The Sleepy Hollow Folk Club exists to both introduce new music to its audience and to help support the musician community.

The take

All donations go to the artist.  While we do not promise a performance minimum, we do take considerable pains to ensure a healthy turnout -- and have built up a significant audience in our years of operation.  Attendance recently has been at least 33, and as many as 50-plus.  Our room most comfortably seats up to about 45. 

We typically ask for $12 - $15 (US) a head.  Under special circumstances we would consider a somewhat higher donation, but that may prove a barrier to full attendance.

Product sales are very welcome, and CD sales per attendee usually are very good.

The audience

Our audience generally is not part of the usual "folkie" scene, so our venue provides a special opportunity to reach new listeners.  A typical audience includes a significant contingent of co-workers (Air Force, high tech, and legal fields), neighbors, friends, and fans drawn into our circle through previous performers.

This is a very appreciative crowd and a very attentive one.  We do not allow little kids; a few well-behaved older kids have attended -- and have greatly enjoyed the experience.

"Bed & breakfast"

We have plenty of room, and performers are welcome to stay in our home.  Amenities include a hot-tub and a swimming pool.

What we are looking for

First and foremost, we launched this endeavor to introduce music we love to our friends.  Therefore, our attraction to your music is the first step.  The fact that we don't host a large number of these shows, and that the audience consists of friends rather than strangers, demands that we consider our bookings carefully. 

Our performers generally fall within the singer-songwriter genre.  We are drawn to creative and compelling lyrics and greatly appreciate accomplished musicianship.  Beyond that, we look for performers who put on a dynamic show (no snakes or knives, please).

For those performers we already are familiar with, we would be happy to hear from you or your agent to try to work out a performance date.  For those we don't know so well, you are certainly welcome to send us a CD and/or get in touch; we've heard virtually all of our performers play in a live setting before booking them.

We have hosted bands comprising up to three members and would consider slightly larger ones, but performers need to understand the resulting audience limitations.  We have not experimented with hosting an outdoor concert; we have some concerns -- weather, acoustics, traffic noise -- but we do have the space and would be wiling to consider this option.

Technical details

Our room can be played unplugged, although a small PA probably produces a bit better sound.  The room is quite "quiet".

We have a pretty decent PA available consisting of a Peavey XR600 powered mixer, two EV Sx200 speakers, one Shure SM58 and one SM57 mike, and associated stands and cables.  Performers are certainly welcome to use all their own equipment.