Thank you for your interest in the Moonstone Arts Center.

Our mission is to promote creative exchange through diverse cultural programming, which we do by supporting both emerging and established artists in a community setting. We have a stage, a PA system, a piano, a projector, a screen, and can seat from 30 to 80 people, depending on how we set up. This makes us an intimate venue with lots of possibilities.

Moonstone and Robin’s Book Store have supported Philadelphia-based emerging writers for over 25 years and with The Moonstone Arts Center we are now presenting music and theater as well. It is something we like to do, so we will do what we can for you, which means having a place where you can hold an event, with our co-sponsorship. You can make the event a BYOB or an All Ages show. I would suggest that you have two or three presenters, which will expand your audience. We have residential neighbors and restaurants on the first floor to whom we need to be respectful, so we are not a high volume or late night venue. Our literary events usually start at 7pm and our music events at 8 or 9pm, ending by 11pm.

Here is the thing.

It is hard to get an audience. We have an email list and a newsletter and send announcements to the press and listings to the papers, but that will not get you an audience. If your name is not known people just ignore the announcements. So you are dependent on your own network. If you have a personal list of friends, family, co-workers etc who will come out to hear you, then you have a starting place. Word of mouth is the only effective advertising. Put your announcement on all the social networking sites. You are the producer and the promoter of your event, The Moonstone Arts Center is the venue.

Here is the other thing.

Money. We do think artists should be paid. In order to pay the performers there needs to be a cover charge since, Moonstone is not a bar and we do not make any money selling alcohol or anything else. Our arrangement is to split the door 50/50 between Moonstone and the show promoter, who is responsible for paying the performers, after the house manager is paid $30. The house manager will set up and clean up the venue for you. Any damages to the venue will be the promoters responsibility. The entire cover charge will be considered ticket sales for Moonstone, with the show promoter filling out a W9 form for their share of the door. The promoter does have the option of renting the space for $180 per night (8pm to 12am max). The good news is that this is a low risk performance space designed to promote art exchange.

The bottom line is we will work with you, but much of the production and promotion is up to you. If you are interested in this arrangement, please download fill out the Moonstone Arts Center booking form and W9, then mail, fax or email me at larry@moonstoneartscenter.org and I will respond.

Thanks,

Larry Robin, Director

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House Rules for Music

• We have neighbors who live next to us and we need to be respectful of them, therefore:
  • We are not a high volume or late night venue, the music should end by about 11pm and the building vacated by midnight. Generally doors open at 7:30, music can start anytime between 8 and 9pm
  • There is no smoking indoors, people have to go out front to smoke, but because 13th street has people sitting at tables for the restaurants, please congregate across the street or around the corner where the stores are closed to talk and smoke between sets.

Cover Charge or Rental

• The door cover charge is split 50% for Moonstone Arts Center as the venue; 50% for the organizer of the event, after the house manager is paid $30. The entire cover charge will be considered ticket sales for Moonstone, with the organizer filling a W9 for their share of the door. If the annual payments are over $600 a year there will be a 1099 issued.
• The alternative is for the music organizer to rent the space for $150 for the night (3 hours) plus the $30 for the house manager for a total of $180.

House Equipment Available

There is no audio tec or stage hand provided. Additional equipment and services available subject to discussion.

• 3 audio technical ST90 Mark II microphones
• 3 microphone stands
• Peavey XRV 680 plus power amp/mixer
• DVD & Computer pick up with projection system and screen
• Speakers are mixed variety and standard setup includes 15” with horns
• Lavaliere microphone setup for 2 microphones with multi-channel receiver
• Small Peavey guitar amplifier
• Steinway upright Piano