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Information for Artists

Booking Policy

The Calgary Folk Club produces 13 concerts. The season runs from September to November, and January to April, running every other Friday evening. As the largest Folk Club in Canada, we are inundated with requests for bookings (an average of 1000 per year for 26 spots). Please note we are a completely volunteer-run organization. 

We appreciate how challenging it is for musicians to book gigs.  Please note the following:

  1. Look at our previous seasons for an idea of our artistic scope to see if there is a “fit”.
  2. We typically source our program at international, national and regional functions (such as the North American Folk Alliance, music conferences and festivals). 
  3. We are a large venue and book artists with established careers – and credentils such as Juno or CFMA nominations/awards, ECMA or Western Canada Music awards,  The majority of our artists are Canadian, however we welcome international artists with equivalent credentials. We mostly book artists through established professional agents or managers.
  4. Generally our bookings are completed a year in advance of the following fall/winter season.
  5. Should you be performing in the Calgary area, send an invitation and we will do our best to attend.
  6. If your style and calibre of music fits, send an email to Suze Casey including your contact information, website and electronic press kit.
  7. We will contact you if we are considering you for a booking. As much as we would like to personally acknowledge each request, the sheer volume, and the fact that we are volunteers makes this impractical.
  8. Please do not send unsolicited materials. We appreciate your willingness to send one, however we will request additional promotional materials if we need them.
  9. Please do not contact our Artistic Director directly unless you are already contracted by The Calgary Folk Club for a performance date.
  10. For contacts and information for Folk friendly venues in the area, please go to Community.

Hotel / Car

Vehicle Rental

Please contact John to discuss requirements.

Hotel Information

Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Calgary University,
2373 Banff Trail NW Calgary

587.390.6100

Reservations

The number of rooms specified in your contract under your names, We have guaranteed arrival by 6 pm. Please notify the hotel directly if you will be arriving later. You will be asked for your Credit Card on arrival to cover all incidentals. Following your performance at The Calgary Folk Club, we will provide you with a cash payout in the amount as specified by your contract. You may use the cash to pay the bill on checkout, or use your own Credit Card; either way this allows you to claim the hotel room cost as an expense. Should you require additional days in Calgary, we are happy to extend our corporate rate to you. Hotel has been instructed to only accept reservations and changes to confirmations from John Robertson.

Feel free to contact John with your requirements.

Product Shipping

Should you wish to advance ship product, please send to

John Robertson 
c/o Calgary Folk Club,
Suite 85, #305 4625 Varsity Dr. NW,
Calgary, Alberta CANADA T3A 0Z9

Please let John know what you have sent so he can inform you of the product arrival. If sending from outside of Canada, please allow additional time for the product to clear customs.

Calgary Folk Club provides Product Sales for you – we provide the float as well as two volunteers to staff the sales table. Sales are during the break and at the end of the evening. We do not charge any commissions, and your full sale amount will be given to you in cash, 30 minutes following the show. 

Directions

Dalhousie Community Centre
5432 Dalhart Road NW

Directions to Hotel from Major Highways

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Calgary University is on the NW corner of Banff Trail NW

Directions to Folk Club from Hotel (about 10 minutes)

  • Go North (turn right coming off Service Road) on Crowchild Trail N.
  • Travel past Shaganappi exit to 53rd Street/Dalhousie Station exit
  • Go North (RIGHT) on 53rd Street to second stoplight – Dalhart Road
  • Turn LEFT on Dalhart Road to first driveway – school and community centre parking lot.
  • Come to the Left side of the Community Centre – parking is right at the stage door.

Club Format

  • Load In: 5:15 pm
  • Sound Check: 5:30 pm
  • We often have more than one artist – 30 minutes is allotted for each.
  • Doors Open: 7:00
  • Show Begins: 7:30
  • Set #1: 7:35 – 8:20 (45 minutes)
  • Break 8:20 – 8:50
  • Set #2: 8:55 – 10:25 (90 Minutes) OR, 2 Sets of 45 Minutes each
  • Encore – must be completed by 10:35

Your dinner (night of show) and Breakfast (next morning) are covered by Calgary Folk Club. Breakfast at The Holiday Inn Express is included in your room cost.  Please request voucher if the hotel neglects to give you one upon your arrival. For dinner, we can arrange a take out meal to be delivered to the club immediately following your sound check. Or, eat when you would like to, and bring the receipt to the Club for a cash reimbursement, up to $25/band member.

