write to: makeyourmark AT stainbar.com

call: 718/387-7840

mail stuff to: 766 grand street / brooklyn, NY / 11211

to sign up for the mailing list (regular, but not obnoxiously so, updates on what's going on here) send a blank email with "subscribe" in the subject line to: makeyourmark AT stainbar.com

artists, musicians, talented folks, party people, everyone: read below for info on booking your gig, getting your art on the walls, having an event, covers, locked doors and more:

 

 

MUSICIANS: First a disclaimer: we don't pay the talent. Why? First we can't afford it, and second, we kind of like it that way. Stain is a very laid back place and isn't looking to become a cut-throat music venue. We book unique, original (no covers!), soft (this doesn't mean boring), small (solo/duo/trios, no bigger than a trio), electric-free!, ego-free (i.e. if you say you're a rock star you're probably not!) acts looking for a warm, welcoming environment to play to their friends and work out their material. Noise is really an issue here as we have neighbors and no soundproofing, so when we say softer, smaller, electric-free acts we mean it. (With the exception of a mic and a small Fender amp we have for minimal vocal amplification and for readings). No drum kits allowed, and we strongly request no horns, but if you must have horns they should be very soft. Although this may sound limiting, it brings us back to the true acoustic premise with which we began, substance over volume, creative instrumentation and unique acts you wouldn't find at other music venues. We can't guarantee a built-in audience for you, so please do your part to promote your show. At the beginning of the month, we'll post the event on our website and email an update to hundreds of people, we'll hang your flyer (send us one, no bigger than 8x11 inches) in the window, but really our experience proves that strangers don't come out for acts they never heard of, so it comes down to the people you know unless you want to risk playing to the bartender.

$: It's a tip jar situation usually, we have the jar, you announce it and pass it around. If you think your fans won't mind paying a suggested donation of something small like $3 at the door, we can discuss that, but you'd need to get a friend to collect it, and the key word is "suggested" (we don't like to turn people away who just want to come in a have a drink).

equipment: we've got a solid state Fender amp with two inputs, one mics, one mic stand, a small platform you can use or move. That's it.

If this all sounds good to you, give us a shout. Snail mail or drop off promo material and CDs. Email some info and MP3s, or better yet: come to open mic and play a few songs, every Wednesday at 9 p.m.

 

 

VISUAL ARTISTS: We do a monthly rotation on the art on the walls, usually solo shows, sometimes group. We don't have any set preferences or requirements on the art, beyond that we have to like it, and it has to be affordable. We're talking hundreds not thousands, preferably under $500 (we want it to be possible for you to sell something and our customers are poor artists like you!).

hanging: You can't nail into our delicate ancient plaster walls, so your art has to have screw eyes or something we can attach fishing line/wire to and hang from a long bracket along the ceiling. You should come see the place for yourself. We'll help you install the art on or close to the first day of the month, we'll supply the fishing line but if your art requires something more, bring it along. Bring individual labels with name, title, price for each piece, or if they are all the same price, one master list with an author bio will do.

art opening: We hold an opening reception for you on the first Thursday of the month, usually from 7 p.m. onwards (accompanied often by a band at 10 p.m.). Some kind of drink special can be arranged, and we provide platters/bowls if you want to bring snacks. If you email an image or flyer for your show, we'll post it on the website and send to our mailing list. If you print out flyers, we'll hang in the window and help you canvas the 'hood.

$: Stain takes a 20% commission on art sales. We aren't looking to take a huge cut and raise the price of the art to impossible heights, we just need some small compensation for our efforts in curating, hanging, promoting. Sales from your show should go through us, and sold art remains up for the duration of the month.

to be considered for a show: Bring by something representative of your work, send us an email with images (small in size so we can open them easily), or a link to your website. We've even been known to do housecalls if you live nearby and the art isn't easily transported. We can't book a show without seeing something!

pick up: Art comes down on or near the last day of the month and you need to pick it up when it does. We cannot store your art, we don't have the room in our dirty dank basement for it, and do you really want your masterpiece in something we called dirty and dank?

EVENTS: This is the miscellaneous category for whatever else you want to do here, and generally we're down for whatever that is. This is an equal-opportunity, anything-goes place! Make your mark! We consider ourselves a cultural/community/arts center more than a bar, but we do pay our bills from the bar so people do need to buy drinks (and tip the bartender!). We've had bellydancers, tap dancers, silent disco, BBQs, puppet shows, plays, theme parties, DJs, CD release parties, movies made, photo shoots, comedy, readings, fundraisers, film screenings, and so much more. Contact us and we'll discuss the particulars of your event and how/when to make it happen. You can bring your own food and use our grill or we can help arrange food for you. You cannot bring outside drinks. You can decorate and move things around and wreck havoc as long as you restore the room to its original shape when you're done.

private parties: We're not big on them, the whole point of this place being our openness! We don't think you need to lock the door to have a good time (since Stain is largely event-based and doesn't get packed out on a normal night, you don't have to worry too much about having to fight for space, there's plenty of room for you to take over). But, if you need it to be private to feel special, fine. We just have to charge a reasonable premium (to be determined, nothing crazy) for locking the door and turning away some of the rioting uninviteds who so desparately want to infiltrate.

covers: we don't like them either. But if you're booking your act here and need to get compensated more than a tip jar can, we understand and we'll do our best to accomodate your needs. Instead of a strict cover though, we'd prefer if you collected a suggested donation of a smallish amount. You know, open, welcoming, that's the goal. Random people off the street should be able to come in and get a drink without being required to shell out for an event they don't care about.