This document provides information and guidance for organizing a Sofar Sounds event. It explains that Sofar Sounds hosts secret concerts in private spaces for audiences interested in discovering new music. The summary outlines the key steps for planning a show, including finding a host, booking photographers/videographers, booking 3-5 musical acts, determining the guest list from RSVPs, and providing a month timeline for planning tasks. Effective team management through defined roles and responsibilities is emphasized.

1. NEW
CITY
GUIDE
Meredith Jones
Sofar Sounds Atlanta Leader
AtlantaSofar@gmail.com
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE

2. WHAT IS SOFAR SOUNDS?
PRE-GIG
NIGHT OF THE GIG
POST-GIG
DOS & DON’TS
GLOBAL SOFAR DOCUMENTS
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE

3. WHAT IS A SOFAR SHOW ?
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
WHO : Depending on host capacity, 50-85 people who RSVPed via the
monthly e-mail newsletter or forwarded email. It is up to the Sofar City Team to
determine a good mix of old and new Sofar attendees.
Dafds
WHAT : A listening room. The event is BYOB, guests sit on the floor, and 3-5
acts (unannounced until night-of) perform 3-4 acoustic or stripped down songs
for an audience of music lovers. Recently, though, Sofar has also hosted many
‘plugged-in’ sessions to support various electronic acts.
dafds
WHEN : Typically a week day (to attract locals and avoid busy nights).
Normally 2 hours (8-10pm)
Dafds
WHERE : Location is kept secret until one week before (neighborhood is
revealed) and night before (address is revealed).

4. WHAT IS SOFAR SOUNDS?
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
We’ll
jump
right
in.
Fingers
crossed,
you’ve
heard
the
‘Sofar
Sounds
shpeal’
already.
Below
is
our
take
on
it.
This
is
what
you
say
once
everyone
is
seAled
on
the
floor,
staring
at
you,
wondering
what
exactly
Sofar
is.
“Welcome
to
our
inaugural
Sofar
Sounds
Atlanta
show!
Sofar
Sounds
started
a
couple
years
ago
in
London
when
two
friends
were
sick
of
going
to
concerts
and
not
being
able
to
hear
their
favorite
arHsts.
They
started
playing
and
performing
music
in
each
other's
apartments.
It
soon
became
a
monthly
event
and
two
years
later,
Sofar
hosts
monthly
(or
someHmes
more
frequent)
shows
in
apartments,
loNs,
houses,
and
backyards
around
the
world.
Sofar
aAracts
a
very
unique
audience
of
true
music-­‐lovers.
The
idea
that
the
performers
are
kept
secret
unHl
the
night
of
the
show
ensures
that
people
are
coming
simply
for
the
love
of
music.
Please
stay
un-l
the
end
!
Please
no
talking/tex-ng
during
the
show
!
Please,
if
you
like
the
arHsts,
go
see
them
again
!
And
now
to
introduce
our
first
act...”

5. PRE-GIG
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
PLAN
A
SHOW:
TO
DO
LIST
MONTH
TIMELINE
TEAM
MANAGEMENT
BOOK
3-­‐5
ACTS
BOOK
VIDEO/AUDIO
DETERMINE
GUEST
LIST
GIG
COMMUNICATION
GLOBAL
SOFAR
COMPLIANCE

