Important things to know about having an event at SubRosa

PLEASE THOROUGHLY READ: Important things to know 

about having an event at SubRosa

SubRosa is a collectively run anarchist community space - a place to meet people, share resources and ideas, challenge our assumptions and act on our passions. Let’s create together the world(s) we want to live in now. We love hosting special events like music and speakers, but not every event is going to work in our space or with our goals (we aren’t a commercial venue). So here are some of our expectations and things you should know about our space:

-Since SubRosa is an anarchist, anti-authoritarian community space (NOT a commercial venue), we want to host events that are not in conflict with these principles and practices. We will not host events that we think seem racist, sexist, queer&homophobic, ableist, disrespectful to the earth and to living creatures, pro-capitalist or upholding hierarchy or the “power over” mentality that dominates mainstream society. 

We strive to create an environment where people are empowered to have interactions based on self-responsibility, mutual respect and free association. And we want to create a welcoming space for others who share the goals of diverse community, respect for all forms of life, and freedom from coercive relationships. Let’s create together the world(s) we want to live in now.

-Our space is really, really intimate. It holds maybe 40 seats (of course more without seats!). So this isn’t the best choice for an event that you want hundreds of people to come to. And being a smaller space has its advantages too!

-We do have a PA system (with mics and stands etc) and beyond that you are responsible for bringing whatever equipment you need to make your event successful. And we have some equipment for film screenings (courtesy of the Santa Cruz Guerilla Drive-In).

-Amplified shows must be over by 10pm (really!). Again, our space is cozy, so the sound doesn’t really need to be turned up super high. There’s more flexibility with timing of acoustic shows and generally not much past 10pm. NOTE:  And for shows/events in the courtyard the sound volume needs to be at a level that is respectful of the neighborhood (so that usually means being quieter than inside) - this is crucially important as complaints from neighbors and/or visits from cops could impact future events and other projects we at SubRosa share the space with - courtyard events need to be done by 9:45pm.

-SubRosa is an anti-capitalist space and events are notaflof (no one turned away for lack of funds) and events typically have a suggested door amount (acknowledging $ helpful when touring etc).

-For most events, we take a 30% cut of the door. This money enables us to stay open and have more events. We do not take money from benefits, and we are open to negotiation if there isn’t very much money to split.

-SubRosa is an all-ages space. 

-SubRosa also a “dry” space, and we discourage drinking in the space and courtyard.

-If you are a band from out of town, we would really appreciate it if you contact local bands to try to put together your own line up. We can give you some leads, but we likely don’t have capacity to put together a whole show. 

-Please plan your event ahead of time. If you contact us a week before the event, it is unlikely we will be able to accommodate you. Give us enough time to plan and publicize and the event will be more successful. Also, on the day of your event, please arrive early to help set up and to communicate with the event bottomliner.

-You are responsible for having merchandise person, and fliers (social media posts). However, we can help you with these things, just be in contact with us and have good communication. We will try to always promote the event on our instagram, website, facebook and email. Let us know well ahead of time if you do not want us to do that.

-We desire for SubRosa to be a “safer space” for folk, and that involves active engagement with people that are crossing boundaries and/or somehow causing harm - we are reworking our process regarding unwelcoming people and how they can be rewelcomed- if you have input on this please let us know. Thanks! We’re doing this together!

***note re: pandemic protocols- as a community space we encourage individual and community care both being important and inter-related. So, balancing accessibility and folks desire to come together while acknowledging ebb and flow of Covid is tricky. Event hosts have been determining Covid protocols in a case by case (event by event) way. Sometimes masks at all times. Sometimes masks just inside and optional in courtyard. Sometimes masks entirely optional. And protocols being adjusted depending on how much virus is spreading at a particular time. 

If you made it through this whole list and still want to book an event, please contact us at: https://instagram.com/subrosa_space 

or subrosa-events@riseup.net - we’re looking forward to hearing from you! 

Requests are forwarded to the SubRosa collective, and if no one gets back to you in 2 weeks, then it likely means that no one was available to bottomline a show. We are an entirely volunteer-run anarchist community space (NOT a commercial venue) and often receive more requests than we have capacity to host.

SubRosa is part of the Hub Community Center, in downtown Santa Cruz, CA which is the unceded homelands of the Awaswas-speaking Ohlone people known as the Uypi, who stewarded these lands since time immemorial. Centuries of colonial violence led to the removal and displacement of the Uypi. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, comprised of the descendants of indigenous people taken to missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast, is today working hard to restore traditional stewardship practices on these lands and heal from historical trauma.