We have 4 (four) guest passes available per show.  Local Folk Club ADs and Media already have a guest pass. Please contact John with the names of your guests. We have a 14 and over welcome policy; however anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Your rider will be followed as closely as possible. There is a full bar at the Club, and your drink orders will be brought to the dressing room. In addition, light snacks are available throughout the evening at the club, and we will provide an “after performance” snack and drinks for you as well. Drinks and snacks are complimentary for the artists. We ask that your guests purchase their own.

or money order in Canadian Funds. Other currencies are available by request – please let John know 7 days prior if you need any arrangements other than those in your contract. In addition to your performance fee, Calgary Folk Club will reimburse you for Vehicle Rental, Hotels and Meals by cash following your performance. This allows you to claim these expenses as part of your touring grant or for income tax purposes.

Non-resident Waiver

Waiver Information for Non-Residents of Canada

The Artist is responsible for the completion and filing of the Regulation 105 Waiver Application (waiver or reduction of withholding tax on fees for services provided in Canada). The required form is located on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website here.

Failure to complete these documents and obtain waiver means The Calgary Folk Club must, by law, withhold 15% of the fee. Please note this information is also included on your contract. 

Technical Specs

Calgary Folk Club In-house equipment

Consoles:

  • Midas Venice 32 …f.o.h. mixer
  • Soundcraft Spirit 2-32 monitor console

Speakers:

  • JBL g2 eon……….f.o.h. ( 4 )
  • JBL g2 eon sub….f.o.h. bass bins
  • JBL g eon monitors ( 5 )

Processors:

  • dbx 1231 1/3 octave EQ ( monitors )
  • Yamaha stereo 1/3 octave EQ ….f.o.h.
  • Aphex Easy Rider stereo limiter…f.o.h.
  • Lexicon MPX 100 reverb
  • dbx 166 stereo compressor

Microphones:

  • Shure SM58
  • Shure SM57
  • AKG c1000s
  • AKG c451
  • Sennheisser MD 421
  • Radial Pro direct boxes

The Calgary Folk Club employs professional sound engineers for both our FoH and Monitors. We appreciate some artists travel with their own sound engineers, and we are happy to work collaboratively and co-operatively with these individuals knowing that their expertise is the band’s requirements. Our sound engineers have expertise with our system, our venue and our audience. Both sets of expertise contribute to an excellent show, which is the goal for all. In the case of any disputes over the sound, The Calgary Folk Club sound engineers will do the show, at the discretion and direction of the Artistic Director of The Calgary Folk Club. In addition, The Calgary Folk Club maintains a list of sound engineers who are not welcome to work our room, and respectfully request the name, in advance, of any sound engineer traveling with a contracted artist.

For a more thorough description email our Technical Co-ordinator Rob Bartlett – techdirector@calgaryfolkclub.com

Maximum Stage Size

  • 30ft Width, only 8ft Depth
Layout of room

The Calgary Folk Club provides the following backline sound and instrumentation.

Any additional sound or instrument rentals required that were not negotiated as part of the original contract are at the expense of the artist.

Other Folk Clubs

Please note we do have an Exclusivity Clause as part of our contract. We are open to other performances – we ask that you clear additional performances within a 100km radius of Calgary with our Artistic Director, Suze Casey to insure no duplication of audience and fair performance fees and ticket prices.

Other folk friendly venues can be contacted through www.calfolk.ca

  • Bow Valley Music Club
  • Nickelodeon Music Club
  • Rocky Mountain Folk Club
  • Saturday Night Special Folk Club
  • Bragg Creek Performing Arts
  • Canmore Folk Festival
  • Fish Creek Concerts

Contact

Artist Liaison: John Robertson
All arrangements including vehicle rental, room reservations, media contacts, shipping of product

Tel: 403.827.6211

Technical Co-ordinator: Rob Bartlett
All sound, light and instrument information

Club Manager: Paul Bazinet

Artistic Director: Suze Casey
Any contractual questions

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