Second Saturday Community CoffeeHouse
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​SECOND SATURDAY COMMUNITY COFFEEHOUSE

Musician Page

Dear Valued Musicians,
Thanks for your interest in playing at the Second Saturday Community CoffeeHouse. We look forward to hearing your music – live!

BACKGROUND: 
We're an all-volunteer concert series, in the coffeehouse tradition.  Our events are intended to provide community-minded entertainment and inspiration in a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment geared for family friendliness. For our performance space we are using the woodsEnd church, although the events are not religious in nature.
We host both professional and amateur musicians of all ages who are interested in performing their original music, but certainly encourage musicians to play whatever covers that they enjoy as well. We foster new and seasoned musicians in a supportive atmosphere.
We will consider non-musical acts for Opening Acts and Open Mic, so if you are a Storyteller, Poet, Puppeteer, or ??, don’t hesitate to contact us.

THE COFFEEHOUSE FORMULA: 
A 3-point formula that has proven successful in other coffeehouses is to set a tone that creates:
1) A listening room atmosphere.  You won’t be background noise at our CoffeeHouse – you’ll be the main attraction.
2) Payment for the musicians.  Music and musicians are valuable and should not be taken for granted.  We offer both our headline and opening acts a minimum payment, and this is supported by passing the basket during the break as well by seeking sponsors (local businesses and individuals) who want to support quality music in the East Mountains. 
3)  Volunteers are the lifeblood of the CoffeeHouse.  We ask that if you live nearby, you consider being an EmCee on a night you aren’t working, or put up some posters once in a while, or even help out with the coffee and snacks. This will help keep live music in the East Mountains, something we believe is badly needed. We included "Community" in the name for a reason, and hope you'll get what we're trying to do by pitching in and taking part.

BOOKING INFO: 
We are currently hosting this event once per month, although our future vision includes increased frequency and special events. Ideally, we’d book a headline performer no more often than once a year. This allows others a chance to play. As the CoffeeHouse becomes more popular we’ll make sure we still reserve slots for local up-and-coming artists who would like to perform.

Sending CD's: 
If you'd like to send a CD to the team for consideration, feel free to do so at:
Second Saturday Community CoffeeHouse
c/o woodsEnd Church
PO Box 949
Edgewood, NM 87015

You may instead send links to your music to SSCCoffeeHouse@gmail.com.  Please put CoffeeHouse in the subject line, and it will be routed to the right people.
 
Pick your level & "Break a leg"
Musicians can opt to perform at three different levels of commitment.
  • Open Mic: For those who just want to do a few songs, are new to performing, or haven't played out for a while. You can opt for the Open Mic held at least twice per year when you can play up to three songs or fifteen minutes (unpaid).
  •  Opening Act: One 30-minute set.  This is perfect if you want to get your feet wetter than Open Mic, but you're a bit apprehensive about a full night, you just want to play one set or you have a non-musical act!  You get to warm up the audience and get them ready for the headline act.
  • Headline Act: Two sets, 30 minutes each.
 
GIG DAY, TIME & LOCATION: Second Saturday of the month, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the woodsEnd Church (see below for map). The House opens at 6 pm. 
  • Setup/soundcheck is at 5:00 pm for both acts on the day of the show. There will be a Host to welcome you and who may help you get set up and run sound checks.  The exception will be Open Mic Nights – the Host will arrive at 5:30.
  • The EmCee will find out how you want to be introduced.
  • Healthy snacks will be provided for the musicians and family members.
  • House opens at 6 pm.  Coffee, tea, water and snacks will be available to all for free (offerings accepted to offset costs).
  • The EmCee will open the show at 6:20.
  • Opening Act runs from 6:30 to 7:00.  Headline Act plays two 30-minute sets starting at 7:15 pm, ending at 8:30, with a 15-minute break between sets. On Open Mic nights, the first performer will start at 6:30, and we’ll still shoot to end by 8:30.
  