6. HOW TO PLAN A SHOW
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
FIND A HOST
Finding
a
host
gets
easier
with
-me
and
is
typically
word-­‐of-­‐mouth.
• Ideally,
the
locaHon
is
centrally
located
• Ensure
there
is
adequate
parking
(if
applicable)
• Friendly
and
accommodaHng
hosts
• Know
how
many
people
the
space
can
hold
BOOK PHOTO/VIDEO/AUDIO
Booking
photographers,
videographers,
and
sound
designers
is
oDen
the
easiest
part
!
• Each
show
typically
involves
2-­‐3
videographers
(who
normally
double
as
video
editors),
1-­‐2
photographers,
and
an
opHonal
(but
preferred)
audio
engineer.
BOOK 3-5 ACTS
Booking
acts
is
done
by
the
Sofar
City
Team
via
email.
Not
sure
what
to
say?
Check
out
our
email
templates
here:
• Each
act
can
be
a
singer,
band,
or
spoken-­‐
word
performer
• Diverse
line-­‐up
is
encouraged,
but
acts
should
be
complimentary
• Acts
will
perform
3-­‐4
acousHc,
stripped-­‐
down
songs
with
minimal
equipment
DETERMINE RSVP LIST
We
are
ac-vely
working
on
making
this
process
easier.
Stay
tuned
for
updates.
• Guests
must
be
subscribed
to
the
mailing
list
on
www.sofarsounds.com
to
receive
the
monthly
newsleAer.
• From
the
newsleAer,
guests
will
RSVP
via
email.
You
can
keep
track
of
who
responds
via
an
Excel
document.
AlternaHvely,
you
can
ask
people
to
submit
their
RSVP
via
google
form.

7. MONTH TIMELINE
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
One
of
the
hardest
parts
of
being
a
city
leader
is
figuring
out
what
to
do
and
when.
This
is
an
example
breakdown
of
how
Sofar
Sounds
Atlanta
manages
their
month
Pick
a
Date
Find
a
Host
Book
Bands
Book
Photo/
Video/
Sound
Send
Gig
Details
Night
of
Gig
Follow
Up
Email
Post
Photo
Upload
Video
March
1
(beginning
of
month
cycle)
March
28
(typically
Thursday)
March
21
(1
week
prior)
March
31
(2-­‐3
days
later)
April
4
(1
week
later)
April
11
(2
weeks
later)
Feb
24
(before
email
is
sent)
Start
month
cycle
again
–
pick
a
date
for
your
city’s
next
show
!

8. TEAM MANAGEMENT
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
TIPS
FOR
TEAM
MANAGEMENT
• Know
you
responsibiliHes
–
clearly
define
who
owns
what.
• Email
team
members
constantly
to
stay
in
the
loop.
• Keep
in
mind
month-­‐long
Hmeline.
• Use
an
excel
spreadsheet
to
keep
track
of
everything
(example
here:
(Sofar
Atlanta
Team
Spreadsheet)
hAp://bit.ly/YKRO2F
TITLE
RESPONSIBLE
FOR
Band
manager
Booking
bands
(emailing,
scheduling,
confirming)
Video/Photo/Audio
manager
Booking
videographer,
photographer,
sound
engineer,
answering
all
quesHons
pre-­‐gig,
and
managing
files
&
uploading
photo/video
post
gig.
Host
manager
&
Emcee
Finding
a
host
locaHon,
coordinaHng
with
the
hosts.
Emcee
HosHng
the
actual
event,
introducing
the
bands,
etc.
(Can
be
a
responsibility
shared
among
all
Sofar
City
Leaders)
There
are
many
responsibiliHes
for
each
Sofar
City
Team.
Here’s
a
breakdown
of
different
roles
and
responsibiliHes.

9. BOOK 3-5 ACTS
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
Hey Micah !
A friend of mine, Jack Preston from The Dojo Collective in Atlanta, suggested I get in touch about the possibility of
you playing Sofar Sounds (www.sofarsounds.com) in Atlanta.
We hold secret living room shows in people’s houses around the world… Three to four acts play short, acoustic or
stripped down sets of four songs each. Having started by playing to a living room of 10 people in North London a
few years ago this grassroots movement of alternative gigging has expanded to the point where we are now
playing gigs in London, NYC, LA, Austin, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Mumbai, Sydney, Melbourne and 10 other cities.
The events have caused such a stir that Reuters ran a feature, which helped fuel the movement: http://goo.gl/
kbKZV.
I'm sorry this is such late notice, but our premiere secret Atlanta living room gig is planned for Thursday, February
28. We're looking to have 4 acts and so far we have Lily and the Tigers, Yamin Semali, and Richelle Brown playing.
Would you be free/interested? The gig is normally from 8-10:30pm. It's super chill and a truly unique experience.
The house is near Grant Park.
Best
Meredith Jones
--------------------------
Sofar Atlanta Team
atlantasofar@gmail.com
Below
is
a
sample
email
used
to
email
bands
for
a
Sofar
Sounds
gig.

