♫ ♫ Backstage hotel ♫ ♫ - The hotel literally breathes music from every pore

From 2001, Hans is the owner of the hotel on the corner of Leidsegracht - Marnixstraat. With the renovation in 2008 he had the opportunity to work out an entirely new concept with the hotel. As a boy of 14 he had the dream to start a Rock 'n Roll cafe. This idea has continued to haunt him until now when he finally got the chance to realize it. The Backstage Hotel is not a super deluxe five star hotel without meaning. No, this two star hotel with the services of a six star hotel has become a place where musicians can be themselves. Where the man behind the artist is more important than what the artist has achieved. A place where there is peace and artist can prepare for a show.

The hotel literally breathes music from every pore. Minimalistic, cool, friendly and stylish. On the walls hung oil paintings of 1 x 1 www.Album2art.com with albumcovers including covers of Bowie and Marley. The exhibitions are not static but dynamic. It is the plan that once in a while it changes. The rooms are basic and tastefully decorated. Artists feel immediately at home by the industrial look with Flight Case cupboards and main boards of the box spring beds, the theater mirrors, the stage spots above the bed head and not to forget the drumkit lighting at the sealing. The color pad they’ve used is small. Overall black, white and gray. The room doors are red, the crew doors are grey and all doors whit water elements behind it are blue. In order to have enough privacy in the rooms they’ve used wire curtains. So the guests have a magnificent view over the canal but have no insight from outside. It really turned out great with all these Rock ‘N Roll details.

For an intimate "afterparty, where the artists can chill, jam or just chat until late at night. There’s a place in the cozy bar / breakfast room. When, after a rough and late evening and a long day sleep they can take a refreshing shower and shuffle down to the breakfast which is displayed on the deck of the pool table or make it their own in the kitchen. For artists, the kitchen is open the whole day and there is always free coffee and tea. That is 1 of the many service points what the Backstage offers. They ensure that their guests are taken care of very well. There is free internet, an I-pod station and TV in the rooms. So they can maintain their contacts and websites when they are on tour. During their tour, it is also nice that the Backstage has the possibility to do their laundry for free. In addition, artists can store their equipment for a short or longer time. There’s even space where there can be rehearsed without problems. Hans even wanted to create a rehearsal studio but unfortunately the building is just too small, who knows in the future. Guests can also ask for a bottle of Jack Daniels on the Rocks in the room, pizza or other special culinary needs. You can’t think of anything or it is possible. The guests are king in this No Nonsense Hotel.

With their privacy regulations, they make sure that artists are not harassed by hordes of screaming fans when they go outside the hotel. There are no announcements on the website or reports in the newspaper. Most artists have to get used to that in the beginning. Which sometimes takes a few days. If the artists has finally get used to this fact the announcement of their departure makes them to up the mask again. Before that happens, they should first sign the old black piano with a white marker. After half a year, only the keys still have a scratch open to be signed. The piano ‘Hans got from a church where it stood outside in the poring weather in the garden for years. However, the piano is not only an artist guest book but can also be played, which happens regularly after shows!

Hans; "Yes we have indeed chosen the name because of the backstage location but a collaboration with Joop's theater, I don’t know it’s not really my kind of audience, hahaha. My crew consists of 10 man. Core of this strong team are to have a great passion for music, being social, service oriented and have no problems to have a long evening serving drinks and talking to the artists. Also I find it especially important that they stay themselves, that’s why they don’t wear uniforms but their own clothes. That’s how we create a home for our guests without hierarchy. The location "backstage" of the Milky Way and Paradiso means also that they sometimes have to play roadie. To thank us there bands regularly arrange AAA passes for us to visit their show. Really great! However, the most beautiful thanks we get is when they make following bookings and tell it to their colleagues.
My mission is to create a special place where guests can have a nice stay and will return. That's something we’ve absolutely achieved in this past year. The snowball effect works so well that even Status Quo wanted to make a reservation for 26 rooms. Unfortunately I had no sales because the Backstage has only 22 rooms. Who knows maybe next time. "

Hans; "I really don’t see these hotels as competition. Management agencies often book these hotels because they expect that the artists themselves will be pleased by that. Actually only the management company wants it. I have spoken with several artists including Headaway (from “What is love” jokes / sings Hans) and Gavin Degraw themselves. They stayed at the American resident but rather had stayed here. Which is sure great to hear. When I get such reactions of great artists, I am not waiting for a positive review like the last time in a reputable newspaper, "In response to this review an old the couple ring the bell in shock, and mentioning 'Oh my, we didn’t expect it to be so very focused on young people ' Hmm, what did you expect I joked' and than they walked away. Sure I want a good review but as long as it’s efficient. I don’t want guests like these or tourists. First I had the slogan for bands and fans on Myspace which I’ve quickly removed. Before you know it my hotel will be fully booked with fans or tourists the whole year and I have no room any more for the artists and that is my target. "

Hans; "In these digital times, the Backstage still has a physical meeting point for artists. Due to the relaxed atmosphere it makes it easier to contact each other. For instance there were two bands who stayed in my hotel a little while ago and they are on tour with each other right know, that’s something I find really fantastic! "

Hans responds with a firm no; "Of course it seems great to have a whole group of hotels. Only I have to find 'capable' staff to run my hotels and I will have to make a protocol or manual drafting like my fellow hoteliers. The danger can be that we will just loose our spontaneity. To what I believe lies most certainly our strength. I would also like to have involvement myself and that would be very difficult to uphold, but never say never ".

Hans; "Soon I am going to the biggest Music Fair in Europe at Frankfurt to establish contacts. What I would like for the rooms to personalize them more is to approach a large number of Rock 'n Roll music brands like Jack Daniels, Jägermeister, Marshall, and a plectrums fabricant to offer them advertisingspace. They may 'adopt' a room and equipped with brand items such as a poster of 2 x 2 m or a whole wall with plectrums. Also, I love it when artists would plaster the Flight-case boxes/cupboards with sticker material for instance. Up to this date there has been no one brutal enough to do so and I would certainly not make a rule out of it. It must happen spontaneously. Similarly to the abandonment of signed posters or other items. We want to place these items in the corridors and the staiway. I also had contact with a music cabinet maker from Heemskerk. They would like to displace some items of their furniture here at the Backstage. I think that is nice perspective. I would also like to promote more to the media and artists that the Backstage is a great location for interviews. We have already had a number including one with Sharon den Adel and she was very impressed. Who knows what the future will bring, it will at least be great. "

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