Bogie's brings stock market to BR

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By Hannah Catchings

Characteristically known as one of Baton Rouge's favorite frat bars, Bogie's now features a new twist in drink specials. In an effort to diversify its before 10 time slot, Bogie's owner Aaron Saulnier stumbled across a company offering stock market drink exchange software.

The Drink Exchange is a stock market pricing system based on simple supply and demand. Drink prices change during preset time intervals depending on the popularity of each specific beverage.

"[The Drink Exchange] adds a whole new element," said Bogie's manager Harry Hennegan. "It's just fun to see kids sitting here, just kind of looking around. It's almost like they're strategizing, thinking, 'Alright, what's going to go down? What should I order next?'"

Drink names and prices are displayed on TV screens throughout the bar. Each screen displays nine drinks at a time, and the drinks are paired in a group of up to six. For example, say there are six domestic beers in a group, and one of the beers is a particularly big seller. When the preset time interval hits zero, prices will change.

This is where things get interesting. The price of the really popular beer will go up while the prices of the five other beers go down. Actual price changes are a bit more convoluted, as different patrons will obviously buy different drinks, making corresponding increases and decreases less cut and dry.

"People come in here, and they're entertained by it," said Hennegan. "It's not just bland drink specials. It's something where you can come in here and either get a better deal on something that you had not expected to get a deal on or to try something different because the price is so low."

The Drink Exchange also gives bars the option to crash the market. When this happens customers have a set amount of time to buy drinks for half of their current price.

"Before 10 crowds are a little bit harder for I think any bar in this area to draw, strictly a bar that doesn't serve food," said Hennegan. "In this case, the discounts before 10 get so deep that [patrons are] inclined to buy things they might normally not buy."

While this pricing system is the first of its kind in Baton Rouge, it is not a new concept. Bars from California to Paris have also gotten in on the stock exchange action.

"It just opens up a whole new, diverse group of opportunities for our patrons," said Hennegan, visibly pleased with Bogie's new, unique way to present specials.

With only a few trial runs so far, customer feedback has been nothing but positive added Hennegan. Patrons looking to experience the fun for themselves can head to Bogie's any Wednesday or Saturday night before 10 p.m.

For more information about The Drink Exchange, go to www.thedrinkexchange.com.

Originally Published: Issue 863 - February 3, 2010

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