RSM What’s the name of the venue you're going to review? where in the US is it located and what part of town is it in?
TW Mercury Lounge, LES NYC

RSM When did you play this venue and with whom?
TW Casey Shea, Derek James, Etro Anime

RSM What type of music is played at the venue on a regular basis (Rock, acoustic singer songwriter, dance, etc) and what styles would fit best in the venue?
TW Rock and beyond

RSM What size crowd makes this room feel full? …or Semi full?
TW 100 people makes the room feel full. 50 people is semi-full. 200 is good mayhem.

RSM Did this venue seem to have patrons/regulars or was the crowd you played to solely there for the artist?
TW People come to see artists. It’s not a bar for regulars.

RSM What was the sound system and backline like? Did you have any contact with the sound engineer?
TW One big negative is there is no backline. This creates chaos when there are several bands. Everyone puts their equipment in a staging room which gets really crowded.

RSM Is there a charge to enter the venue? Do you know what percentage of the door bands get to keep or did you receive a set fee or tips?
TW Cover is usually $10. I think bands get 75% of door and need to pay sound engineer.

RSM Does the venue assist in promoting the show or is promoting the show entirely up to the artist?
TW Artist must promote on their own.

RSM Any other things that stand out with the venue?
TW Great sound and vibe. My favourite place to hear music and play music in NYC. You get to hear and see all the details in smaller venues like this. It is the stepping stone to the next level of larger rooms like Bowery Ballroom, Webster Hall, and Irving Plaza.

RSM What’s the name of the venue you're going to review? where in the US is it located and what part of town is it in?
TW The Metro; Chicago, IL-Northside

RSM When did you play this venue and with whom?
TW Late 90’s with a now defunct band called Zoogenic.

RSM What type of music is played at the venue on a regular basis (Rock, acoustic singer songwriter, dance, etc) and what styles would fit best in the venue?
TW Rock and beyond.

RSM What size crowd makes this room feel full? …or Semi full?
TW 200 makes it feel semi-full. You need 400+ to feel full.

RSM Did this venue seem to have patrons/regulars or was the crowd you played to solely there for the artist?
TW No regulars.

RSM What was the sound system and backline like? Did you have any contact with the sound engineer?
TW Sound system in the house is amazing. Like many Chicago venues, no backline. Monitor engineer and house engineer.

RSM Is there a charge to enter the venue? Do you know what percentage of the door bands get to keep or did you receive a set fee or tips?
TW Usually $20 and higher to get in. Bands usually play for a negotiated flat fee.

RSM Does the venue assist in promoting the show or is promoting the show entirely up to the artist?
TW Artists must promote themselves. Venue will promote on listings and website.

RSM Any other things that stand out with the venue?
TW Great sounding room, cool backstage. Great mix of national and local bands.

RSM What’s the name of the venue you're going to review? where in the US is it located and what part of town is it in?
TW Paramount Theatre; downtown Denver, CO

RSM When did you play this venue and with whom?
TW Sep 2007 with Patty Smyth and Scandal

RSM What type of music is played at the venue on a regular basis (Rock, acoustic singer songwriter, dance, etc) and what styles would fit best in the venue?
TW All styles

RSM What size crowd makes this room feel full? …or Semi full?
TW Capacity is about 2000 so you need at least 500 to feel semi-full

RSM Did this venue seem to have patrons/regulars or was the crowd you played to solely there for the artist?
TW No regulars. People come to see specific artists

RSM What was the sound system and backline like? Did you have any contact with the sound engineer?
TW Complete PRO system with everything you need

RSM Is there a charge to enter the venue? Do you know what percentage of the door bands get to keep or did you receive a set fee or tips?
TW At least $20 to get in. tickets were $50 when I played there. Bands get paid a fixed negotiated rate.

RSM Does the venue assist in promoting the show or is promoting the show entirely up to the artist?
TW Venue will promote on their weekly listing and post promos of bands by front door.

RSM Any other things that stand out with the venue?
TW This is an old historic building right in the middle of downtown Denver. Really cool antique architecture. The venue mainly features national acts. The only negative is the seating. I don’t like venues that have assigned seating. I like the crowd moving around and in your face.

RSM What’s the name of the venue you're going to review? where in the US is it located and what part of town is it in?
TW Wildhorse Saloon; downtown Nashville, TN

RSM When did you play this venue and with whom?
TW August 2007 with Patty Smyth and Scandal

RSM What type of music is played at the venue on a regular basis (Rock, acoustic singer songwriter, dance, etc) and what styles would fit best in the venue?
TW It used to be exclusively Country music but they have been booking rock bands lately. National acts and local acts.

RSM What size crowd makes this room feel full? …or Semi full?
TW This place is enormous so you need at least 500 to feel semi-full.

RSM Did this venue seem to have patrons/regulars or was the crowd you played to solely there for the artist?
MR Regulars, passer-bys, and fans.

RSM What was the sound system and backline like? Did you have any contact with the sound engineer?
TW All state of the art. The stage sounds pretty boomy though.

RSM Is there a charge to enter the venue? Do you know what percentage of the door bands get to keep or did you receive a set fee or tips?
TW At least $20 to get in. Bands get a fixed negotiated rate.

RSM Does the venue assist in promoting the show or is promoting the show entirely up to the artist?
TW Full size posters in front and through the venue in advance. Artist need to promote also.

RSM Any other things that stand out with the venue?
TW The place is an enormous country-fied shit kicker. The only thing missing is the mechanical bull. It has 2 levels and a wooded saloon look. It’s on the main strip in downtown Nashville so they get plenty of locals and tourists just passing by. The only negative is table seating in front. That may work for Country music but not rock.

RSM What’s the name of the venue you’re going to review? Where in the US is it located and what part of town is it in?
TW Grape Street, located In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

RSM When did you play this venue and with whom?
TW I played this within the last year with Derek James.

RSM What type of music is played at the venue on a regular basis (Rock, acoustic singer songwriter, dance, etc) and what styles would fit best in the venue?
TW A combination of Rock (electric) and/or singer songwriter. Acoustic rock is appropriate in this venue.

RSM What size crowd makes this room feel full? …or Semi full?
TW With even 50 people in the main room the space feels substantially populated, not necessarily full. 100 makes it feel full, but I believe capacity is somewhere in the 200’s. There is another lounge in this venue, the front room is a low key bar with tables, appropriate for acoustic singer songwriters. A crowd of 20 would be adequate in that space. The main stage is a more reputable room to play.

RSM Did this venue seem to have patrons/regulars or was the crowd you played to solely there for the artist?
TW Very few regulars, artist would need to do heavy promoting to get fans out, however the venue does list itself in many popular publications.

RSM What was the sound system and backline like? Did you have any contact with the sound engineer?
TW The sound engineer was attentive, the backline Iis carefully listed on the site.

RSM Is there a charge to enter the venue? Do you know what percentage of the door bands get to keep or did you receive a set fee or tips?
TW There is a cover. I am not sure of the door deal, but the artist definitely keeps a percentage.

RSM Does the venue assist in promoting the show or is promoting the show entirely up to the artist?
TW This venue doe list its shows in various publications.

RSM Any other things that stand out with the venue?
TW Accommodating staff, moderately priced drinks, evenly spaced room, nice size green room.