Info for Artists

The Calgary Folk Club runs a 13 concert Season from September to November and January to April. Our concerts run on Friday evenings only. As the largest Folk Club in Canada, we are inundated with requests for bookings (an average of 400 per year for 20 spots). Please note we are a completely volunteer run organization, including our Artistic Director. If you are interested in performing at The Calgary Folk Club, please take the following steps:

1. Look at our previous seasons for an idea of our artistic scope.
2. If your style and calibre of music fits, please contact our Artistic Director by email artisticdirector@calgaryfolkclub.com and include your contact information, your website and any electronic press kit information you have.
3. Please do not contact our Artistic Director by telephone unless you are already contracted by The Calgary Folk Club for a performance date.
4. Your email will be acknowledged, and should we be interested in additional information, we will contact you.
5. Most of our bookings are completed between November and March for the following fall/winter season.
6. In 35 Years we have booked 1 artist from an unsolicited package – please do not send unsolicited materials
7. We do attend the North American Folk Alliance annually, as well as many Western Canadian festivals. We scout new artists for the club primarily at these functions.
8. Should you be performing in the Calgary area, and would like us to consider you for a spot at The Calgary Folk Club, please let us know where and when you are performing and we will do our best to attend.

Dalhousie Community Centre
5432 Dalhart Road NW

See the Contact page for an interactive location map.

Directions to Hotel from Major Highways:

The Village Park Inn is on the NE corner of Crowchild Trail N (Highway 1A) and 16th Avenue NW (Highway 1)

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.

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

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.

Performer Liaison: Donna McTaggart
All arrangements including vehicle rental, room reservations, media contacts, shipping of product
Tel: 403.807.9275
performerinfo@calgaryfolkclub.com

Technical Co-ordinator: Rob Bartlett
All sound, light and instrument information
Tel: 403.244.5555
techdirector@calgaryfolkclub.com

Club Manager: Donna McTaggart
Tel: 403.539.8936
manager@calgaryfolkclub.com

Artistic Director: Suze Casey
Any contractual questions
Tel: 403.862.6483
artisticdirector@calgaryfolkclub.com
 

Vehicle Rental:

Hotel Information:

Reservations:

The number of rooms specified in your contract under your names, We have guaranteed arrival by 6pm. 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 Donna McTaggart. Feel free to contact Donna with your requirements.

Should you wish to advance ship product, please send to

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

Please let Donna know what you have sent so she 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 breaks 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. 

Load In: 4:30 pm
Sound Check: 6 pm
We often have more than one artist – 30 minutes is allotted for each.
Doors Open: 7:15
Show Begins: 8:00
Set #1: 8:05 – 8:50 (45 minutes)
Break 8:50 – 9:15
Set #2: 9:20 – 10:05 (45 Minutes)
Break 10:05 – 10:25
Set #3: 10:30 – 11:15 (45 Minutes)
Encore – must be completed by 11:30 

Meals:

Your dinner (night of show) and Breakfast (next morning) are covered by Calgary Folk Club. Breakfast at The Village Park Inn 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.

Drinks and food at the Club:

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.

Guests:

We have 4 (four) guest passes available per show per band. Local Folk Club ADs and Media already have a guest pass. Please contact Donna with the names of your guests. We have an 18 and over welcome policy.

Payment:

You will receive your performance fee by cheque or money order in Canadian Funds. Other currencies are available by request – please let Donna 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. 

Waiver Information for Non Canadian Residents:
Please note you are responsible to complete and file and Application for Canadian Income Tax. The forms are available online here.

Or, log on to www.cra-arc.gc.ca and using the Search tool, enter Regulation 105 Waiver Application. Failure to complete these documents and obtain waiver means we must, by law, withhold 15% of the fee. Please note this information is also included on your contract with The Calgary Folk Club. 

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. artisticdirector@calgaryfolkclub.com
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