We of the Booking WG are not feeling like we are getting the cooperationof SPAZ or SUDO in resolving the outstanding issues regarding SPAZ
holding events in the basement.
Our understanding is that if Sudo is sponsoring SPAZ events
then a representative of Sudo needs to at least be present at those SPAZ events
and should be involved in putting the event on, This has not been happening.
In addition there is BYOB alcohol at SPAZ event without any ABC permits
or any insurance; there has been OC property destruction at several events:
there have not been sufficient noise reduction procedures at the last event and
people in the neighboring building have been kept up at 1:30am; and the
SpaZ events have left the premises strewn with beer bottles and trash without
having made a cleaning deposit for their rental.
In addition SPAZ has assumed the authority to extend their SUDO sponsorship
to others e.g. Chai CAT and SKAT.
In order to allow SKAST to take place on 8/31 booking wg must insist that
there is better noise/crowd control, much better security/supervision, no
alcohol, proper insurance, and trash removal guananteed by a cleaning deposit.
The tone of frustration apparent in this post is not the way booking would want to
communicate with our colleagues but comes with not having had a chance to
work with sudo or SPAZ f2f for weeks. Hopefully with such meetings we can
get clear on some of these basics and work together for the good of OC.
joe, for booking wg (Robb and Roberto)
I spent some time with Lukas today doing some more onboarding re: our booking and event processes. He's been slammed with an out-of-town work gig that he just returned from yesterday, and so should be able to attend the next Commons meeting on the 26th (I'm out of town again this weekend through Tuesday, unfortunately, but will try to participate remotely if anyone opens the pad this time!). We went through making a contract for the SKAST art show on the 31st and also discussed the 'We Are the Ones' event for Sep 7th, which wants to utilize the ballroom during the day and move to the basement for an afterparty, but is only offering $200-300. Lukas and I will run point on these (and other events of relevance to the basement/SPAZ community) together while he's getting the hang of our processes and is able to attend some of the upcoming f2f meetings.
If I may ask, or rather urge: let's please be welcoming and encouraging of anyone aligned and eager to help us better steward events - I'll be the first to acknowledge that our processes are rather intimidating and cumbersome to even longtime community members, and I'm looking forward to not only a better booking system, but cultivating a more welcoming culture of orienting interested folks to becoming core volunteers <3
Re: "market rate" for the basement - I'm still somewhat confused by this request and why they're not interested in renting the ballroom instead. But anyway - I think Robb's right-on with that price point, considering the risk involved of any late-night event. It's well nigh impossible to find any venue that will go past 2am, much less one for under $100/hr. We should do some more comparative research, though. Two sites that host local rentable venue listings are
https://peerspace.com and
https://evenues.com - factor in that the 1450 square footage of the basement hall is cut down by Village/CCL storage on one side and Phat Beets/soundsystem storage on the other, plus the lack of amenities we provide, and the occupancy cap of 49 people... it doesn't quite compare to, say, 1000 sqft at ground level with nice floors and empty-canvass-ness. But try and book anything shiny past 2am and we're about it.
This request also runs into the issue of whether they want to use the SPAZ soundsystem (in which case let's have Lukas join this conversation), how much they intend things to be virtually "plug and play", etc. I would be willing to update the website next week, at the least we should say something about needing to work with SPAZ folks for basement late-night events (considering the many factors that complicate things here, not just the sound system but also security, noise, safety, lighting, etc).
Apologies for the long email and thanks all for your continued dedication <3