Seth Leonard
sleonard@salisburypost.com
A local club owner put her foot down regarding appropriate attire for performers on June 6.
Julie Barber, owner of Three Fifteen Billiards, at 315 E. Council St., effectively kicked out an act that had traveled from Charlotte. The Omega Cell, an industrial rock group, includes an acrobatic pole dancer in the band’s show.
According to Barber, band members waited until the evening of the show to explain the dance component of their act. They assured Barber that it would be a clothed woman performing an athletic routine to complement the music.
According to Barber, the approved outfit was replaced by high and tight “panties” and a bikini-type top.
“As the owner of Three Fifteen Billiards, I did not find the attire of the dancer to be appropriate,” Barber said. “Even when I was assured that she had a ‘g-string’ on underneath to prevent any wardrobe malfunctions.”
Barber said the outfit “exposed an inappropriate amount of posterior.” She also said the club has never hosted any adult shows or similar acrobatic performances.
Taylor Boucher, the Omega Cell’s spokesperson, had a different version of the story to tell.
According to Boucher, the band clearly explained the plan to Barber. She was allowed to watch warm-ups, which were satisfactory to her.
“We told her at the beginning: Here’s what we want to do, here’s what she’s gonna wear, what it’s gonna look like,” Boucher said. “She said that they had done stuff like this before. She (Barber) was actually really easy to work with.”
Boucher said band members attempted to compromise with Barber, but she wouldn’t listen and called the police to have them removed. He said Barber also cursed at the band.
Barber had a similar story of the breakdown in relations, with some conflicting points. According to her, the band members were the ones who refused to compromise, and when she invited them to leave they “uttered obscenities” at her.
Barber said that as long as Three Fifteen is her business, she will strive to be a responsible neighbor in the city of Salisbury. She also expressed concern that allowing “raunchy” acts to perform could compromise her alcoholic beverage permits.
The club draws many of its regulars with daily drink specials.
The Omega Cell is based in Charlotte, but it has played shows along the East Coast. The band viewed coming to Salisbury as more of a pro bono arrangement because the venue was smaller and there was no compensation.
The group accepted its dancing friend some weeks back after she approached them via their MySpace page, according to the band. She represents the band’s attempt to add more elements to their live performance.