NYC meetup and CD release party, Nov. 2006

November 8, 2006 3:14 PM

I'd like to organize an NYC meetup in celebration of the release of MeFiComp. Caveats:

1. I'm thinking early December, so that physical copies of the CD are on hand and available for purchase.
2. I'd like to do this at a location where any available and interested MeFiComp artists (including myself) can perform their songs.
3. I've never organized or been to an NYC MeFi meetup! I know a handful of other MeFites, but I have no clue where folks generally like to meet, who usually organizes things, etc. I'm happy to defer to others' suggestions.
posted by Artifice_Eternity to MetaFilter gatherings at 3:14 PM (43 comments total)

I hear there are lots of Jews, Gays, and Gay Jews in that city. Be careful.
posted by bardic at 3:44 PM on November 8, 2006

Keep me posted if y'all get this together—if the plan is to sell some CDs on site to party attendees, I'll have to get a box into the mail relatively quickly so I can ground them in a reasonable amount of time.

I can basically consign 'em, I figure, and whoever is in charge on that side is responsible for tracking sales and returning the cash and unsold CDs after the party.
posted by cortex at 3:48 PM on November 8, 2006

If you do this, I will try to arrange to have some West Coast Mefi Musicians drive by and fling pancakes at you.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:55 PM on November 8, 2006

#1 and #3 are easy. #2 would be the difficult part- I don't know of any bars that just randomly let people show up and play music, and if I did know of one, I can't imagine it would be a great spot for a meetup (since the purpose of a meetup is to, ya know, meet up). I would suggest we scrap #2, and have a gathering in honor of the CD in one of the usual meetup spots.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:21 PM on November 8, 2006 [1 favorite]

Please keep us posted too. Maybe turtlegirl and I can make it. Early December will be difficult though as turtlegirl's dad is in town from Mexico starting December 8. But i'd still like to know if something materializes, just in case.
posted by terrapin at 4:26 PM on November 8, 2006

How about we set the date for Saturday, December 2nd? Any objections?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:28 PM on November 8, 2006 [1 favorite]

Although it's been pointed out to me that might be too early to have the CDs in (duh). Friday the 8th or Saturday the 9th? Just throwing out ideas.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:36 PM on November 8, 2006 [1 favorite]

I don't know of any bars that just randomly let people show up and play music,

Pete's Candy Store in Williamsburg let me throw a party (with bands) for free on a Sunday afternoon once. They even let us bring in our own food. That was back in 2000, so things may be different in the post 9/11 world, but it might be worth a call. They are (or, anyway, were) nice people, so it can't hurt to ask...
posted by dersins at 5:08 PM on November 8, 2006

Awesome, yea, if anyone has connections, definitely call 'em up. The thing about us is that we're not necessarily a huuuuge group, though we are, as a group, big drinkers, so if there was some hole in the wall with a backroom where we could shut the door and such, that could work.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:30 PM on November 8, 2006 [1 favorite]

I don't know of any bars that just randomly let people show up and play music

Most small music venues in my experience will let you put on a night if you have a whole lineup planned and will bring people.
posted by ludwig_van at 7:01 PM on November 8, 2006

This sounds infinitely cool and I always like to check out shows for little new music reconnaissance missions, so I'd love to attend.

I don't have suggestions on locations, but I do agree #2 would be difficult unless you know an owner of a hole in the wall that can hold a venue that doesn't have acts already booked for the next three months. You might have to go about it by deciding on things like location and size of group attending or what acts will be performing first, see what fits the bill, then see if those places have any free days. The point is have a definite idea of what kind of event you want it to be. On preview, ludwig_van says it more succinctly.

I've never been to a meetup before though and I'm a newbie. Is there any protocol to attending one of these things? I'm sure everyone is nice and all, I just happen to be shy around people I dont know...
posted by kkokkodalk at 7:09 PM on November 8, 2006

Most small music venues in my experience will let you put on a night if you have a whole lineup planned and will bring people.

Right, and I wonder, is that possible with this small of a group (meetups are usually < 20 people) and with this little notice? i'd certainly come if someone was able to throw it all together. but even as the who usually initiates/organizes these gatherings (by saying, hey, here's the place and time and then bugging everyone privately to show), i don't have the time/energy to put that much work into it.br>
Is there any protocol to attending one of these things?

Sit down, say, Hi, I'm kkokkodalk! We're very friendly :-)
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:43 PM on November 8, 2006 [1 favorite]

Right, and I wonder, is that possible with this small of a group (meetups are usually < 20 people) and with this little notice?/em>

Well, if there's live music maybe more non-mefites would attend. Early December is plenty of lead time for these kinds of places. It pretty much depends on whether or not someone has any kind of relationship with a suitable venue and can make it happen. I'm fairly certain I could put it together in Pittsburgh, but I don't know any venues in NYC.
posted by ludwig_van at 8:17 PM on November 8, 2006

Oops. <em>!
posted by ludwig_van at 8:18 PM on November 8, 2006

/
posted by ludwig_van at 8:18 PM on November 8, 2006

>Sit down, say, Hi, I'm kkokkodalk!

