Bands boycott Perth’s Amplifier Capitol after “low cut” uniform fiasco

Bands have begun to boycott Perth’s Amplifier Capitol the club tried to introduce a new “low cut” blouses for female bar staff earlier this week.

Fuelling the social media anger was that club management’s directive to staff emphasised “this is compulsory” and indicated that those who “don’t feel comfortable in the uniform you are quite welcome to find employment elsewhere”.

A staffer posted photos of the female and male uniform on Instagram captioned “Can’t wait to be harassed by men at work.

Club management initially tried to laugh it off as a joke, which merely intensified the furore, and followed it up with an apology a few hours later.

In the latest move, bands have registered their disgust by pulling their gigs at the Amplifier Capitol.

Melbourne band Storm The Sky, currently on a farewell tour, have moved their January 31 show to the Civic Hotel in Inglewood.

They posted on Facebook: “This is blatant sexism and puts women at risk which is completely unacceptable and something we are vehemently against.

“We do not tolerate any such behaviour and want nothing to do with Amplifier Capitol moving forward.”

Perth metal band Make Them Suffer moved their January 27 show to the Rosemount, while New Zealand outfit The Beths’ April 12 show is now at Badlands Bar.

In the club’s apology for the attempted new dress code, Amplifier owner and Capitol Corp director David Heaton stated:

“The proposed changes were made in poor judgement, without full consideration of the implications for our female staff.

“There was a lack of awareness and understanding of the ways in which these new uniforms may be viewed, and how staff may feel wearing them.

“Comments that female staff already face sexual harassment as part of working within the nightclub industry, and that these uniform changes would only exacerbate the issue, have resonated with us.”

In other Perth venues news:

* The Paramount nightclub has banned one of its patrons for life after another patron was hit near his eye by a poly-carbonate drinking container on the dancefloor.

Fathi Audi Ben Ziam told Seven News he was not sure why he was attacked and feared he might lose his eye.

Paramount staff helped the teenager tend to his wounds and then sent him to hospital, where he got six stitches for his injuries.

* RAC Arena has struck a multi-year partnership with Hyundai Motor Company Australia as its first official motor vehicle partner.