I Want to be a DJ at 5BAR

Here are some details if it’s your first time with us

First of all, thank you for wanting to perform, share music, make our guests want to dance or just feel accepted and entertained. You add value, and we all thank you for this.

What it means to be a DJ:

• You entertain people, its more than just music selection or mixing

• You aren’t a DJ without an audience

• You’re polite to guests, they’re guests after all

• You’re on stage even after the gig. Some people will tag you, some people will be mean online and say you’re a bad DJ or person. There’s a lot to it, so just be ready and always on your best behavior

What 5BAR provides:

• WiFi, usually, but it’s Charter and breaks once a month. We have no control over that, be ready to bounce to another WiFi source of your own or pre-download some great tunes

• 4 power outlets at the DJ table

• An audience, usually we have our own patrons that like to dance and will be here for any DJ

What you need to bring:

• The sound board with all the musics

• Any decor or interesting costume

• A great attitude

Marketing Your Show:

1. Please promote your art. We like when you create flyers, use these media files to tag onto the posts. Getting this out early is always best.

2. Tag us when you create content for the show tag us with these: #5BAR, @5BAR.co on Instagram, www.Facebook.com/5BARbeloit

3. Check in online when you get here. Leave us a public review with a picture of you performing. Share the love all around

Age Restrictions:

1. Yes, we are a 21+ only venue at this time. Yes you may perform if under 21, contact us ahed of time to make arrangements

2. Legally we can allow guests under 21 if they are with their legal guardian

Capacity: 120

1. We hold 120 inside, about 30 on the smoking patio (plastic cups only). The back stage area holds 80 max standing, and its cozy at that time. With couches and easy flow it holds 50

2. Check In / Load In / Out:

1. Pull your vehicle to the back parking lot. As you look at the front of the building, it will be the left (east) side of the building

2. Check in with the bartender and let them know your band name and all that good stuff. WE host a lot of events each month, so be kind to us and let us know what we need to know, don’t assume too much, or we may get out of sync

3. Load in through the back gate, and back door. We are building a small storage off the stage, behind a glass door, you may store dead cases or stuff there. Keep all your clutter off the glitter dance floor, don’t be messy or cluttered, invite people into the show

4. Doors - we cannot stress this enough - do not prop open the doors, either to outside or the inside door to the hallway. Especially if the temperature outside is much different than inside, our very old building gets hot/cold fast. We had 1 band that repeatedly propped open the doors and unfortunately we had to ask them to stop playing that night. Do not alter our building in any way, even by propping doors open. This is a safe space, and we like to keep the front and back 2 different vibes for our guests. Without our guests there is no show, keep that in mind, you’re here to perform TO people, so make it good

• Drinking or Eating on Stage:

  1. Totally fine, just don’t spill

  2. Seriously, don’t put a drink on your amp, right? Vibrations and libations aren’t great for your gear

  Payment:

  1. As of right now, performers receive 2 drink coins per person. This is a $10 drink per player, so if you have a 5-piece band that is a $100 value we want to offer. It’s our little tip to the band and shows our mutual appreciation.

  2. We are creating a space and a scene for our guests and artists to come perform. All 3 of us (band/bar/guests) are helping each other

  3. As a former touring musician (here is a song I wrote, recorded, and was on the album cover for) I totally want to make this the best possible show I can for you, for our guests, and even for myself. We can only do so much and need each other to all pitch in and help in all the ways we can. I want to pay artists loads, buckets, piles of cash moneys, but we simply aren’t there yet. We’re just a baby bar still. I toured through the Great Recession 2008-2010 when I was a barista still, we’d start tours already in the hole from filling a band-van gas tank. I’ve played a show that started in Texas, when I lived in Seattle and had to drive more than an entire day, through my 23rd birthday, just to start a tour. Then we didn’t get paid by the club. I got some stories, but what I’m trying to say here is that I’m not hoarding the money from these shows. To keep the back room heated, repair cords and speakers, pay rent and cleaning, security at the door, and all the other expenses is quite a tab. We aren’t keeping this profit from you, we are reinvesting it into the next band and the next show.

  Music Selection Restrictions (Boring Lawyer Stuff):

  1. Our music license is through Pandora for business “Mood”

  2. Our live music is through ASCAP and BMI

  3. As an artist it is your responsibility to adhere to these license rules. Which means only playing music under their contracts. We don’t like these rules either and believe these agencies are thwarting art and expression, but they have loads of lawyers and the USA being in love with big business and ‘corporate America’ instead of innovation and art, it isssssss what it issssss