The Chop Shop Booking Policy

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How To Get Your Event Into The Chop Shop:

Typically, you can only book an event at The Chop Shop one of two ways:

1) Rent The Chop Shop - We will set a price determined by the event, amount of people attending, and the production needs of the event. When you rent The Chop Shop, there are no extra costs or bar guarantees to be met. You keep any door money you charge. We require a deposit to hold the date, 1/2 of payment is due 30 days before your event date and the balance is due 7 days before your event date. These deposits are not refundable.

2) Request To Book Your Event With Us - We must approve EVERY aspect of the event and feel that it is worth our time and the value of the date and areas of the venue requested. There WILL be Production costs (if applicable) and Bar Sales guarantees to be met backed by the event's income. If the bar sales are below this agreed amount, the event's income has to make up the difference.

1st Time Booking:
If you are looking to perform at the Chop Shop for the first time and do not have an established relationship with us or an established name in the industry, you may be asked to pre-buy tickets from us or pay a deposit for your show date. This money will apply towards anything you owe after the event or it will be returned to you.

Opening Slots:
We rarely put bills together or add openers to bills so it is unlikely that we'll have opening slots for you or your band. Opening for Nationals is a privilege earned by having good shows and good attitudes as well as being the right fit and being approved by the National/Regional act. Your best bet getting an opening slot is to get with locals that draw well and put together a bill. (Some bands will trade out promo expense and flyering to to let others on their bill) Unfortunately, we have a long list of bands wanting to take free opening slots and a very short list of opportunities.

Production Costs:
We take the cost of your event's personnel (ex. soundman fee) from the event's income before you get paid. The event/band/promoter(s) then takes the agreed percentage of the door afterwards. We like events that are complete, well promoted and well organized! Unless otherwise agreed, WE are not sponsoring or presenting your event. Please do not word your promo to say so. Bands/Events SHOULD NOT book another show in the Charlotte area within 21 days before or after your event here, otherwise your door may be charged whatever we feel is appropriate. (if this is an issue, please, just discuss it with us first)

Sound - A Sound man typically costs $125 on weeknights and $150 on weekends and is required if there is more than a stereo output to the PA involved. We reserve the right to have our house sound person on an event in which you wish to bring your own sound person.

Door - Door person usually costs $10 per hour. They collect your door money, have guests sign in and answer questions about the event.

Lighting - Lighting prices vary. Any event will come with at least a basic light pattern on the stage if there is not a tech hired. All weekend band/music events are required to have a light tech as well as any band/music event drawing over 10 people on a weeknight.

Security – Security costs can vary depending on the needs of the event. We usually provide 1 person at no cost and typically charge $100 per additional man.

If you don't think you can cover these expenses with your event's income, you should look at a smaller place for your event. There may be exceptions to all of this depending on a number of factors, but this is our base starting point.

IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY - If you don't make enough to cover the door, sound, lights and security or other agreed production expenses, you will have to pay for them out of your pocket. If your door doesn't make enough money, our bar likely didn't make enough either and we lost money hosting your event.

Capacity:
We hold +/- 400 in our main room and have an outdoor area for overflow. The outdoor patio can hold up to 200. We also have is a large event room and stage area. Please inquire if you are interested in booking the big event room. (There is $300 minimum upfront charge to use this room or to add it to to a front room event before any other cost are calculated)

Promo:
YOU MUST PROMO YOUR EVENT! WE do not have a poster printer here. YOU must send or drop off promo material at least 3 weeks prior to your show or we may take a % of your door money. We are serious about promo as should you be! It is how we are going to get people here to see your show! People don't just walk in and pay to see an event they know nothing about! Promo should include at least: Who, What, Where, When, What Time, Cost and maybe even Why. If we have to print and promo, we take money for our work and expense. We are expensive printers and promoters!

Advertisement: We will include your event on our website and in all of our advertising. (Ex. – Local magazines, circulars, venue posters or others)

The Chop Shop – General Info

Drugs and Alcohol

• It is illegal to bring outside alcohol in to the bar. We can lose our liquor license over this, so we are very serious about it. If ANYone is caught with outside alcohol you WILL be thrown out. NO exceptions. You WILL be thrown out if you are drinking underage or without an I.D. as well.
• Marijuana has the same negative effect on our livelihood by being a reason for the ALE to yank our license. If ANYone is caught smoking Marijuana or doing illegal drugs on our premises you WILL be thrown out. NO exceptions.
• If the bartenders are stocking, counting or anything else and have "BAR CLOSED" signs out, please wait until they are ready to serve before you ask for a drink.
• We don't give out beer or alcohol to the bands. We suggest you run a tab and if the bar does well, we will comp some or all of your tab based on our sales and your performance.

Loading/Unloading

• Unloading can be done in the alley and through the single gray door next to the garage door. Please do not prop open the door. If you need to move a lot of equipment have a staff member assist you with the door. Heat/AC is extremely expensive so please keep the doors open as little as possible.
• While unloading, be sure you are NOT blocking the alley. There are other tenants that need access to their spaces and the alley is their only access. Please park your vehicles in a manner to leave as many parking spaces available as possible. Ask where to park if you have questions.

Stage

• Try to decide who is headlining (if anyone) and whether or not the headliner will back-line their equipment or you want to do line checks between acts. Back-liner puts gear up on stage 1st and opener second. Please try to load in your equipment accordingly.
• Please let the sound guy know what your needs are as soon as you can.
• Clean up after yourself. We didn't leave set lists, bottles of water/beer, broken sticks or other junk on stage before you went on, so please have the courtesy to leave it clean for the next act.

Overnight Vehicles

• If you are planning on leaving a vehicle overnight, please check with the staff to see pickup times and days. Your vehicle will be locked in the gate if left in our lot. We've not had problems with theft in the past but we are not responsible for your vehicle or its belongings.

Door Check In

• Our door guy/gal is working to make sure YOU get paid for your show. Please have a list of the names of the members in your band and the names of their guests ready to give to them the day of your show. This way, they can insure that everyone pays that needs to.
• See the Door person and Security to make sure you get properly marked to show that you are in a band or with the event and that you are or are not of drinking age.
• You should be telling your fans to say who they are here to see, especially if you are playing with other acts you don't know or work with.

  ADDT’L NOTES:
  ALL PROMO MATERIAL MUST BE PRE-APPROVED! YOU MUST PROMO YOUR SHOW/EVENT! For Facebook events, add us to admin list! SEND FLYER/PROMO ART AND INFO TO: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. BEFORE YOU PRINT OR DISTRIBUTE!!
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  Now, please click the link below to submit your request
  The Chop Shop Event Request Form