10. BOOK VIDEO/AUDIO
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
To
Do
List
Before
the
Gig
• Send
videographer
links
to
Vimeo,
YouTube,
share
audio
guidelines
and
audio/video
PDF
• Connect
the
host
and
videographer
in
case
they
want
to
see
the
locaHon
before
the
gig.
• Learn
more
detail
around
‘tech
specs’
• How
many
camera
operators?
• How
will
they
handle
the
raw
footage?
• Similar
light
sekngs
between
or
among
cameras.
Every
show
requires
• 2-­‐3
camera
operators
to
film
during
the
show
(ideally
1
steady
camera
and
1
bcam,
more
cameras
always
welcome).
• 1
video
editor
(must
produce
at
least
1
video
per
act.
• 1
sound
engineer
to
set
up
mics,
record
audio,
and
mix/master
the
audio
post-­‐gig.
Common
Ques-ons
What
audio/mic
setups
should
we
be
using?
We
strongly
prefer
having
a
sound
engineer/designer,
but
we
don’t
always
have
this
luxury.
Do
we
film
the
en-re
show
or
just
songs
to
be
cut
together?
Feel
free
to
record
the
enHre
show,
but
we
only
need
1-­‐2
videos
per
arHst
(each
video
featuring
just
1
song).
How
do
we
live
stream?
Unfortunately
there
are
only
very
expensive
alternaHves
to
the
basic
web-­‐cam
setup.
For
now,
we
recommend
you
hook
up
an
HD
Camera
to
a
laptop
and
have
the
host
set
up
streaming
from
Google+.
Please
refer
to
the
Video
and
Edi-ng
pdf
guide
for
more
informa-on

11. MANAGE RSVPs
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE

12. GIG COMMUNICATION
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE

13. GLOBAL SOFAR COMPLIANCE
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
Below
are
items
each
Sofar
City
Team
must
complete
as
part
of
the
Sofar
Sounds
Global
Movement.
One
-me
/
ongoing
• Submit
bands
for
review
to
UlHmate
Reviewers
Google
Document.
• Email
Nick
Hayes
to
establish
account
for
Video
Manager
(He
will
provide
you
login
details
for
Sofar
Hard
drive,
access
and
links
to
Diagonal
View,
and
login
details
for
Vimeo).
• Access
Dropbox
folder
for
Sofar
branding
for
your
city
(see
appendix)
• Create
Facebook
group
for
your
city
(please
follow
tradiHonal
naming
convenHons)
Every
month
Pre
Gig:
• Submit
date
of
gig
to
Sofar
Gigs
Importable
(google
doc)
• Email
date
of
gig
to
rafe@sofarsounds.com
before
monthly
cutoff
for
newsleAer
Post
Gig:
• Submit
form
for
donaHons
informaHon
(see
form
in
appendix)
• Upload
photos
to
Flickr
(see
later
slide)
• Upload
videos
to
Global
HQ
using
FTP
• Upload
txt
file
with
informaHon
for
each
video
• Upload
videos
to
YouTube
using
Diagonal
View
• Upload
videos
to
Vimeo
using
login

