Event Booking
FAQs
Thinking about hosting an event at Spruce? Here's everything you need to know before reaching out. We love hosting all sorts of events in the shop and look forward to hearing your ideas!
FAQs not answering your question? Have an event that might not fit into our parameters? We're happy to work with you to figure something out and make your event happen at Spruce.
Email us at Events@SpruceCoffeeNHV.com
GENERAL FAQs
How do I book an event at Spruce Coffee?
Read the FAQs below for more info, then reach out to us via email to get started! Let us know a few dates that you're interested in and we'll check our calendar to see what dates we have available.
Email us at:
Events@SpruceCoffeeNHV.com
What kind of events do you host?
We host live shows, craft nights, karaoke, trivia, game nights, movie screenings, lectures, burlesque shows, speed dating, art markets, book clubs, candle making, and more! We love having a wide and diverse range of things happening at Spruce every night, so we're open to chatting about any idea you might have.
LOGISTICS
What time can my event be? When can I arrive?
DAYTIME EVENTS
There are no typical times for daytime events, since these usually take place while the cafe is open and busy. Some examples of day time events include book clubs, tarot card reading, meetings, background music performances - something that does not require full use of the space or all customers' attention. We can work with you to pick the best day and time!
EVENING EVENTS
Most evening events begin at 7pm. If you are looking to perform live music, we recommend 2–3 acts on the bill with performances running from approximately 7–9:30 PM. We close at 10 PM, so we do ask that you wrap up 20-30 minutes before that for cleanup and mingling.
Most performers arrive around 30 minutes before the show for setup and a brief sound check.
What are the noise restrictions?
We have a strict sound ordinance on our street, so if you are wanting to perform live music, we can only accommodate acoustic instruments. Drum kits and loud amplified instruments are unfortunately not permitted.
THE SPACE & EQUIPMENT
What equipment is available?
We have the following available for use:
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PA system
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3 Shure microphones and 3 microphone stands
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2 music stands
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Baby grand piano
If you need anything beyond this, you're welcome to bring your own equipment (acoustic performances only please!)
What is the space like?
space!
COVER CHARGE & REVENUE SPLIT
Is there a cover charge?
That's up to you! We recommend a $5–$10 cover, but you're more than welcome to make it a free event. We ask that any covers be listed on the flyer as a "suggested donation" - we encourage customers to give a donation for a show, but we won't turn anyone away for lack of funds.
How does the revenue split work?
If you choose to charge a cover, we use a 70/30 split: 70% goes to the performers and 30% to the venue. Before you leave on the night of the event, please check in with a barista to settle the split.
EVENT PROMOTION
How will my event be promoted?
We ask for two things:
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(Required) A flyer for the event, which we'll post on our website. The flyer should include:​
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WHO: List all performers
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WHAT: Details about the event
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WHERE: Event Location
(Spruce Coffee, 952 State St, New Haven CT) -
WHEN: Event Time
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COST: If applicable! If you choose to charge a cover, please list it on the flyer as a "Suggested Donation".
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(Optional, but recommended) An Instagram collaborator invite so the flyer will appear on our page as well, so we can help promote the event. (If you are do not have Instagram or do not want to post the event, please let us know so we can post it on your behalf).
Please use original artwork for your flyer (no AI-generated images). We love seeing your creativity!​​
Will my event be promoted in other ways?
We add all events to a monthly Instagram post (you can see one of our previous calendars here), and we also add them to our giant chalk calendar in the shop.
We do our best to post flyers to our Instagram story as they are coming up, and you may even see a print out of your flyer around town! We encourage you to tell your friends and family, post about your event, and print your own flyers to post on our bulletin board and around town.