Unfortunately, we would indeed need to pay to use Da Big Room, which is not an option for us Starving Artists. Donna Adler expressed concern that we might be exceeding Wise Fools' maximum posted capacity, but I doubt it--it's a bigger club than it used to be and Rusty's in Santa Monica was no bigger (and hosted larger JPF showcases). Ripley Caine has suggested Bar Vertigo down on the edge of Ukie Village for the Aug. 12 showcase--friendly, lots of parking, and they wouldn't charge us. She hosts most of her Songwriter Slam nights there (the one I played Wed. night was at North Park Tap in Old Town--which we all agreed was not a good fit due to its heavily yuppie-sports-fan clientele and inadequate PA/lighting). If we want to take over any part of the Abbey's open mic, we have to be there IN PERSON to sign up--perhaps we can agree to all meet there early and sign up in sequence. They will not let us sign up a block of time collectively even if we were to cut our time slots down from their usual four songs apiece.

Sandy Andina
http://www.sandyandina.com