14. NIGHT OF THE GIG
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE

15. NIGHT OF THE GIG
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
MarkeHng
• Sofar
Logo
/
Signs
printed
and
posted
where
cameras
will
see
(behind
‘stage’
area)
• Logos
posted
outside
the
home,
to
guide
guests
• Band
names/contact
clearly
visible
• Suggested
#hashtags
for
social
media
LocaHon
• Furniture
moved
• Toilets
idenHfied
• Side
Room
• Space
for
band
equipment
• Ice/cups/coolers
available
for
guests
• Camera
set
up
for
streaming
• Introduce
volunteers,
especially
A/V.
• Coordinate
lighHng/space
needed.
• Table
for
bands
to
set
up/sell
merch
Performances
• ArHst
releases
brought
to
gig
and
signed
by
acts
(or
managers)
• Band
order
decided
&
communicated
• Set
list
provided
to
live-­‐stream
and
social
media
techs.
Spelling/wriHng
credits
etc.
• Emcee
speaks
with
each
band
for
special
announcements
-­‐
gigs/CDs
etc.
• DonaHon
hat
ready
for
emcee
to
pass
around
(usually
before
the
last
act)
There
are
plenty
of
things
to
think
about
the
day
of
the
show.
Here’s
a
handy
list
to
make
sure
you’ve
got
it
all
covered.

16. POST-GIG
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
FOLLOW
UP
EMAIL
PHOTO
UPLOADING
VIDEO
EDITING
VIDEO
UPLOADING

17. FOLLOW UP EMAILS
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
TO
BANDS
TO
ATTENDEES
Paypal
is
an
easy
way
to
send
donaHons
to
photographers,
videographers,
sound
designers,
and
most
importantly,
bands.
1. Create
an
account
2. Deposit
the
donaHons
3. Disperse
donaHons
via
email
4. Send
summary
email
of
funds
dispersed
to
whom
and
when
to
Sofar
City
Team

18. PHOTO UPLOADING
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
FLICKR
Username:
Sofarsounds
(@yahoo.com)Password:
housegigflickr

19. VIDEO EDITING
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
**
Note
**
We
now
have
an
in-­‐house
editor
that
can
assist
our
local
leaders.
Should
you
only
have
shooters
available
for
the
night,
then
you
can
just
drop
the
files
from
the
session
into
the
folder
(please
label
appropriately)
and
we
can
edit
the
videos
here.
To
Do
List
Post-­‐Gig
• Remind
editor
of
Hmeline
(2
weeks)
–create
actual
due
dates
if
needed
• Set
up
mode
of
transfer
(Dropbox
is
usually
easiest)
and
include
your
city’s
video
templates
(see
Global
Documents
slide)
• Once
rough
cuts
are
received
and
approved,
proceed
to
next
slide
on
Uploading.
Common
Edi-ng
Ques-ons
Is
it
my
choice
which
songs
are
cut
together
or
somebody
else's?
Typically
the
arHsts
state
their
preferences
on
which
songs
are
recorded.
Am
I
turning
over
the
raw
footage
ever
or
just
sending
rough
cuts
and
finished
cuts?
Rough
cuts
and
finished
cuts.
Do
you
have
an
idea
of
the
turnaround
-me
from
show
to
when
finished
cuts
are
needed?
Ideally
2
weeks
since
that
would
mark
the
mid-­‐point
between
the
previous
and
next
show.

20. VIDEO UPLOADING
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
• One
Hme:
Email
Nick
Hayes
to
receive
your
log
in
details
for:
(1) Sofar
Global
HQ
hard
drive
folder
(2) Diagonal
View
(used
for
YouTube).
• Upload
to
Sofar
Hard
Drive
• Open
FTP
client
(ex:
FileZilla,
CyberDuck,
Fetch)
and
enter
Source:
,
Port:
,
and
user
details
(set
up
by
Nick
Hayes,
above).
• Upload
to
YouTube
(via
Diagonal
View)
• Go
to
link
for
Diagonal
View
and
upload
video
according
to
instrucHons
in
guide
(below)
• Send
video
link
to
arHst
involved
and
gain
approval
• Sent
noHce/email
to
Sofar
Global
once
videos
are
approved
to
make
them
public
For
more
detail,
reference
the
Appendix
for
our
Uploading
Guide
(pdf)

