NOTICE: Weekly Showcases are currently on hiatus, though our long-running open mic is still happening every Friday. Check our Facebook group for the latest information on special events. https://www.facebook.com/groups/renomusicproject/

Booking Information
This document was last updated 11/24/13

A few paragraphs 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:

  • The Reno Music Project is currently hosting the Friday night open mic and booking Saturday night showcases in the Golden Rose Café at Wildflower Village. This is an ALL-AGES, non-smoking venue (well-behaved youths are welcome to attend and perform), with soft & hot drinks, snacks, and adult beverages for folks over 21 years of age.
  • Our performance space is a cozy listening room, best suited for acoustic and semi-acoustic acts. We provide an 8-channel PA system with mics, stands, and cables. Hand percussion and small amps are ok, but the space isn't well-suited for drum kits; this listening room is great for showing off your acoustic chops.
  • There is no cover charge for open mic; some showcases may include a modest ticket price. Performers are welcome to solicit tips, sell merchandise, promote shows at other venues, etc. There is no paid compensation provided by the house, however, drinks are half price for performers and snacks are provided free (with a jar set out for donations)
  • As with most venues, our booking criteria starts with, "can they draw at least 20 people?" We'd love to book every out-of-town act, but unless you have a huge Reno following, you'll need to pair up with someone local and draw some listeners. We understand if you're traveling on a budget and need to focus on paid gigs, in which case we recommend booking a show at one of Reno's many music bars.

Now for those who aren't into that whole brevity thing, here's all the details about performing at a Reno Music Project open mic or showcase:

The efforts of Todd South (voted "Best Musician of 2006") and the Reno Music Project have received awards from the Reno News & Review for "Best Open Mic" (2011, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 -- 2nd place 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009), "Best Place For Live Music" (2004, 2003 -- 2nd place in 2006, 2005), and "Best Place For Quiet Music" (2013, 2012, 2011, 2008), as well as the Reno Gazette-Journal/Metromix "Best Open Mic" award in 2010. 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!

DEMO / AUDITION:
In order to be considered for a show you must have at least 45 minutes of original material ready, and we need to hear a sample before we can book you! To accomplish this, either perform a set at our Open Mic Night or provide a link to your online demo/promo kit. Online promo kits are cheap for you and preferable for us.

OPEN MIC NIGHT:
Our award-winning open mic is held every Friday night. The sign-up list is available after 6:30pm, show at 7:00pm, and includes several 10 minute performance spots and occasionally a 20 minute pre-booked "featured performance".

The Reno Music Project and Wildflower Village strive to provide the best all-ages listening room for the promotion and performance of intimate music for music's sake. As such we ask that you abide by these few rules:

  1. ORIGINAL MUSIC PREFERRED: We want to experience your creativity!
  2. NO PROFANITY: Lyrical content must be suitable for a family audience.
  3. 10 MINUTE LIMIT: Use your time wisely! The audience wants to hear your music, not wait while you set up your entire collection of gadgets.
  4. RESPECT THE GEAR: We provide an 8-channel PA system with mics & stands. You provide the instruments and any extra gear/cables necessary for your set. Please treat our equipment with respect and make use of it in a professional manner.
  5. AUDIO LEVELS ARE SET BY HOST: 95dB room limit. Our listening room is best-suited for acoustic & semi-acoustic performances.
  6. 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, so ORIGINAL MATERIAL is encouraged and appreciated at all our events! The Reno Music Project open mic and 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 95dB limit on sound 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 list of local clubs maintained here:

http://www.renomusicproject.com/LiveMusicVenues2014.shtml

MUSICIANS' SHOWCASE :
The information for pre-booked shows is similar to that for Open Mic Night. We provide an 8-channel PA system with a handful of mics & stands. Additional mics, cables, amps, DI boxes, etc., are the performer's responsibility. Our PA system provides more than enough sound reinforcement for our cozy listening room. If you think you need more power or large amps, the room is too small for your performance. Original, semi-acoustic music is preferred & encouraged. We're open to a wide variety of genres. A professional soundman is available and audio levels are determined & set by the host/establishment.

SECURITY & ACCESS:
The Reno Music Project and Wildflower Village 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.

ARIST COMPENSATION
There is no cover charge for open mic; some showcases may include a modest ticket price. Performers are welcome to solicit tips, sell merchandise, promote shows at other venues, etc. There is no paid compensation provided by the house, however, drinks are half price for performers and snacks are provided free (with a jar set out for donations)

LIVE RECORDING:
Shows hosted by Todd South are digitally recorded and made available as MP3's to artists (and audience members if approved by the artist) at a rate of $5 per quarter hour. All proceeds from the sale of live recordings 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, and for promotional purposes.