What could be simpler?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:30 PM on November 8, 2006

I vote we fly/cart ludwig_van down, and make him do all the work to put this thing together. There's plenty of room at my house.... if you don't mind sleeping in the dog's bed at night.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:41 PM on November 8, 2006 [1 favorite]

Pete's Candy Store sounds like the right sort of place. Alternately, and I don't know how likely/possible this is, the Living Room might have a free night in December. But you'd probably have to take whatever you could get, as they're shockingly well-booked for the rest of this month.
posted by brina at 9:33 PM on November 8, 2006

A coffeehouse/bar (serves great wine and beer) by the grand stop on the L called "STAIN" would do this. They often turn over their main area to whoever for random shows and things and would probably be flattered by the attention. Great atmosphere and a nice back patio too.
posted by hermitosis at 10:04 PM on November 8, 2006

Sounds like a great idea. You can also record the live performances then release "No sleep 'til NYC MeFicomp meetup."
posted by fire&wings at 3:25 AM on November 9, 2006

I'd just like to request we not do it December 8. Also, Royal Oak in Williamsburg has a back room and I think is fairly liberal in renting it out, but an afternoon might have more luck.
posted by dame at 6:19 AM on November 9, 2006

how many bands would play this kind of show anyways? just the one? or are there a bunch of nyc artists on the cd?
posted by Stynxno at 7:35 AM on November 9, 2006

December 3 is my birthday. That would make a meetup double cool.
posted by jonmc at 7:45 AM on November 9, 2006

MetaFilter: we are, as a group, big drinkers.
posted by languagehat at 7:59 AM on November 9, 2006

The Orange Bear on Murray St used to host these kinds of things, but their phone is out of service. Probably why.
posted by StickyCarpet at 8:58 AM on November 9, 2006

Artifice_Eternity, can you quanify the requirements a little more? You talkin' multiple drum kit and bass amp loadins, or a microphone with a backing tracks cd?
posted by StickyCarpet at 9:06 AM on November 9, 2006

There is, right now, a very small chance that I might be able to make it to this.
posted by interrobang at 10:15 AM on November 9, 2006

Sorry I couldn't check back in on this thread till now.

Taking questions/comments in reverse order:

StickyCarpet: Are you asking about my own requirements as a performer? I would need electrical power and a house sound system to plug into (one stereo input).

Stynxno: Good question. A few MeTa threads down, there's a discussion about the MeFiComp in which at least one other NYC-based musician identified himself. But I don't know who else is in the vicinity, or willing to travel for such an event. If MeFiComp artists want to self-identify here, that would be great.

Dame: Ideally, we'd find a place we could do this for free, rather than renting a space.

I'll post a roundup of possible venues in a moment...
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:06 PM on November 9, 2006

Here is my take on the NYC venues mentioned so far, with a couple of other options thrown in. Feedback welcome.

PETE'S CANDY STORE: I love Pete's... I used to live right around the corner. Their schedule looks fairly busy, but perhaps they have some slot in early December available for us.

STAIN: I haven't been there, but it looks promising. However, they seem to primarily love the acoustic music, which does not describe what I do, nor what some of the more hard-rocking artists on MeFiComp do. I wonder how they'd feel about this.

THE LIVING ROOM: They have a pretty full-looking schedule, and sell tickets online via TicketWeb, which suggests to me that they are looking to maximize revenue every night. Might be a little high-pressure for our purposes.

Here are a couple of other possibilities:

SOLAS: A nice multi-room East Village bar on E. 9th Street, a block north of St. Marks. I already co-organize an occasional Sunday night event there, so I have a rapport with the management. I'm sure they'd be happy to host us in their side room that's normally empty on Sunday afternoons and evenings.

LOLITA: A friendly two-level lounge on the LES (corner of Broome and Allen). I did a CD release party there last year. The management seems pretty laid-back; I think the chances are good that we could set something up there.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:28 PM on November 9, 2006

A_E: I meant "book" and realized that after, but it looks like you have good leads anyway.
posted by dame at 1:08 PM on November 9, 2006

There's a possibility that I could make it, but I'll have to do some checking.
posted by ludwig_van at 1:23 PM on November 9, 2006

I will probably be in MI for a friend's wedding around then. Maybe if it was a week later? I would like the opportunity to fling pancakes.
posted by speicus at 6:15 PM on November 9, 2006

No chance, damn it, but we hope you have a great night and post lots of pictures of it.
posted by melissa may at 7:35 PM on November 9, 2006

Well, we could try for the third weekend in December... Fri 12/15 - Sun 12/17. Is that too close to Christmas? I'm concerned that people will have holiday parties and/or vacation plans. But if that would work for more folks, I'm amenable to it.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 11:07 PM on November 9, 2006

Eee, that is too close to Christmas. Go back, go back.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:42 AM on November 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

OK. Maybe earlier in December is actually better. Here's what I propose:

Sunday, December 3, at Solas in the East Village. I know I can set this up with no problem.

It looks like getting even a handful of MeFiComp artists to perform is unlikely. So let's simplify things, and make it a listening party... a DJ (probably me, 'cause I know the bar is cool with me using their gear) will spin selections from the compilation, mixed in with other cool stuff, over the course of the evening.

When do NYC meetups usually get underway? I was thinking 7:30 or so, given that it would be a Sunday evening and a lot of folks wouldn't want to make it a super-late night.

How does that scenario sound (if anyone is still reading this thread)?
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 9:05 AM on November 10, 2006

On a Sunday, I say- let's push it back even earlier. 5:30 p.m.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:41 AM on November 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

We usually get started pretty early, which is good, because that gives us extra time to sit around and chat and drink and have fun.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:42 AM on November 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

Excellent. If people are amenable to this, then I'll confirm with the bar in the next few days, and post another thread to make it official.

ThePinkSuperhero: Interested in possibly being the keeper/seller of the MeFiComp CDs at this party? If I'm DJing, it would be helpful to have someone else taking on that role.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 10:19 AM on November 10, 2006

Sure, what the heck.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:29 AM on November 10, 2006 [1 favorite]

Coolio. I am checking with cortex to make sure we can get CDs by the 3rd.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 10:51 AM on November 10, 2006

Sunday, December 3, at Solas in the East Village ... 5:30

Excellent, and if you don't have enough CDs just have people self-address envelopes or something.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:00 PM on November 10, 2006

Updates here.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 1:04 PM on November 16, 2006