We ask $3.00 for adults, and children 12 and younger are free. Feel free to move about the kitchen when the seatbelt sign is turned off (ha ha... we don't have a seatbelt sign!). Go in, grab a cup of coffee, a piece of pie, make some tea, or just stand around and gab. Just don't be arguing/discussing/debating too loudly back there. The sound reverberates all through the house.

6:00-7:30pm: Jam

Our jam session is very informal and inclusive, allowing you to loosen up and get to know the other dadgaders. We set up a circle ready to go at 6pm, and we even have books of tunes with chords and lyrics that you can add to if you'd like. Just bring 5 paper copies with print big enough to read (we have some visually challenged musicians.) If you're a long time jammer, jump right in. If not, jump in anyway. The best way to learn is to play with good musicians.

If you have special set-up needs for personal items such as amplifiers, pedals, devices, CDs for backup, etc., please check with the sound technician in the back of the room by the sound board. If you can't find the sound techie, just ask around. It really helps us out and minimizes surprises. Also, we welcome bands, but talk to us before the open mike starts so we can help plan the setup. As they say, "get your act together."

7:00pm on: Sign-up- Our New Format!

For those who haven't been with us recently, we've changed our sign-up format. To setup the open mike performance order, all names will now be drawn randomly from a box of names collected before 7:00pm. If you are one of the last two names chosen, you will have the opportunity to go second or third the following month. If you arrive after 7:00pm you can as usual signup at the end of the list. You may find only later slots available, and depending on how many performers we have for the evening this may either still be reasonable or pretty late.

7:30pm: Open mic

Throughout the evening we usually make announcements of dadgad "etiquette" and upcoming events. Please let us know of anything you wish to share.

Please try to tune your instruments and know more or less what you are going to perform before your turn is called. When you are next-up, it helps to be "ready to go".

When you arrive on stage, it helps to take a few moments to make sure everything is properly adjusted so that you can put "your best face forward." The sound crew will be right there to help you do this. For example, make sure that your guitar is properly plugged in or miked (strum it a few times), make sure the mike is properly setup in front of you, make sure the audience can hear you (say "check" into the microphone several times), make sure your music is properly set on the music stand, and remember to take a deep breath. Our audience is very patient and very supportive! Don't worry about them. They'll wait.

Because of the number of performers we usually have, we need to limit you to 2 songs or 10 minutes. Poets usually can read more than 2 short poems, short story writers and story tellers might read excerpts 10 minutes in length, and jugglers and sword swallowers,... well you know. If you're a backup performer in demand, it's also ok to do your own solo material. Just try not to be a "stage hog."

10:30pm or earlier: The coffeehouse is over, folks.

We very much appreciate help with the break down of tables, chairs, equipment, etc. If you know sound equipment, ask if you can help with the break down of the mikes, stands, cables, monitors, etc.