February 24, 2008
Smile, you're on a bar Webcam
Bar Webcams are a growing phenomenon in cities like Boston, Denver, Chicago, San Diego, Minneapolis, and even tourist spots like Key West. News.com reports.
"Webcams have been around for a long time. One of the most famous was JenniCam in the late '90s--the girl who broadcast her every move inside a dorm room via the Web.
Today, with a Webcam installed in a bar or restaurant,potential customers can call up the live video stream online or by mobile phone so they can survey the crowd before venturing out.
People who want a quiet night can scout for a bar with a mellow scene, and those who want a lively night can look for the crowds. (Webcam bar promoters say it's typically a 50-50 split between the two camps.)
... For promoters, the online traffic equals money. Relatively new services like Barmigo and Barseenlive sell flat-rate subscriptions to the bars for licensing the Webcams and promoting their sites, and other upstarts like Baroptic.com are seeking to sell advertisements to liquor companies like Coors and Bacardi to run against those video streams.
Regarding privacy, bar promoters say the live video typically isn't a clear picture, doesn't include audio, and isn't recorded, so it's not archived. "In terms of legality, if you're in a public place, I can take your picture," said Jesse Newsome, founder and head of "hiring and firing" at Barmigo, based in Phoenix, Ariz.
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