need us to do. We’ll get it done, no questions asked,” one manager said with a cheerful grin.

“Alright, I won’t waste words. First, regarding the bar’s development plans: as you all know, business has been booming lately, every night is packed to capacity. Yet, we’re bound by our principles, and seeing so many guests who come by reputation turned away—it’s truly heartbreaking,” Sister Mei said, smiling.

“That’s right, those are lost profits. Every time I see them reluctantly heading to other bars, it pains me deeply!” another veteran manager agreed.

“That’s why we’ve decided to expand,” Sister Mei clapped her hands. “The owner has acquired the adjacent property, and renovations are already underway. For now, we’ll operate here while the other side is renovated. Once it’s nearly finished, we’ll connect the two spaces, creating a venue reminiscent of a sports arena. The capacity will double, and we’ll need to design new, improved service strategies to elevate the bar’s business to the next level.”

On the table lay the fresh renovation plans, illustrating the envisioned outcome: the bar’s area would more than double, featuring two separate entrances, two levels of seating forming a circular grandstand like those of an arena, with a medium-sized stage at the center, much larger than the current one.

“With enough lighting and special effects, aside from the seating, it’ll rival a concert hall. It’ll be more impressive than most TV studios,” Ah Hui, well-versed in such matters, exclaimed with amazement upon seeing the plans.

“Yes, this is our bar’s future vision. Our goal is to create the most professional music bar in the country, a place known nationwide for the finest drinks, the best atmosphere, and the most outstanding stage performances. We’ll also collaborate with various partners, transforming the bar into an entertainment hub where music and fine wine complement each other. This includes recording variety shows, hosting intimate celebrity concerts, fan meet-and-greets, even album release events. That’s our long-term objective,” Sister Mei said confidently.

“It’s a brilliant idea, simply inspiring,” everyone applauded and marvelled. It was indeed a stroke of genius, promising to elevate “Tang Dynasty” Bar from a low-end establishment to a high-end club, opening up the premium market, and more importantly, the entertainment market. Strategically, this plan was exceptional, and they all admired the owner who conceived it.

“Yes, this will become the standard model for the ‘Tang Dynasty’ Club, laying a solid foundation for future expansion and chain operations,” Sister Mei looked around with a smile. “When the time comes, we’ll be the backbone.”

“Sister Mei, just tell us what needs doing. We’ll work our hardest, no questions asked,” several employees said, eager and impatient.

“Alright, it’s simple. Recently, many media outlets have slandered our bar as a disorderly place, which is intolerable. But how do we prove otherwise?” Sister Mei smiled, having achieved her goal with the long-term plan she’d outlined. “We don’t play dirty tricks; we’ll be open and honest, promoting the bar’s true nature nationwide. So I need your cooperation for a few things.”

“Please, go ahead,” they replied.

“First, we must quickly establish our official website, app, and social media platforms, allowing people across the country to see and understand our real situation, changing perceptions with facts,” Sister Mei assigned the task seriously. “Through these platforms, we’ll fully promote our membership system, letting members access various services and participate in our events. They’ll be able to watch performance videos right away. Everyone, divide the tasks and prepare well.”

“Got it, no problem,” the employees nodded.

“As for you,” Sister Mei turned to Lin Qihua and the others, “as one of the bar’s two main themes, your role is crucial.”

“Just give us instructions,” Ah Hui and the others nodded.

“First, we’ll be recording a batch of live performance videos soon. I hope you’ll give it your all, producing quality content for our official platforms.”

“No problem.”

“Second, we need to film promotional videos,” Sister Mei continued. “We plan to make three promos, rotate them, and choose the best for media promotion. I hope you’ll offer suggestions and make them as exciting as possible, supporting the bar’s publicity.”

They all frowned; performing was easy, but Sister Mei’s intent was clear: the promo needed to be like a music video, serving a promotional purpose, which couldn’t be achieved by simply filming a live show. Professional camera work and editing would be essential.

“The renovation should take about a month, and after the Spring Festival we hope to have the promo ready for widespread promotion,” Sister Mei set a timeline. “Please submit your proposals as soon as possible so I can contact professionals for the shoot.”

“Understood,” everyone nodded, taking on the task.

With the business settled, everyone dispersed to their own duties.

“The live videos are easy, but the promo will be tough!” Ah Hui frowned.

“Actually, Sister Mei doesn’t expect us to produce the promo directly. She wants us to offer a practical idea based on our own strengths for the director’s reference,” Lin Qihua smiled. “How we blend our unique qualities with the bar’s features depends on our creativity.”

“Haha,” Ah Hui slapped his forehead and laughed at Lin Qihua, “Why am I worried? With you here, there’s nothing for me to fret about. This isn’t a problem for you, is it?”

“I do have an idea—I was inspired by the plans earlier,” Lin Qihua admitted. “I’ll draft a rough proposal for you to review.”

“That’s perfect!” Ah Hui grinned. “A brand new bar, a brand new venue, and those grandstands circling the stage—it’s exhilarating just to imagine.”

“Yes, this concept is remarkable, essentially creating a miniature concert hall. With crowds numbering over a thousand, the atmosphere will be electrifying,” Lin Qihua mused, lost in anticipation.

“Standing center stage, I’ll be king of the world, won’t I?” Ah Hui smiled, but seeing Lin Qihua’s expression, he felt a pang of regret. It was a shame Lin Qihua wouldn’t stay with the band long; he’d have to find a new lead singer. The old singer, Huzi, clearly no longer fit. After working with talents like Lin Qihua and Nana, Ah Hui could no longer settle for Huzi’s average skills and volatile temperament. He resolved to find a suitable lead vocalist soon.

The three bands brought out their best, performing their signature songs with skill. “Hellfire,” Lin Qihua and Nana took turns on stage, delivering one captivating song after another. Hits like “Swing Together” and “Li Bai” always drew thunderous responses and intense interaction from the audience, leaving the professional cameraman they’d hired stunned, as if he’d wandered into a superstar’s concert.

After repeated takes, they finally produced works that satisfied everyone—far superior to anything circulating online, infused with their collective effort. Once released on the website and other platforms, the results would surely be impressive.

Next door, renovations proceeded at a frantic pace, and the promo shoot had everyone feeling the pressure. After days of careful thought, Lin Qihua finally settled on a concept for “Hellfire’s” promo.

The chosen song was “Dreams of the Tang Dynasty,” which Lin Qihua believed fit perfectly—both vocally and in its connection to the bar.

For the promo, Lin Qihua drew from the classic music video in his mind, combining it with his own ideas to propose a new approach.

Keeping closely to the “Tang Dynasty” theme, he envisioned a blend of ancient Tang Dynasty grandeur and the modern “Tang Dynasty” Bar, weaving together scenes from past and present, creating a sense of temporal overlap—merging the two into one and delivering a powerful visual impact.

He selected several iconic scenes from the Tang Dynasty’s golden age, with the main focus being the performance of the song. He trusted that with the director’s camera work and editing, the effect would be strong. The performances in the modern venue would also retain the sense of time interplay, interspersed throughout, constantly reminding viewers of the “Tang Dynasty” Bar, showcasing its greatest charm and appeal.

He then refined the details, offering his thoughts. Whether the director could bring them to life was beyond his concern; after all, he wasn’t in that industry, nor could he simply replicate the music video from his mind. Though he felt that video had tremendous impact, it lacked a clear connection to the bar. Determined to achieve the best results, Lin Qihua poured over materials and information to craft this plan. As for its effectiveness, that would depend on the director’s vision—and whether the audience would like it.