Booking Information
This document was last updated 05/08
A few paragaphs down you'll find a lot of detailed info about our showcase and open mic nights. However, being that most folks don't have time for all that readin' and such, here's the basic skinny on booking Reno Music Project shows at the Maytan Music Center:
- All shows at Maytan Music Center are ALL-AGES with youth strongly encouraged to participate. Alcohol is not served and tobacco is not permitted in the building.
- Performers are provided with pro sound, backline support, and a listening room with enough seating space for 150+. Band members get in free, but there is no paid compensation for performers. The small door fee charged covers the cost of producing the shows, including refreshments (soft drinks, coffee, bottled water, etc.).
- Our performance space is what's known as a listening room environment. It's not a bar, restaurant, coffeehouse, nightclub, dance hall, etc.—it's a lot more like a having a house concert with a REALLY BIG living room! This means we have a great space for performing and appreciating live music, however, without an attached "hospitality business" there is no draw than the show itself. Playing to an empty room is no fun, so it's extremely important that bands do everything they can to promote their show.
- As much as we'd like to book everyone who asks, it doesn't make sense to set up a show and then have the audience consist of the soundman and the bands' significant others. Hence, our booking criteria starts with, "can the band draw at least 20 people?" We'd love to book every out-of-town act, but it's not worthwhile unless you can pair up with a local band and draw some listeners. Plus, being an unpaid venue, it often makes more sense for travelling acts to find a paying gig at a bar. Hopefully someday we'll draw enough "regulars" each week to warrant booking all the great acts who want to add Reno to their calendar.
- Showcases are currently being booked on an ad-hoc basis, typically on Saturday nights featuring 1-2 acts. If you like the idea of performing your original material in a listening room without distractions, and you're confident you can draw at least 20 people, email or call Todd South for booking questions.
info@renomusicproject.com
775-530-2940
Now for those who aren't into that whole brevity thing, here's the wordy version.
 From humble coffeehouse beginnings, the efforts of Todd South (voted "Best Musician of 2006") and the Reno Music Project have received Reader's Choice awards from the Reno News & Review for "Best Open Mic" (2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002) and "Best Place For Live Music" (2004, 2003, with 2nd place finishes in 2006 & 2005). As such, we of the Reno Music Project are proud to contribute to Reno's growing reputation as one of the friendliest cities for original music in the West!
After five and a half great years at the coffeehouse, in July 2007 the Reno Music Project moved to a larger, better equipped facility at Maytan Music Center, Reno's oldest family-owned, full-service music store. Maytan's has long been known for its support and sponsorship of independent musicians and music education. Maytan's and the Reno Music Project look forward to a bright future, working together to produce a variety of shows, workshops, and related events. Our current schedule includes:
FRIDAY: Reno's Best Open Mic (7:00-11pm) - $5 admission fee (includes beverages & snacks)
SATURDAY: Musician's Showcase (2-3 acts, 7:00-11pm) - $5 admission fee (includes beverages & snacks)
AGE & ACCESS:
The Reno Music Project and Maytan Music Center support & encourage all-ages, family friendly music events. As such, parents are encouraged and welcome to bring their children; concert etiquette is suggested and encouraged for all attendees. We do, however, reserve the right to deny entry for ANY reason. If a security or safety problem develops during an event, UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN UNDER 18 may be denied entry or asked to leave the premises.
SEATING / AMENITIES / ARIST COMPENSATION
The Maytan Music Center performance space can comfortably seat 150+ individuals. FREE non-alcoholic beverages are included with the low admission fee for each show. This allows us to cover our costs and FOCUS ON THE MUSIC rather than selling drinks, etc. Performers are welcome to sell their CD's, t-shirts, etc., and place a tip jar near the stage, however, there is no direct cash compensation. All monies collected at the door go into the general fund, which provides for the refreshments and other costs involved with running two shows every week.
NO ALCOHOL OR SMOKING IS PERMITTED AT MAYTAN MUSIC CENTER.
