UNCOMMON GROUND listening room

GET TO KNOW US! THEN BOOK WITH US.

The VIBE

Uncommon Ground is a sustainable restaurant, urban farm, coffee house, brewery and home to an iconic music venue! Our Listening Room helps support the emerging performers who are rooted in Chicago! We’re able to provide performers our intimate sit down listening room complete with full light and sound engineering so long as you bring out your audience to eat, drink and listen with us during your show! Live music, comedy, open mics, screenings, variety shows, and intimate theater thrives in our spaces. The Listening Room serve beer from our own Greenstar Brewery, the first all organic brewery in IL, and food from the first 4-star restaurant. All ages are welcome!

radius clause

When booking a show with us, we require that you do not book any other shows within Chicago proper at least 3 weeks before or after your Uncommon Ground show. This will ultimately split your draw and hurt the overall performance of your show. And nobody wants that!

VOLUME, BACKLINE & SPECS:

Our acoustic listening room are intimate. Drums are only allowed with prior permission from the Music Program director! No exceptions. Whatever the genre, please prepare to play at an acoustic level that is appropriate for our intimate listening room. We have no instrument backline.

Think MTV UNPLUGGED OR Tiny Desk vibes - If Lizzo can do it, so can you!

hospitality & Payout

Performing acts receive 100% of cover sales after $75 is paid to the house for sound engineer/production fees. Earning capacity is in your hands!

we must have a w9 form filled out for the person getting paid out unless one was filled out from a previous performance in the same calendar year. checks are issued immediately after the show.

each performer on stage receives 50% off dinner and 1 free drink ticket good for greenstar beer only.

Artists keep 100% of their merchandise sales.

AUDIENCE & SEATING

Space is limited! All artists must station themselves in the Green Room if seating is filling up with paying guests. Guests can reserve their preferred seats ahead of time by visiting our event calendar.

we’re happy to comp any number of seats for free as long as all other acts on the bill agree. *Comes out of your total payout for the night

Marketing

We include all shows on our Music Calendar and will help with promotions on social media, but we expect you to work on bringing out your own audience and coordinating your own promotions whenever possible to make for a successful show. We hang our bi-weekly posters within the restaurant and at some neighboring businesses, but we also recommend printing and hanging your own flyers or handbills to give to your friends and fans, and hang around town (if local). please do not hang posters on chicago public property without consulting with a city of chicago official. any fees received from the city of chicago in violation of this will be passed down to the artist or band responsible!

Once your show is booked, feel free to mail or drop off six (6) 11" x 17" physical posters at our venue.

More important stuff:

Uncommon Ground welcomes everyone into our space. In order to fulfill our mission of nourishing our community, we intend to create a space where everyone can feel affirmed and empowered. Thus, we remind all guests – from staff, to performers, to diners – that we take identity-based violence incredibly seriously.

Identity-based violence is defined as any act of violence motivated by the perpetrator’s concept of their victim’s identity, for example their race, gender, sexuality, religion or political affiliation. This may include but is not limited to; slurs, stalking, verbal or physical intimidation, degradation, physical assault and/or battery, bathroom policing and unwanted sexual attention.

If any person chooses to violate our anti-harm policy, they will be asked to leave the premises. Further, if performers are found to have contributed to above-mentioned harm within our community, we reserve the right to cancel their contract or performance. Please contact Uncommon Ground’s Music Program Curator with any questions.

We get lots of requests, but we’re excited to learn more about you! Once you complete this form, we won’t ask for it again. Having your complete information on file allows us to move your show forward, smoothly promote it, and keep your act in mind for future shows!

click below to fill out the correct booking form online or email uncommonmaria@gmail.com