SOUND SYSTEM:
The Second Saturday Community CoffeeHouse uses the sound system installed in the woodsEnd sanctuary, which includes a 16-channel digital sound board. A few weeks before your performance, you will receive an email asking you to contact our Sound Engineer. We will be looking for information on your instrumentation and any special connections required (effects, wireless, etc.). A stage plot for larger acts will be required so that the stage inputs will already be set up for you when you arrive.
  • Microphones and mic stands will be provided.
  • Microphone cables and direct boxes will be provided
  • A limited number of instrument cables are provided
  • Barstools and guitar stands will be provided
 
BRING YOUR OWN:
  • If you prefer, you may bring your own microphone(s)
  • Instrument cables (just in case)
  • Specialty instrument or microphone stands
 
In rare instances, headlining musicians have requested use of their own PA systems. If you wish to do so, please let us know so that stage and setup time accommodations can be made.
 
 ALCOHOL/SMOKE FREE: The Community CoffeeHouse is a smoke- and alcohol-free venue. The venue fosters a family-style atmosphere.
 
SOUND LEVELS: The room is set up to be cozy (seats about 30-40), and some artists may prefer not using a PA, not even a vocal mic. It lends to a more intimate performance. If you prefer to use a PA, our experience shows that the lower the sound level, the more respect you'll receive from the audience. 
 
PLEASE BE RELIABLE: We assume you'll be here for your gig. If something should come up, please let us know well in advance by emailing us at SSCCoffeeHouse@gmail.com  or calling (505) watch here for new phone number coming to this site.
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Guest Room Possibility for Traveling Musicians: For those traveling from a distance, please let us know if you need a place to stay. A guest room in one of our homes is many times, but not always, available. There are hotel/motel options as well within ten miles of the venue.
 
PUBLICITY: 
We will assemble and send out information if you send us a bio and an image (via email only).  Please send your bio and image soon after you book your gig. If you have a website, just giving us the web address will do for text, but NOT for images (unless you have hi-res images on your site). Image Format: roughly: 5x7 or 8x10 inches at 300dpi +/-. BW or Color is fine. SEND ALL PRESS MATERIALS - TEXT AND IMAGES - IN ELECTRONIC FORM TO: ssccoffeehouse@gmail.com with Press Kit in the subject line. 
 
Your performance will be listed:
  • on our website
  • on the CoffeeHouse Facebook Page
  • as a Facebook Event
  • in a CoffeeHouse newsletter
  • on local internet calendars and event listings
  • on posters posted in area businesses.
 
The more information you can send us and the earlier you send it, the more we can do to promote you.  We also would appreciate it if you would promote your performance through your own publicity channels.  Please like the Second Saturday Community CoffeeHouse Facebook page, RSVP to the Facebook event, and share the event.
 
What we need:
A Bio can simply be a list of what you've done, but writing three paragraphs would be better, so that we can fashion it into a press release/feature article for the local papers. It really helps draw people in.
 
Here are some questions to get you thinking.
  • How long have you been playing professionally?
  • Where did you play your first gigs?
  • How long have you been performing?
  • What are your influences?
  • What motivates you to play/perform?
  • What do you like about the East Mountains/Central New Mexico….?
  • What type of gigs do you like to play?
  • With whom are you collaborating now, or in the past?
  • Do you have any albums produced? How many?
 
In addition, make sure we have all the ways you want fans to find you – your website, Facebook, Pinterest, Reverbnation, FAWM.org, etc.  Whatever you use and send us, we will promote.
 
SELLING CDS AND OTHER MERCHANDISE:
You are more than welcome to bring CDs, T-shirts, etc. to sell at the event.  We will provide a table for you to use – please bring your own coverings if that is important to you.  You will need to man it when you are not playing or bring someone to man it for you. There is no public internet at the church, so if you need internet access to run cards (e.g. Square on an iPad), make sure you have a device that can connect to a mobile network.
 
OPEN MICS:
Open Mics are a chance for musicians (and other performers) to show off their stuff and give people a taste of your style.  You get up to 15 minutes or three songs. We have all levels perform, from professionals to first timers, young and old, and all are welcome. Sign up on site at the Open Mic, no preregistration required. The Host will arrive by 5:30 and the House will open at 6 pm, so get there early to get your slot, because we will still end around 8:30. Although it's allowed, we don't encourage singing with a prerecorded song on a machine but do encourage you to find someone to accompany you. Live music is what we're about. If you need some ideas let us know – we might be able to help.
 
We are very excited to work with you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any questions, suggestions, etc.
 
The Second Saturday Community CoffeeHouse Team
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