Photo by J.D. Fitzgerald - The Explorer
"We are a historic motor court first opened in 1938, and repurposed in 2011 into a Restaurant, Bar, Music Venue and Artisan Enclave.
Tuesday through Sunday we feature on our courtyard stage music acts and events both local & national, and sometimes even global. From your seats, patrons enjoy not only a great show, but a gourmet menu of dining delights, craft drinks, brews, and wines. Most seats are under cover but all are shaded with cooling mists in the summer and numerous heaters in the chilly months to keep our audience comfortable. We have seating for 245 at tables with another 50 at the bar and scattered throughout the courtyard.
Sunday mornings we offer a special brunch menu with musical accompaniment."
Monterey Court has become a staple in Tucson where you can find live music almost every day of the week and enjoy a uniquely Tucson dining experience.
We asked Kelly McLear, co-owner of Monterey Court, how to book a show at the space and here's what we learned:
What is the best way to get in contact with you about booking?
Email us at stage@montereycourtaz.com
Do you require a link to music the performer/band makes?
We generally require a link to recent video, website, music, genre, availability and how they plan to promote the event.
Do you require a media package?
No official media package required is required.
Should a performer/band reach out to you directly, or do you prefer managers to contact you?
Either works for us!
What can performers/bands expect in terms of payment?
We usually provide a percentage of food and drink purchases made through our bar and restaurant. If we've agreed upon a cover charge for the night to split it usually ranges anywhere from $6-$20 per person upon entry.
How far out should performer/band reach out about booking?
We have submissions coming in almost daily so be prepared to be flexible. The average time we expect to be able to book for is about 3 months out, but things can change at any time.
Are performers required to fill the rest of the bill?
We don't require performers to sell tickets but we do encourage them to direct people to our website.
Are performers directly required to sell tickets ahead of time?
This is optional but we'll never turn down help. Our money mostly comes in through diners at our restaurant so people wanting to come see live music should expect to be seated at a restaurant table. Our venue is all ages.
Is there anything else folks should know about the process? Anything we missed?
Be patient. If you perform original songs let us know so we can inform you about other options (see our singer-songwriter showcases). We don't typically look for acoustic soloists and prefer full bands, but our venue is not zoned to support the sound levels of metal music or super loud rock.
Learn more about Monterey Court at their website: https://www.montereycourtaz.com/
We hope to see you playing on their stage soon!
Is there another venue in town you'd like to learn how to book? Let us know!