21. DON’T.
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
• Procras-nate
in
emailing
bands
• Forget
to
confirm
performers
mid-­‐month
• Be
hazy
in
how
you
will
disperse
dona-ons
• Delay
in
uploading
photo/video

22. DO.
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
• Clearly
communicate
what
informaHon
your
RSVPs
will
get
and
when.
• Submit
your
city’s
informaHon
to
all
relevant
global
documents.
• Communicate
oNen
with
bands,
hosts,
photo/video
before
and
aNer
the
show.
• Greet
every
audience
member
at
the
door
as
they
show
up.

23. FAQ
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
When
will
the
show
begin?
We
tell
people
to
promptly
arrive
at
8pm;
shows
typically
start
around
8:30
What
is
the
call
-me
for
the
different
acts?
Call
Hme
depends
on
you!
we
have
4
acts
singing
3-­‐4
songs
each.
the
show
normally
goes
unHl
10:30,
so
if
you
prefer
a
specific
Hme
in
there,
please
let
us
know
Would
it
be
OK
to
bring
a
synthesizer
and
electric
guitar?
yes
absolutely
!
we
are
hosHng
at
people's
houses/apartments,
so
as
long
as
the
band
brings
their
own
equipment,
you
can
bring
whatever
you
need

24. SOFAR GLOBAL DOCUMENTS
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
REFERENCE
GUIDES
• Filming
and
Edi-ng
Guidelines
(doc)
//
this
guide
you
can
share
with
the
videographers
and
editors
for
each
gig.
It
provides
guidelines
on
the
styles
used
for
videos
for
Sofar
• Video
Uploading
Guide
(pdf)
//
this
guide
can
be
leveraged
by
the
Sofar
City
Leader
who
is
responsible
for
uploading
their
city’s
videos
to
Global
HQ,
YouTube,
and
Vimeo.
• New
leader
Interest
//
This
quick
doc
is
sent
to
those
interested
in
becoming
Sofar
Leaders
in
their
city.
• SOFAR
Coordinator
Manual
//
This
has
similar,
but
more
detailed,
informaHon
about
what
is
involved
in
being
a
City
Leader
• Sofar
Gig
Checklist
//
This
is
exactly
what
it
sounds
like
–
a
checklist
for
planning
your
Sofar
gig
!
GLOBAL
DOCUMENTS
• Dropbox
folder
for
Sofar
Branding
:
hAps://www.dropbox.com/sh/quugk4n7djexyH/OEbXv1fMlY
• All
Gigs
Sofar
importable
//
Keeps
track
of
every
Sofar
show
by
number.
Please
input
your
city,
date,
and
the
four
bands
that
performed
for
each
gig.
• Gig
dates
//
This
is
what
Sofar
Global
uses
when
compiling
each
month’s
global
newsleAer.
Please
make
sure
to
have
your
dates
in
5
days
prior
to
the
end
of
the
month!
• Sofar
City
Emails
//
What
it
sounds
like
–
emails
for
all
of
the
people
involved
with
Sofar
Sounds
worldwide.
• Ul-mate
Reviewers
//
This
is
where
you
will
input
your
recommendaHons
for
musicians/acts/bands.
Please
check
this
periodically
for
reviewer
comments
and
votes.
You
must
have
at
least
two
‘yes’es
to
book
an
act.
ALL
GOOGLE
DOCS
CAN
BE
FOUND
HERE:
hAp://bit.ly/ZSCtzs

25. SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
QUESTIONS?
SOFAR SOUNDS || NEW CITY GUIDE
CONTACT
THE
FOUNDER
RAFE@SOFARSOUNDS.COM
CONTACT
THE
AUTHOR
ATLANTASOFAR@GMAIL.COM