FAQ

What should I expect from a visit to The 443?

The 443 is an eclectic, intimate, live music venue with a full bar and a carefully curated selection of wine, craft beer, and specialty cocktails. We are only open for scheduled live music performances, comedy shows, and other events.

Our room is a mix of regular height and bar tables set up cabaret-style, and the sightlines are excellent. Our friendly staff will visit your table to take your order, and we have a $15 per person minimum food/beverage purchase requirement. You are expected to limit conversation during the performance and focus on the artist gracing our stage.

Seating arrangement at the 443

 


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How can I get the best seats for a show?

We are a tiny room, with just 75 seats, so there is not a bad seat in the house. Our tickets are divided up into three Tiers:

Floor plan at the 443

We have 3 tiers of ticket options:

Tier 1 – (YELLOW) – Most expensive tickets. Regular height tables for two around the stage and single barstools at the bar.

Tier 2 – (BLUE) – Mid-priced tickets. High and low tables for two with excellent sight lines – particularly the high tables.

Tier 3 – (LAVENDER) – Least expensive tickets. Two low tables for two (15 & 16), plus (potentially shared) high tables for single attendees (25, 26, 27)

Green squares/circles on the floor plan are bar-height tables, orange squares are regular-height tables.

When you purchase your tickets on EventBrite, you can choose the corresponding Tier based on the area you want to sit. Our VIP Patrons are able to request a specific table. If that sounds good to you, you can visit VIP Patrons HERE for more information.


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I noticed your shows are “listening room style”. What does that mean? Can’t I talk to my friends during the show?

At the 443 our focus is squarely on the music.
That means attendees should limit conversation and give their attention to the performer on stage. If you are chatting and it becomes disruptive to the performer and other guests, you will be asked to keep your voice down.
Yes, we will SHUSH you.
We understand you’re excited to see your friends, but conversing loudly during the show is disrespectful to the performer and the people around you who paid to see and hear it. Remember – nobody bought a ticket to listen to your chatter.
If you continue to disrupt the performance and/or become abusive to the staff member who politely asked you to lower your voice, you will be escorted out and your ticket will not be refunded.

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What is your capacity?

Our official capacity is 88 indoors but we can only seat up to 75 people. We can accommodate about another 60-ish on the patio when the weather permits.


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I see you have a $15 required minimum purchase for your shows. What if I don’t want to order anything?

We appreciate the enthusiastic presence of everyone who buys a ticket or pays a cover charge to attend our shows. But we keep very little (if any) of that money – the majority goes to the artist gracing our stage. We keep ourselves in business by selling food and drink. We do not allow guests to bring in food or drink of any kind. 

Our average guest spends about $30 (and usually much more) when they visit us for an event. If you attend a show and don’t make a purchase, you are occupying valuable real estate and costing us money.

If you’re not a drinker, we have a mocktail menu and 5 kinds of N/A beer. If you truly don’t want anything at all we will present you with a bill for $15. If you don’t show up and don’t give us 24 hours notice, we’ll email you an invoice. 

If you’d like more details about why this policy is in place, visit our blog:

Math Lessons and Minimum Purchases”


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Do you offer table service?

We do! Our servers will visit your table to take your order so you can relax and enjoy the show.


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We’re coming in with a group of 6 for a show. You can give us separate customized checks, right?

Effective October 6, 2023 we will no longer split checks for groups of 5 or more.

We strive to say “YES” to our guests as often as possible, but we are just not able to manage convoluted split-check arrangements without negatively impacting everyone else in the room.

Please have a plan when you arrive, let your server know BEFORE you order if you want anything other than a single check, and learn how to use Venmo, PayPal, or CashApp.

 

 


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What time are your shows?

For Monday through Saturday shows our doors open at 5:30pm and showtime is 7pm. On Sundays doors open at 4:30pm and showtime is 6pm.

Our musical contracts require two 45-50 minute sets with a break or one 90-minute set plus possible encore. That said, it’s ultimately up to the artist how long they will play for.


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Where can I send my booking requests?

Before you contact us about booking a show, please consider whether we are a good fit for each other. We do not book cover bands. We focus on original, Americana, and roots-style singer-songwriters and blues artists. Our capacity for seated shows is about 75. Our stage usually holds a max of 4-5 performers, depending on what instruments they are playing.

