A thread for bands needing help or info booking shows. If you are in a band (or book shows) that is active please add to the thread.

Here is my experiences booking shows in Chicago in the last 15 months (miles may vary, etc, etc) Always down to help or play shows when we can!

The Hideout is really odd now, we have played there twice in the last year or so. First show was totally smooth, second show (done through a different booking person) very rocky. That said, we were paid well both times and treated great when we got there.

The Empty Bottle has different folks booking, while I have not been able to book a show there, it has been us not being available on the dates they had open for us. They seem to like it if you pitch a bill or half a bill to them. Took them a bit to respond.

SubT (upstairs and down)/Beat Kitchen: have been great to us, I think one of the talent buyers digs us. They have been great about putting us on a bill vs. us having to create a bill and pitch it. We have gone through the folks at Kickstand productions.

The Burlington/MPshows: Brian is great, always communicates with us. If something makes sense to him he will book the show. Pretty reliable in getting a week day show with some lead time. I also think The Burlington sounds pretty good. He seems to like you having a bill if you want Fri or Sat.

Cobra Lounge: We played once, we were added by an outside promoter. Seth who does the booking, responded pretty quick when we needed a show after that. The date was full, but at least he talked to us. They did a great job promoting the show, the room was pretty full on a Thursday with two locals and a touring band from Louisville with no real names on the bill.

Bottom Lounge: I'll let you know, we are playing there for the first time next month. They let me put together the show, and were pretty friendly about how they dont expect us to fill the place (main room) and just want to get some fresh blood in the room. Kind enough to give us a Friday date for a first swing.

The Sleeping Village Responded nicely to our demo, but the dates we wanted were full. Said to check back at the end of Summer. I have not got a response to the follow up email.

Gman Tavern Talent Buyer seemed to really dig our demo "I really like this", but has turned us down every time we have asked for a show with a "polite no" and I just reached out again because some friends just played there, and now I'm not getting any sort of response. Same dude, weird.

Cole's Bar I used to live a block away from here. They have never responded to any email I have sent.

Cafe Mustache We got added to a gig by another local band for a gig in two weeks. Never played there before, but so far so smooth.

Owen wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:26 pm Cole's Bar I used to live a block away from here. They have never responded to any email I have sent.

For a loud band you're not missing out. FM cakes and I played there years ago and there was a lot of tension between the bar and the music area: the only time I can remember a bartender/owner messing with knobs on my amp without asking. That said, it's probably fine for singer-songwriters or and electronics gig or whatever. I'd personally shoot for the Whistler for that kind of thing over Cole's but whatever.

penningtron wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:43 pm

Owen wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:26 pm Cole's Bar I used to live a block away from here. They have never responded to any email I have sent.

For a loud band you're not missing out. FM cakes and I played there years ago and there was a lot of tension between the bar and the music area: the only time I can remember a bartender/owner messing with knobs on my amp without asking. That said, it's probably fine for singer-songwriters or and electronics gig or whatever. I'd personally shoot for the Whistler for that kind of thing over Cole's but whatever.

Yeah, since not living in the neighborhood for (gulp) almost 8 years now, I'd kinda lost track of the place and thought of it more as a comedy stage. BUT a few bands we have played with also played there and got good crowds to show up. Figured why not, but it is certainly not a place that I am fighting to get a show at, especially since they have never communicated with me.

Austin TX Venues

Hotel Vegas is a bar on E. 6th that hosts noisy bands, especially those who are more on the garage rock spectrum (although they seem to be diversifying these days). It’s a popular place and it hasn’t been easy to land a show there lately, but it’s a nice gig if you can get it. hotelhotburrito@gmail.com

Chess Club is downtown, in the Red River district. It’s not a big room, so it’s fairly easy to fill up. They seem to have a pretty good cross section of punk/noise/experimental/psych stuff, and it’s been pretty easy to land shows there. Playing downtown is a pain in the ass due to the lack of parking and the crowds, but that’s where the people are. bookingchessclub@gmail.com

The 13th Floor is located where Beerland used to be. I haven’t played there since it was Beerland, but I’m hearing positive things. It favors psych rock (owned by Black Angels dude), but they have other flavors of noisy there, too. the13thflooratx@gmail.com

Sahara Lounge is a bar on the far East side, away from downtown and all of its trappings. I always enjoy playing there. Saturday night is Africa night, which features afrobeat, afro jazz, and reggae, so unless you play one of those things, Saturday is a no-go. It’s my favorite place to play in Austin these days. Sound is good, always seems to be people there, and there’s parking. eileen@saharalounge.com

Far Out Lounge is in far South Austin. They have bigger shows outside (Jesus Lizard and Gang of Four are playing there soon), but they have smaller bands inside. Not the best sounding room in town, but I’ve had positive experiences playing there. Not downtown and plenty of parking. Lawrence@thefaroutaustin.com

I’ll add more later.

penningtron wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:43 pm

Owen wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:26 pm Cole's Bar I used to live a block away from here. They have never responded to any email I have sent.

For a loud band you're not missing out. FM cakes and I played there years ago and there was a lot of tension between the bar and the music area: the only time I can remember a bartender/owner messing with knobs on my amp without asking. That said, it's probably fine for singer-songwriters or and electronics gig or whatever. I'd personally shoot for the Whistler for that kind of thing over Cole's but whatever.

Whales played soon after their opening and Cole interrupted our set claiming we were too loud. I told myself I'd never book another show at that bar. He was super upset about our volume to the point where it was vexing. Ridiculous. Since then the only time I ever returned was this past year to see a gazey band called somesurprises. The bill was fairly eclectic with a jazz outfit headlining so I was expecting a sonorous and vibrant mix of live sound. That was not the case.

Still not a fan.

rsmurphy wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 2:09 pm Since then the only time I ever returned was this past year to see a gazey band called somesurprises. The bill was fairly eclectic with a jazz outfit headlining so I was expecting a sonorous and vibrant mix of live sound. That was not the case.

Still not a fan.

Yeah. I didn't expect to add much to this thread as my info is pretty dated, but that was such a uniquely unpleasant experience that I doubted the place had changed much, and it sounds like I was right.

Owen wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:26 pm
The Burlington/MPshows: I also think The Burlington sounds pretty good.

The Burlington has done a lot over the last 1-2 years to make that room sound way better. It was the most punishing live room in Chicago and they've actually brought in some acoustic treatment and tweaked the PA a bit. It sounds really good in there now!

Owen wrote: Mon Aug 05, 2024 12:26 pm
Cole's Bar I used to live a block away from here. They have never responded to any email I have sent.

This place is a pain in the ass as it relates to load-in (enter through the bar entrance, squeeze all your gear past the bar patrons who don't give a shit you have a bass cab/drums/etc.) Weird vibe as an audience member, wouldn't recommend.

One time Mayor For Life was playing at Coles, this had to be at least ten years ago if not more. I was helping Rich push his ampeg through the crowd of handlebar mustache jean jacket hipsters and they were laughing and tried fucking with the amp. I don’t know if they are aware of how close they came to death that day.

Anyways, yeah fuck that place.

Starting to feel good to never getting a reply from them.

Everyone stop bitching about the same venue and post more info about good venues.