Caffè Lena - Folk, acoustic music cafe


Lucy Kaplansky	Hunger Mountain Boys	Janice Ian

Emerging Artist
Breakout

Friends of Caffe Lena

Caffe Lena History Project

Sonicbids offers a convenient means of applying for work here, and it generates some income to support the operation of our non-profit venue. We do not give special priority to Sonicbids submissions, but we find them especially easy to review.

Booking Guidelines
From Sarah Craig, Manager

This page is for those of you who would like to be booked at Caffè Lena.

Before getting in touch about a booking, please read the guidelines below. I explain my booking process and preferences on this page in order to help you decide if Caffè Lena is a good match for you.

What Should You Send Me?
NO need to mail a press kit and CD! Press kits are expensive to produce and time-consuming to review. I'll respond to your request by looking at your website, EPK, and listening to songs (online).

By the way, I'm often asked about what I look for in a website. Here are the key elements that I find very helpful:

Generous song samples (not 30-second clips).

An EPK with downloadable, press-quality photos (not a casual performance shot, not a low-resolution photo useful only for webpages, crisp rather than fuzzy and dark, thoughtfully and interestingly composed). Make it easy and attractive for the press!

A succint (50-75 word) bio/artistic description that can easily transfer to press releases and our own promo materials. It's interesting for fans to read about your life-long evolution as an artist, but for presenters and the press you should offer something short and to the point.

Requirements

I don't book artists who are just starting out. You need to have put in some years as a touring professional. I look for people who have played festivals, colleges, clubs, and done some significant travelling. There are many venues where you can accrue that sort of experience. Caffè Lena is for people who have already done so.

I don't book people on their first tour of the region. If you haven't already built a base around here, but you are well-established elsewhere (you've won awards at Kerrville, have headlined at important West Coast clubs, won big songwriting awards), I'd be happy to talk about ways we might begin a relationship.

I like music that is primarily acoustic. I need to get the impression that the artist is familiar with American roots music, and that those old songs inspired the current work in some way. You don't have to include Shady Grove and Hard Time Killing Floor in your set, but do you know those songs? I like songs that could only be written by a person who knows heartbreak, adventure, and selfless love. I like a powerful emotional impact. I also like brilliant playing and wild quirkiness. I like performers who listen to music of every variety, not just their own. I don't like predictable rhymes, songs that can be played in the background, or that sound like pop music minus the expensive production. I like artists who are skilled at between-song patter; who tell the kinds of stories and jokes that listeners want to take home and share.

I look for people who like playing small rooms. If your dream is to get on Oprah and make a million bucks, we're probably not a great match.

A Word About Opening Acts
I have virtually no budget for paying opening acts. The few openers that I book are not new to gigging, they're just new to the area. I will almost always say no to requests to open shows. I try to respond to all of my e-mail, but if you're asking about an opening slot and it's not something I want to pursue, I may not get back to you. I wish it didn't have to be that way, but the number of requests I get is more than I can handle.

Emerging Artist Break-Out Series
Our Wednesday "Emerging Artist Break Out" series is for young, local musicians who are just starting out. It gives under-age bands a stage in a smoke-and-alcohol-free club setting, and is a safe place for teens to hang out and support the creativity of their peers. We receive funding from the New York State Council on the Arts for this program that allows us to charge only $2 at the door. You don't need professional photos or posters or recordings to get one of these gigs, but you must be from the area and be less than 25 years old. Electric instruments, drum kits, and contemporary musical styles are acceptable on Wednesdays, but we prefer original music, unless you're performing songs from the folk, jazz, or blues traditions.

If you haven't been dissuaded by what you've read, go ahead and send an e-mail to sarah

caffelena.org with a link to your website and EPK.

I look forward to meeting you.

Sarah Craig, manager