DEMO / AUDITION:
The Reno Music Project features ORIGINAL music performed by a variety of talented local & national artists. In order to be considered for a Musician's Showcase, you must have at least 60 minutes of original material ready and well rehearsed, plus we need to hear a sample before we can book you! You can either perform/audition for us at Reno's Best Open Mic, or provide a copy of your promo kit/demo (website promo kits & demos are fine). If you prefer sending us your kit via snail mail, address it to:
Reno Music Project
c/o Maytan Music Center
777 S. Center St.
Reno, Nevada 89501
RENO'S BEST OPEN MIC:
Our award-winning open mic is held every Friday night. The sign-up list is available at 7:00pm, upstairs at Maytan Music Center, and includes several 15 minute performance spots, plus an open jam session after the open mic performances.
The Reno Music Project and Maytan Music Center strive to provide the best all-ages environment for the promotion and performance of live music for music's sake. As such we ask that you abide by these few rules:
- ORIGINAL MUSIC PREFERRED: We want to experience your creativity!
- NO PROFANITY: Lyrical content must be suitable for a family audience.
- 15 MINUTE LIMIT: Use your time wisely! The audience wants to hear your music, not wait while you set up your entire collection of gadgets.
- RESPECT THE GEAR: We provide full “backline” support (PA system, drums, amps, grand piano). Our
equipment is professional-grade, so please treat the gear with respect and make use of it in a professional manner.
- AUDIO LEVELS ARE SET BY HOST: Our room has a 100dB sound pressure limit.
- PHOTOS / RECORDING: All participants agree to be photographed and/or recorded for promotional purposes.
WHAT TO PLAY:
The Northern Nevada area has plenty of venues for cover bands and karaoke singers (and too few for songwriters), so ORIGINAL MATERIAL is encouraged and appreciated at all our events! The Reno Music Project open mic and musician's showcases are the perfect outlet for sharing your songwriting talent with people who really appreciate it.
We're open minded about music genres and will review all booking requests, keeping in mind our family friendly all-ages atmosphere and the 100dB limit on the overall sound pressure during performances. However, certain groups known for attracting violent & ill-behaved audiences will not be booked or tolerated. Extremely loud or purposefully obnoxious music is not suitable for our audience and is better left to the bar & nightclub scene. If you're looking for such a venue, there's a decent list of local clubs maintained here:
http://www.renomusicproject.com/LiveMusicVenues2007.shtml
MUSICIAN'S SHOWCASE:
Our Saturday Musician's Showcase features 1-2 acts (solo or combo). If you are booked to perform as part of a Musician's Showcase you must keep in mind that your setup/teardown time is part of your overall total. Since the PA chores are taken care of, most bands are able to get setup and start playing within 20 minutes. We have a lot of gear available if you'd like to use it; ask and we'll see what we can do to lessen the amount of stuff you need to carry!
We encourage all performers to arrive at the beginning of the evening to verify you're on-site and ready to perform. Any performer not present at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled set may be passed over; in this event your time will be granted to the available performers ready to play.
We provide professional sound reinforcement and (if required) full backline support in order to help you focus on sounding great with minimal hassles. We do everything we can to allow your focus to be on the music rather than lugging and setting up gear. Musicians from around the country tell us they love being a part of Reno Music Project events because of the friendly atmosphere, great sound, and welcoming audience! Contact Todd South in advance if you have any special requirements or questions about the house sound system or backline support: info@renomusicproject.com.
STUDIO RECORDING:
Todd South and the Reno Music Project operate a small recording studio at Maytan Music Center, providing quality digital recording at affordable prices. These services are available for nearly any size project, from soloist demos to full band recordings. Professional session musicians are also available to assist songwriters who want to develop and produce their ideas into larger arrangements. Other services available include production assistance, graphic design, website & online marketing consultation, CD mastering, CD duplication, MP3 encoding, DIY recording lessons, etc.
LIVE RECORDING:
Shows personally hosted by Todd South are digitally recorded and made available on CD or MP3 to artists (and audience members if approved by the artist) at a rate of $5 per quarter hour. All proceeds from live CD sales go toward maintaining and promoting Reno Music Project events. Artists are free to use their own off-board recording equipment to document their show; the RMP recordings are done as a service to those who find it useful.
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