We are looking for artists who are charismatic storytellers, compelling performers, and good human beings. We will bend over backward to make sure you have an excellent experience at the 443; in return, we expect you to be polite and respectful to our waitstaff, door person, sound tech, and the guests who have paid to see you play.

Our shows are “Listening room” style – talking is discouraged.

Once you’re booked, you can find additional Artist Info HERE, and our tech specs HERE.


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Where can I buy tickets for your shows?

Tickets for all shows are sold on EventBrite. You can check out our roster of upcoming events on the EVENTS page of this website, and if you click on the green “BUY TICKETS” button, it will take you directly to EventBrite. You do not need to print out your EventBrite tickets – just give the name you used to buy your tickets at the door.

We do not sell tickets for our shows anywhere else. Do not purchase tickets from anyone on Facebook unless you know them personally – the number of ticket scams is on the rise.

Buy Tickets at the 443

 


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The show I want to see at the 443 is sold out…I’m so disappointed! Should bother adding my name to the waitlist?

Definitely! We almost always have a few cancellations, so there is a good chance you might still be able to go. Cancellations usually come in the day of the show, so if you can be flexible with your plans, you might get a text message letting you know we have a seat for you.

If we have a long waitlist and you don’t happen to get in, it’s still a good idea to add your name and contact info. When we rebook them for their next date, we’ll send a notification to everyone who missed out.


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I missed the pre-sale tickets online… darn it! Can I still get tickets at the door?

If we have any seats available when the pre-sale closes, we’ll have them available at the door. Please be aware that the day-of-sale ticket prices are $5 more than the pre-sale.


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I bought tickets for a show and now I can’t attend. Can I get a refund?

Once a show goes on sale, ticket sales are reported weekly to the booking agency/management. If we refund your ticket, we still have to pay the artist/agency for the reported sale – so it would cost us twice to issue a refund. We will take refund requests on EventBrite up to 30 days before the show because it allows us enough time to make up the reported ticket sale.

If a show is sold out, we have a waiting list, and you give us enough notice, we may be able to resell your ticket. The earlier you let us know, the better. We don’t usually have extra staff on a show day to have someone stop what they are doing and start running through the waitlist.

Refund policy

 


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Can I bring my kids to a show or event?

You must be 18 or over to be in the bar after 4pm.

Our space was designed for adults and we do not have a children’s menu. For a more detailed explanation of why we created this policy, head over to our blog:

“Kids in the Bar: Part 2”

If you’re planning to visit the 443, we respectfully request that you leave the kids at home.

 


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Do you have a dress code?

We didn’t think it would be necessary to have an official dress code at The 443… but somehow, here we are.

You cannot wear pajama pants in our establishment.

Pajama pants


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Can I take pictures during the show?

No problem, as long as you aren’t using flash photography. If you are planning on bringing in anything more elaborate than a cell phone, please give us a heads up so we can clear it with the artist, particularly if you plan to videotape. Also, please be mindful of other guests while you are shooting.


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Is The 443 wheelchair accessible?

Unfortunately, our room is not accessible to wheelchairs.

We inherited a pair of restrooms in our 80+-year-old building that could charitably be described as “quirky”. We investigated several scenarios, but unfortunately, we are not able to make the rooms accessible without gutting both of them completely and moving walls, which comes with a hefty price tag. We simply couldn’t manage it along with the other expenses involved in opening the venue.

Our long-term plan is to convert our teeny-tiny men’s room and oddly arranged ladies room into two unisex wheelchair-accessible restrooms, as well as add a ramp to our front entrance


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I understand the 443 is not wheelchair accessible, but I think I can manage the small front step with my chair. Can I bring my service animal in?

Service animals are welcome, as long you give us advance notice that you’re bringing one in.

Our tables are very close together and some are bar height. We’ll need to be sure you’re seated at a regular height table and remove the table and chairs next to you so the animal has a place to sit. SERVICE ANIMALS MUST BE TETHERED and cannot be allowed to wander around or interact with other guests.

When you purchase your tickets on Eventbrite you’ll see a place on the order form to indicate any special seating accommodations you require.

Service animals at the 443

 

 


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Where should I park?

Parking is plentiful, free and easy on Burnet Avenue – there is no odd/even parking or meters, you can park on both sides of the street. If it’s important for you to park close to our front door, we suggest you arrive early.

BUT – Please be considerate of our neighbors. Do not block driveways, garage doors, or other entrances. The old train station across the street looks abandoned, but several businesses operate out of that space. They are in and out at odd hours and they must be able to access their building.

 


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