music policies
Musical Artists:
All music bookings are handled through our music program directors. You can reach them via: bookings@uncommonground.com.
You can also be considered for music bookings by using www.sonicbids.com
You can dramatically improve your odds by checking our web calendar and suggesting specific dates/times that fit your schedule and make artistic sense with other acts already booked.
Slots are:
- SUN 7/8/9 PM
- MON open mic 7 PM sign-up 8 PM start time
- TUE/THU 8/9 PM
- WED 8-10 PM 3 acts
- FRI/SAT 9/10/11 PM
Monday is Open Mic, and Wednesdays are a month-long residency program with short sets selected by the Host and Uncommon Ground.
First-time artists at Uncommon Ground should aim for SUN 8 PM or THU 8PM.
Email a link to your site/EPK to:
bookings@uncommonground.com
Please do NOT send large MP3 or music files with any e-mail correspondence. Send us a link to where we can listen to your music, such as MySpace, SonicBids, etc...
Uncommon Ground Music Policies
Website Promotion:
The best way to help us promote your show is to login and update your Artist Profile. If you put in your photo, youtube link, bio, etc we use that info to promote you on our website and we also use the info you provide to promote you to the press. We also have set up an Artist Profile page just for you. And, of course, we link to your website and/or myspace page. Please also link to the Uncommon Ground website from your site. We're ranked very well in the search engines, and it will improve your rankings and drive traffic to your site if you link back to us. Please feel free to co-ordinate any special promotional efforts with our program director via bookings@uncommonground.com
Traditional Marketing/Promotion:
Please provide Uncommon Ground with a minimum of 4 posters at least one month in advance to hang at Uncommon Ground. Flyers, postcards, or promo CDs for distribution are also helpful. Mark 'POSTERS' and your show date on the outside of the envelope and put your show date on your posters! We submit our Uncommon Ground calendar to all of the Chicago Weekly publications (Reader, New City, etc..) It is also important for musicians and bands to submit listings as well. This will ensure that your performance will be listed in all of the publications. If you need to be provided with a media list, please copy the one provided on the medialist page.
Arrival:
When you arrive at Uncommon Ground please check in with the manager on duty. He or she will show you to the Green Room. Please load all of your equipment through the corner door only.
Load-In Times:
You should load-in 1 - 1 1/2 hours before the first act. If you require more time to load-in and set-up you must first clear that with the booking person. If you arrive before your scheduled load-in time or while another act is performing, all of your equipment must go downstairs in the green room located in the basement of the main entrance at either location (3800 North Clark Street or 1401 West Devon Ave.) No equipment should be stored in any of the dining rooms at any time. This includes guitar cases, drum cases, merchandise containters, etc....
The room will be set up for you in the best way for both you and our customers, please Do Not move or use tables or change the layout in any way without first consulting the Manager. After setting up, please move all of your cases, extra equipment to the Green Room. Do Not leave anything lying around in the dining room or on any of the tables.
Sound-Check:
Please keep your sound check to 15 minutes. Generally, sound checks are scheduled for 1.5 hours before the first set and must be completed 45 minutes before the first act is to start. Please keep your overall volume appropriate for the room. Remember this is an acoustic listening room. One noise complaint from any of the other tenants or neighbors could keep us from continuing to have live ACOUSTIC music. Drum kits are never allowed without prior approval of the music program director.
Sound Engineer:
Uncommon Ground provides a sound engineer for each night music is scheduled. Sound engineers generally arrive 1-2 hours prior to the start of the first act.
Most sound engineers are here for the experience of live sound mixing and recording and the love of live music and mixing at Uncommon Ground. Uncommon Ground pays sound engineers each night and gives the sound engineer a food and beverage allowance as additional incentive for mixing your sound.
Uncommon Ground does not take any money or percentage from your suggested donations. If you feel that your engineer has done an excellent job of mixing for you, please let them know that they have done a good job.
Set Lengths:
You have been assigned a specific set starting time and set length. If you start late it will result in a shorter set for you. You cannot play into or through the starting time of any other act. Sets are always 40-45 minutes at our Clark Street location and could be longer at our Devon Ave. location as arranged with our programming director.
Clark Street location: Sunday night sets are from 7-10pm. Tuesday-Thursday night performances are from 8-10pm, Friday nights are from 9-12pm, and Saturday sets are from 9-12pm.
Devon Ave. location: Tuesday-Thursday 9pm start times, Friday/Saturday 10pm start times. Monday Night Open Mic. Sign-up 7pm, start time 8pm, End time 10pm at our Clark Street location. Tuesday Night Open Mic at our Devon location is as follows: Sign-up 7pm, start time 8pm, end time 10pm.
Donation/cover:
Please confirm your suggested tour donation/pass the hat amount with the music program director and the sound engineer. We DO NOT sell tickets or charge any admission for shows at Uncommon Ground. We promote all performances as FREE or Suggested Donations.
Reserved Seating:
Uncommon Ground DOES NOT SELL ADVANCE TICKETS. If you feel that you will have a large number of guests/fans/friends/relatives, etc. in attendance, PLEASE have them make a DINNER RESERVATION by phoning the main cafe number 773.929.3680(Clark Street) or 773-465-9801 (Devon Location) .
Dinner RESERVATIONS ARE FOR DINNER ONLY! We have a large selection of Seasonal Dinner Specials, vegetarian items, beer, wine and a full top shelf bar.
Merchandise:
If you have any merchandise (CD’s, T-shirts, etc.) to sell, you will be assigned a specific area to do so. This area is usually the copper top on the North wall of the music room (at our Clark Street location) or on the butcher block table immediately outside the music room at our Devon location. It is approximately 10 feet wide and should offer plenty of space for you to display CDs, t-shirts, etc...
Please do not take tables from the dining area.
Uncommon Ground does not take any percentage from the sale of your merchandise.
Meals:
All performing musicians receive a 50% discount towards the purchase of food & soft beverage. Please place your food order with the server assigned to the music room and make them aware that you are performing so that you receive the appropriate discount. Only performing musicians receive the musician discount.
Uncommon Ground is a full service restaurant and therefore has no age restriction!
Uncommon Ground has always been 100% SMOKE-FREE!
General Information:
Uncommon Ground is located in the heart of Wrigleyville at 3800 North Clark Street (Clark, Racine & Grace) 2 blocks North of Addison (Wrigley Field) and 2 blocks South of Irving Park Road. We are centrally located and easily accessible by many forms of public transportation. (Clark St. Bus, the Red line, etc) Street parking is readily available on Grace and Clark Street.
A public parking lot is also available at Southport & Grace (2 blocks W. of the cafe)
The main phone for UG is (773)929-3680 the booking email is bookings@uncommonground.com
Hours of operation are: 7 days a week 9am-2am
Kitchen is open: Sunday-Thursday 9am-11pm, Friday & Saturday 9am-Midnight
Uncommon Ground celebrated its 18 year anniversary on 7/1/09 as Chicago’s BEST ACOUSTIC VENUE!
Any other questions can be directed to the music program director
email: bookings@uncommonground.com
Have a great show!
Angie Mead, music program director, Rachele Guastela, assistant program director
Michael Cameron
owner
Uncommon Ground
