Booking Info

So, you are in a band or you are booking for a band and you are trying to find out who to contact to play Howlers Coyote Cafe - Well, we don’t have any local promotors or exclusive deals with anyone to book shows here.  To do that you just need to get through Jo, our booking manager.

Here’s the skinny on booking and playing here at Howler’s Coyote Café:

Booking 101:

Who are you? Where are you from? Local or from out of town.. ?

In the case of a touring band it helps if you have at least one or two locals with a known draw to pull in the heads and ensure a good turn out. I prefer that out of town bands already have or know locals willing to help them out but, if need be, I’m willing try to help you. I cannot make any promises though.   Pittsburgh locals are known to be a finicky bunch.

Exactly what date(s) are you looking to book. (A general check us out, we’d like to come play is not gonna do it for me people) Is there any wiggle room in the date you are interested in? Is there a couple-a dates you may be interested in or will work for you?

Very often I have a few shows with a slot or two still open so in the event that you may be able to get on an existing show. Or just because I want to know what I’m getting before ya get here… I need to be able to hear what your band sounds like. I can listen through your myspace/website or you can email me an MP3 or two to howlerscoyote@comcast.net   If you have demos and/or press kits you wish to send, send them my way.   However, if using snail mail, send to c/o Jo Albright, 4503 1/2 Corday Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15224.  DO NOT SEND ANYTHING TO THE BAR ADDRESS, anything sent directly to the bar will either be forwarded to the owner’s home or sent back and the owner usually just pitches stuff out or it is weeks before it makes its way to me. If you are a local, stop in and see me at the bar.  I am always on the hunt for locals willing to play and help out the guys that want to come in from out of town. I am behind the bar on Thursdays at 3:00 pm and I am there any night there is a show.   Just ask for Jo, someone will find me.  But, please do not walk in there when there is a couple-a hundred people in there and a show going in full swing and want to talk about a show.. I am probably not going to have the time to talk. The best time is early in the evening between 8 to 9:30.  Or if you’d like to set up a time to meet with me, contact her with your availibility.

The Rundown:

Pay:

With the exception of a very few special cases..Bands at Howlers,  PLAY FOR THE DOOR.  We leave it entirely up to the bands to decide what their door charge will be and how they want to collect it. You can print and pre-sell tickets, just charge at the door or both. Or pass the hat for tips if you want. The bar makes their money on sales at the bar.  The bands know their following better than we do and know what their following is willing to pay to come see them play.  All we promise is that 100% of whatever comes in on the door goes directly to the band or whoever booked the show.

However, In order for us to be able to allow you to take the entire door, we do ask the bands to provide their own door person to work and collect their door. Should you need us to provide a staff member to work your door for you, the bar will have to take $40 from the door to pay that person as this is an extra service. Let me know at time of booking which you prefer.

Band percs:

I always see to it that a touring band gets something to eat, even if it just some pizza,  and a pitcher of beer on the house. After that band members pay a $1.25  for domestic drafts (Yuengling or Coors Light). Soda and Water is comped to the bands. If you have any specific or special requests, talk to me.. sometimes I can work something out.

Sound & Lights:

Howlers provides a stage (a damn big one at that), a full PA with all the bells & whistles, mics, mic stands and a sound tech to run it.  Guitars/Bass should bring their amps, etc… and drummers should bring their kits.  The room is acoustically sound with acoustic panels added to prevent sound bouncing, etc.  However, it is pretty straight back with brick walls so normally it is only necessary to mic vocals, kick drum, and any acoustic instruments. Electric instruments can usually do with their amps. If you would like to speak to our sound tech prior to the show to be sure of what you need to bring with you, let me know and I’ll put you in contact with him. The bands are not expected to pay the sound tech from door proceeds, he is part of our staff.  Our light system is basic and adequate, but should you want more intricate lighting, and wish to bring in more, please clear that with me before the show.

Load in, Set and Show Times:

Load in:

On any night there is a show, I usually arrive around 7:30, earlier if called for.  Bands should arrive and load in then.  Saturday, we open at 5:00 pm, Sundays we open at 6:00 pm unless there is some special event going on.  Saturdays and Sundays bands can load in as soon as we are open.  If you arrive early and wish to load your stuff in early, please contact me so I can arrange to be there when you load in.

If you are from out of town and you want to come load your stuff in early and go see the sights, just ask, I will arrange to have you to load in.  All bands should be loaded in at least one hour before show time.

Our stage door is directly behind the stage. Once the first band begins to set up, you’re gonna have to hump your stuff thru the bar to load in.  Not a real big deal, but can be a pain for you.  Unless requested to be there earlier, our sound tech is usually there between 7:30 – 8:00 pm and can help you with what ever your needs are and begin sound checks.

Weekday shows should probably start around 8 or 9:00 pm and be over by 12:30. Weekend shows should start no later than 10:00 pm and be done by 1:30 am when the bartender is giving last call. We will let the music go over on weekends by a little but will pull the plug at 2:00 am.

On a typical 3 band night.. if the show starts by 9 or 10, Depending on breakdown, set up times, that should allow for each band to do a 30 to 50 minute set. Longer if the bands choose to backline or share equipment. Obviously, shows with more bands will either have to start earlier or cut their set times.  I prefer that the bands work that out among themselves, but I will be a dictator if you make me.

Standing dates and dates I don’t book:

1. Sundays - Sundays are always free nights. Any bands playing on Sundays are welcome to pass a tip bucket but we prefer not to have bands charging a cover charge on Sundays. We have local bands that always host these nights. Sundays are always roots/country/americana or bluegrass genre oriented. If you are interested in playing one of these nights contact us and I will explain how to get booked on a Joyride, Hayride or Whiskey Social Night and which bands to contact as the hosts.
2. 3rd Friday of every month is The PBR Rockabilly Riot. Rockabilly/Psychobilly genre type bands that may be interested in playing a Riot Night, get in touch with DJ Junior at www.myspace.com/rockingjunior .

Promote your damn Shows!!

I am willing to help out any way I can on promotions with flyers, and listing in the local papers free listings along with our calendars both here and on Barsmart.com. I’ll twist vendor’s arms to try to get as much promotional help as I can for all the shows if you tell me what you need from me. But, if ya don’t communicate with me, I am assuming you have it under control. Get me your flyers at least two weeks before a show. (Again, if sending by snail mail see above address for mailing, DO NOT SEND ANYTHING TO THE BAR ADDRESS) At least one for the window and one for the bulletin board. Handbills will be put out on the tables at other shows before your show if you provide them. If I have a demo of your music, my sound tech will play it between band breaks at other shows. I can promote the bar from here to kingdom come, but in the end, bands must promote their music.  It gets very frustrating when I am the only one trying to promote a show and then the bands can’t figure out why there is nobody there.  I don’t know your friends and fans people YOU DO!

The bar makes their money on sales at the bar. If the bands promote well, they have a good turnout, a good door and a great show. The bar makes money, the bartender makes some tips and everyone goes away happy.

Thats about it, any further questions, let me know..

Thanks for your interest in playing Howlers and hope to see ya soon!!

Jo Albright

Howlers booking manager