Now That Your Gig's Booked

So you've booked a gig or event at The Handlebar. Now what?

Information for bands, agents and promoters:

• The Handlebar has a capacity of 500.
• Smoking is not allowed in any part of the building.
• Some concerts are seated. Some are standing-room-only. Some are a mix.
• Every concert is ticketed. Ticket prices range from $5 to our high (so far) of $30.
• Patrons ages 18 and up are admitted to The Handlebar. Those under 18 are admitted when accompanied by a parent. The Handlebar charges an additional $2 cover charge at the door for those under 21.
• In order to comply with local ordinance, The Handlebar requires that bands observe a 100 db limit, as measured at FOH mix position.
• Hospitality for artists is provided to artists booked by The Handlebar according to the catering budget stipulated in the offer. The Handlebar does not offer buyouts, as an in-house restaurant is available.
• The load-in area is directly adjacent to the concert hall. Ample bus parking is available within a few feet of our large stage (28'h x 26'd x 4'h) with 20+' ceiling clearance (with lighting trusses and flown cabinets). (No shore power.)
• Guest lists are allowed, but restricted based on budgetary considerations.
• The Handlebar provides online ticket sales through Music Today. Tickets also can be purchased in advance by phone or in person.
• More than 3,500 people have signed up to receive our email calendar.
• Our paper calendar, along with flyers and handbills, is distributed to more than 60 retail locations and locations in cities and towns in two states (South and North Carolina).
• Our Web site attracts more than 400 visitors per day, more than 14,000 distinct visitors each month -- not hits, but separate individuals spending almost three minutes each on our site! The Handlebar regularly draws music fans from a three-state area, and it's not uncommon for people to fly or drive from Florida, Memphis and New Orleans.

Promoting your concert or event:

• Your show or event will be included on our calendar grid. Your part of that grid will include the name of your band, two or three words to describe you, the show start time and the price.
• Your show or event also will be included in the calendar section of our website. Read our calendar and send us a suggestion for your "blurb." Send it to handlebar@handlebar-online.com. Also, please send us a photo of your band or your entertainment. It should be a high-quality JPEG of at least 640x480 pixels, but no larger than 2000x2000. You may also send any relevant logos and the link to your website.
• Again, we're counting on you! If you're lucky enough to have a promotions company, ask them to read this. Otherwise, it's up to you to spread the word. Here are some ideas:
• Send notices to the local media. Ask for our list of media and VIP contacts by sending us an email: handlebar@handlebar-online.com. Call local media and ask them for coverage.
• Make flyers and posters. Click here to download our logo (300Kb ZIP file). Bring your posters and flyers to The Handlebar, but also take them to other locations willing to help promote your event.
• IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not post flyers on public or private property without permission. This means telephone poles, empty buildings, windshields of cars. The city will fine you and The Handlebar, too.
• Start a street-team. Give away CDs ... or guitar lessons ... in exchange for help with promotion.
• Radio advertising is very expensive. Too expensive for promoting most shows. Call the local stations, plus public radio station WNCW in Spindale, NC , and ask whether they're willing to help promote your show. You'll find relevant contacts on our media list. Send for a copy at handlebar@handlebar-online.com
• Ask us for suggestions and help. Just remember: We really want your concert or event to succeed. But we have dozens of events to promote. You are the biggest and best promoter you have.

If you've booked an event or fund-raiser at The Handlebar:

• Thank you for thinking of The Handlebar for your event! We'd like share some tips we've learned in promoting hundreds of events, parties and shows during the last 12 years.
• The Handlebar has no built-in crowd. Few people drop in at The Handlebar just to see what's going on. That means you must make sure people know about your event and make a commitment to attend.
• Be careful of your ticket price. People won't pay double or triple what they think a show or party is worth just because they know you or because it's a good cause.
• If you are providing live entertainment and plan to use our house sound system, you must hire our house sound technician. If you are hiring a DJ, you don't need to hire our sound technician, but the DJ must be self-contained and not plug into our house sound.
• In addition to the cost of your entertainment and the sound technician, you will probably be asked to absorb the cost of the following: room rental; security; dinner and drinks for your entertainers (if you choose to provide it); a ticket seller, door person and ID checker; cleanup; servers; bartenders; and other costs that may be associated with the production of your event.
• If you have not picked a date yet, consider a weekday. We can be more flexible Monday through Wednesday.
• If your event is a party or fundraiser, assume that you must use our bar. We rarely allow you to bring in your own beverages.
• We are counting on you to bring in people to enjoy our food and beverages. It's great that people may buy a ticket to support your event. But we want them to show up, hear the entertainment, learn more about you or your organization, see The Handlebar, drink a beer or soda and buy a hamburger.... To that end, we would caution you against investing more time in promoting your raffle or silent auction than in selling tickets to your event. If no one attends, there will be no one to buy your raffle items -- no matter how wonderful!

Contacts

Booking:
John Jeter
Please see our booking page

Contracts and Deposits:
John Jeter, handlebar@handlebar-online.com

Advance shows, Technical:
Jay Ackerman, (864) 233-6173 or jayackerman96@yahoo.com

Advance shows, Hospitality:
Meredith Bost, (864) 233-6173 or handlebar@handlebar-online.com

Advance shows, Publicity: handlebar@handlebar-online.com

Ticket Counts:
By email only, handlebar@handlebar-online.com

House Specs

Dressing Rooms:

• Two dressing rooms backstage, with direct access to stage and private exit to load-in area
• Adjoining restroom
• Shower facilities available
• Wireless internet access available in restaurant

Hotel

Map and Directions

Sound:

• F.O.H
  • SOUNDCRAFT VIENNA Mixer (40 CH. 8 VCA 8 ST. RTN.)
  • 3 ASHLEY GQX 31-Band Equalizers
  • 2 DBX 1066 Compressors
  • 2 SYMETRIX 525 Compressors
  • 1 PRESONUS ACP 88 Compressors
  • 1 T.C. ELECTRONICS M1 Multi Effects Unit
  • 1 YAMAHA REV 500 Digital Reverb Unit
  • 1 IBANEZ DM 1100 Delay Unit
  • 1 SHURE P4100 System Processor
• Monitor
  • SOUNDCRAFT SPIRIT Monitor (32CH 6 MIXES)
  • 6 ASHLEY GXQ 31-Band Equalizers
  • 2 YAMAHA GQ1O31BII 31-Band Equalizers
  • 4 SOUNDBRIDGE 3112 WL Floor Wedges 12”x 1"
  • 2 JBL MR SERIES 3-WAY 18”X10”X1” Drum Fill
  • 2 JBL EON POWERED 15”X1”
• Speakers
  • Flown
    • L&R one (1) EAW 695 per side
    • 2 JBL Array center fill, 14” x 2” series
  • Floor
    • 2 2x18" Yorkville subs per side
    • 2 x 15" JBL subs per side
• Microphones
  • 1 CAD Drum Pac
  • 2 B 52 Shure
  • 6 SM 52 Shure
  • 8 SM 57 Shure
  • 2 AKG C1000

Diagram: Click here to download PDF (15 Kb)