OPEN CALL  ·  NEW YORK CITY

YOUR VENUE. YOUR BAR. OUR PRODUCTION.

You run the room. We bring the show.

A good venue already knows its business: welcoming guests, serving drinks, creating an atmosphere and building a loyal crowd. You should not have to become a theatrical producer, fund an entertainment budget or negotiate a dozen performer contracts just to host a memorable night.

OpenCall.NYC introduces suitable venues to sponsor-backed productions developed by HKNY Entertainment and, where approved, independent producers. The premise is simple: your venue continues doing what it does best. The producer brings an independently financed, organized show designed to give people another reason to walk through your doors.

THE VENUE KEEPS THE BAR

Under our proposed standard hosting arrangement, the venue retains 100% of its own bar sales. No bar-revenue split, no percentage of drink receipts and no production fee charged to the venue. The producer looks to sponsors and other explicitly agreed production-side revenue—not the venue’s bar—to support the show.

The venue supplies an agreed performance space and continues its normal hospitality operations. It controls its drinks, menu, pricing, service standards and ordinary bar staff. The named producer handles the entertainment side under a separately agreed production plan.

COST-NEUTRAL BY DESIGN

The goal is no added entertainment spend for the venue: no performer booking bill, no host fee, no production sponsorship obligation and no surprise demand to cover a sponsorship shortfall. A production moves ahead only after its funding, venue requirements and responsibilities are agreed.

Cost-neutral does not mean cost-free to operate. The venue still bears its usual operating expenses, and any special staffing, security, equipment, licensing, ticketing or other incremental costs must be identified and assigned in writing beforehand. If the arrangement requires a venue-paid item, it is no longer the standard no-fee offer unless the venue expressly agrees.

WHAT WE BRING TO THE ROOM

THE PRODUCTION

A defined concept, talent and casting, host or emcee, running order, rehearsal coordination, show management and the creative direction appropriate to the format. The responsible producer coordinates its own performers, compensation and production-side commitments.

THE SPONSORS

Commercial sponsorship outreach, sponsor packages, approved creative placements and agreed sponsor acknowledgments. Sponsorships finance the producer’s obligations; they are not a requirement that the venue solicit advertisers or sell its own naming rights.

THE AUDIENCE

Event promotion through agreed artist, production and partner channels, plus coordinated materials the venue may choose to share. We aim to introduce people to the room—not promise a specific turnout, beverage minimum or sales figure.

THE SHOW-DAY PLAN

A point of contact, schedule, load-in and sound-check needs, technical expectations, agreed audience capacity, load-out and a plan for handling changes. The venue knows what is happening in its space before the first guest arrives.

WHAT THE VENUE PROVIDES

A suitable, legally usable room on mutually agreed dates; access and operating conditions; existing licensed hospitality service; a designated venue contact; and whatever sound, lighting, furnishings, stage area or house staff the venue expressly agrees to make available.

The venue stays in charge of admission policies and premises rules, age restrictions, alcohol service, fire and occupancy limits, security requirements and the guest experience within its responsibilities. No producer can override venue safety procedures or operating obligations.

WHICH VENUES ARE A FIT?

BARS, LOUNGES & NIGHTLIFE ROOMS

Neighborhood bars, cocktail lounges, LGBTQ+ venues, clubs and intimate nightlife spaces with room for a performance and a desire to build traffic on slower nights. A reliable bar operation matters more than a grand stage.

RESTAURANTS, BRUNCH SPOTS & HOSPITALITY

Restaurants with a separate event area, brunch venues, hotels and hospitality spaces that can accommodate an agreed entertainment format without disrupting core service. Some concepts suit seated audiences; others need a more flexible room.

THEATERS, CABARETS & UNUSUAL SPACES

Independent theaters, black-box rooms, cabaret stages, arts spaces and adaptable event venues that want a guest production without independently financing it. Technical needs and permitted uses are reviewed case by case.

A good candidate has a realistic capacity, clear management authority, a workable performance area, suitable sound conditions, appropriate permissions and an appetite for a collaborative event. A beautiful room with incompatible rules or no viable date is not necessarily the right match.

A CLEAN DEAL. NO GUESSWORK.

WHO GETS WHAT?

The venue keeps its own bar and other ordinary house sales. The producer retains its contracted sponsorship income and manages the show budget. Ticketing, admissions, door arrangements, sponsor activations and any non-bar sales are determined separately before booking; none is assumed or silently shared.

WHO PAYS FOR WHAT?

The producer pays its agreed talent and production costs from its secured funding. The venue covers its normal business operations. Any incremental expense, equipment rental, additional staff or special permit is allocated in advance. Neither party becomes responsible for the other’s shortfall merely because the event takes place.

WHAT IF PLANS CHANGE?

Both sides agree on milestones, cancellation and postponement rules, insurance and indemnity expectations, approvals, accessibility, marketing permissions and the conditions that must be met before public announcement. No venue date should be treated as confirmed until both parties approve the arrangement.

HOW A VENUE PARTNERS WITH US

01  INTRODUCE THE ROOM

Tell us about your space, location, capacity, normal operating schedule, existing equipment and the nights you would consider hosting a production.

02  MATCH THE FORMAT

We discuss the audience, show style, technical fit and whether a sponsored production makes operational and commercial sense for your venue.

03  AGREE THE TERMS

The responsible producer and venue confirm the date, financial model, staffing and safety responsibilities, sponsorship needs, and written event terms. If sponsor funding is essential, the booking stays conditional until it is secured.

04  OPEN THE DOORS

Your team operates the venue. The producer delivers the agreed entertainment. Your bar sales remain yours, and each party fulfills the commitments it made.

LET YOUR NEXT QUIET NIGHT MAKE SOME NOISE.

You do not need to underwrite a show to see whether your room could host one. Tell us what you operate and what a successful night would look like. We will discuss whether a production fits before anyone commits.

DISCUSS HOSTING A PRODUCTION

Include the venue name, neighborhood, approximate capacity, available nights, existing stage or sound setup and the best person to contact.

GOOD ART NEEDS A STAGE.

begin@crg.cx

OPEN CALL  ·  PATRONAGE FOR THE ARTIST  ·  SPONSORSHIP FOR THE PRODUCTION