Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Venue Feature: The Bell House

photo by ryan muir on Flickr

Between working in clubs, touring, and going to a ton of shows, I rarely come across a venue that is not only "nice" but built in a way that makes sense. Why is the front of house sound guy set up all the way to the left? Why is there no space by the bar? Why am I carrying my equipment up and down 2 flights of stairs and through this narrow hallway to get to the stage? While The Bell House is no doubt a gorgeous music venue, the best part is simply how it's put together.

the front bar/lounge area - photo by Sam Horine

This first part of the venue is the 150 capacity front bar/lounge area where you can go out for drinks and hang out like you would at any bar. Although this bar is part of the venue, it pretty much functions on its own. You can choose to just stay here and drink without paying a cover or having a ticket. Actually, you may not even realize that there are band's playing in the other room.

If you do however decide to check out the live music, you go through a door which takes you to this hallway. The hallway serves to isolate the front bar with the main space, but it is also where the music venue begins. The ticket booth and merch tables are located by the door before you get into the main area, and this is where you take out your ticket and or wallet.

the bar area in the main space - photo by Sam Horine

When you enter the 350 capacity main space, the bar is to your left and the 450 square foot stage is to your right. The front of house is set up directly across and centered from the stage so the sound guy can actually HEAR properly, what a concept! There is so much space here and the 25 foot wooden arched ceilings makes it seem even bigger.

photo by Sam Horine

The best part of this venue for me is backstage. Let's just say, easy access to the stage, plenty of room to store all the equipment for all the bands, couches, tables, green room, bathroom and a tub of beer and water.

The Bell House is located at 149 7th street between 2nd and 3rd avenue in the Gowanus/Park Slope neighborhood (Brooklyn, NY).

[official website]
[yelp! reviews]

- Sonic

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3 comments:

sam January 20, 2009 at 8:22 PM  

nice piece - can you hook me up with a link for the last three shots?

thanks - sam horine

www.samhorine.com

Anonymous January 21, 2009 at 4:03 AM  

same for me too please.

ryanmuir.com

Anonymous January 21, 2009 at 12:38 PM  

this is the ill veneue to hook up with girls in. they're are lots of dark corners to pimp out in.