Operations - Programming and Partnerships
Summary of event programming schedule, artist relationships, and community partnerships.
Weekly Programming Schedule
Rotating 4-weekly Wednesday: Art Class, Trivia, Comedy, Film Night
Rotating Thursday:
- Lesbian Dance Party (Eve Sapphic Night)
- Lesbian Speed Dating
- Gay Kink Night
- Open Night (straights, couples, polyamorous, trans)
Friday (alternating fortnightly):
- Odd weeks: Drag Bingo (very popular)
- Even weeks: Big theme events (Emo Night, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, etc.)
Saturday: Big nightclub night plus customer functions (birthdays, bachelorette parties, hen’s parties)
Programming Responsibility and Talent
Booker: Emily (Head of Programming & Promotion) — has national links with top drag and DJ talent; regularly nominated for awards
Planning horizon: 9–12 months in advance to allow time for successful advertising
Tools: Universal spreadsheet to avoid double-booking; tracks special days (International Lesbian Day, Pride month, International Women’s Day, etc.)
Budgeting: Show templates shared between Emily and Mat; budgets decided collaboratively
Artist pay: Pride pays drag artists higher rates than many larger bars — ethical commitment with standard rates across the board; very few special deals
Ticket pricing: Described as “half art, half science, half luck” — considers event style, target market, demand, budget, and customer spending patterns (some events draw non-drinkers)
Popular Programming
- Drag Bingo (very popular)
- Eve Sapphic Night — Lesbian Dance Party (monthly, very popular)
- Lesbian Arm Wrestling (very popular)
- Theme nights (Taylor Swift, Buffy, Emo, Chappell Roan)
- Saturday late-night (still performing okay)
- Trivia Wednesdays (started okay)
- Film Night (growing from low base)
- Customer functions (birthdays, hen’s parties)
Performance Review
Current practice: Quick and anecdotal discussions between Mat and event captain due to resource constraints
Ideal practice: Structured review with spreadsheet tracking wins, losses, and lessons learnt
Community Relationships and Partnerships
Local arts and culture:
- Many local artists exhibit at the venue
- Many local bands perform at the venue
- Supported Pride days and magazine launches
Community support and sponsorships:
- Sponsored women’s football
- Sponsored a gay hockey player
- Organised fundraisers throughout the year
Core venue mandate: Support art and support local — reflected in diverse hiring, PLAY NICE campaign, support for all arts and diverse performers, fundraising support, award wages with payday superannuation, and entertainers’ superannuation
Community Challenge: Shareholder Relations
Shareholder base: ~200 shareholders who invested real money in a community-owned venue
Current gap: Not in touch with shareholders often enough. Need to communicate with them brilliantly and regularly.
Promotional Tools
- Promo codes for comps, performer guests, VIPs, group bookings, social groups
- Advertising on PromoTix (free ticket strategy to fill seats)
- Considering PinTuna entries for all groups so registers can scan and apply discounts
Related Pages
- Programming Model — scheduling constraints and strategic decisions
- Audience Development — how programming drives customer acquisition
- Shareholder Engagement — capital raise and community relationship strategy