I lost count, the number of times that a band finished playing at Goodbye Blue Monday and one of the members stepped off the stage and said to me in a shyly triumphant voice, "This was our first show EVER."
This is music to my ears and I never got tired of hearing it.
Hi. I'm Steve, creator of Goodbye Blue Monday. I was asked to write this note.
In 2010, Al Heyman took over the management of this place and chose to keep with free, open-booking because he was amazed at the talent he saw whenever he came to see a show.
He installed a kitchen, tap beer, a backyard deck and a bunch of other good things.
He has since fallen victim to Hurricane Sandy when it struck in Long Beach, LI, which has made making further improvements here impossible.
If you're reading this, you probably know this place. Maybe you performed here or saw shows, or both. Maybe you had your first gig here.
We need your help and here's why;
Since opening in 2005, Goodbye Blue Monday has observed an open-booking policy.
We book anyone brave enough to ascend the stage, something that doesn't happen in many venues in New York City anymore, save an open mic here and there.
We've taken pride in being a portal into NYC for musicians, artists and performers from around the corner, around the country and around the world.
We've never taken a cut from the door (if there ever was one) and when the tip jar gets passed, we always kicked-in.
We feed out-of-towners grilled-cheese sandwiches and PBR or good, strong coffee!
In organizing Goodbye Blue Monday this way, we've chose the path of most resistance, financially-speaking.
We've been staring at needed improvements and simply don't have the money for them.
Air conditioning, a second bathroom and a renovated storefront top the list, among other things.
These are the big-ticket items right off.
1. - A new Air Conditioning/Heating system alone will cost approximately 20k.
2. - We've operated with one restroom since opening, and it's time for a change. We have to reconfigure that area and make two rest rooms out of it. It'll cost about 3k.
3. - A renovated storefront; building and installing an entirely new right-hand storefront and replacing the old, rusted pull-down gates, new foyer, doors and hall-floor, another 10k.
If you've been here on a crowded night in the summer the past seven years, you can easily appreciate the need for the first two items.
We also want to build an analogue studio in the basement, keeping with the spirit of a room that harkens to the magnificent art of old technology. This could be started with money raised now and completed with the store's earnings.
AS FAR AS THANK-YOU GOODIES GO...
A Goodbye Blue Monday tee-shirt is as rare as espadrilles at a tractor-pull.
There was one run of them in 2006 and none since.
Well, they're being printed, as well as tote bags, bumper stickers and whatever else seems to be a good idea!
GBM merch, music and CD's from our friends, bunches of brunches (by the month or year) will be made available, as well as original, one-of-a-kind art pieces donated by brilliant artists and performers, will be made available for your generosity.
Please, tell your friends!
