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Sad situation for music cafe
By Jeanné McCartin
spotlight@seacoastonline.com

March 24, 2005

It's not pretty, but The Sad Cafe off Route 125 in Plaistow is a vital
venue for area teenagers.
J.L. Stevens photo

What: The Sad Café, an all-ages music and theater venue.

Where: 148 Plaistow Road/Route 125 in Plaistow

When: Weekly shows, check Web site for details

Cost: $5-$10, with most shows $8

Contact: www.thesadcafe.com

A few months back, Plaistow’s Sad Café announced it was in serious financial trouble and about to close its doors.

"We’re a very small organization, with a month-to-month shoestring budget," says Executive Director Andrea Bonner. "In January, we found out we wouldn’t receive the county money we’d received in the past. It’s understandable, totally. But that, coupled with nights that we had snow … it severely affected our ability to pay our bills."

The accumulated blows put Sad $16,000 in debt. Since putting out its appeal for help, it raised $10,000 through personal donations from the board, families, businesses and area churches. The response assures the nonprofit musical venue is open through May, but more is needed for the immediate, and the long haul, Bonner says.

"There’s been a great groundswell of support," says Bonner. "Till now, we’ve basically survived on admissions and grants, but we’ve realized we can’t continue that way. We’re getting more aggressive. We know we need the help of towns and businesses."

The all-age venue was founded in 1997 as a safe, drug-free venue for young, amateur musicians to gather and perform before an audience. In 1999, it converted to a nonprofit - continuing with its original mission, offering a place for teens to learn, practice and perform music - and moved into community youth programming.

Sad Café now offers numerous art-based after-school and summer programs for high-school and, primarily, middle-school teens. Current programs include theater arts and Making a Band, where kids learn or practice an instrument and meet kids of similar interests. There is also a cable access show run by teens and karate lessons.

Sad Café’s weekend entertainment still features teen bands, teen dances and other events. Over the course of the past year, more than 400 teen bands and single artists have played at the Sad Café, drawing more than 12,000 area youth, 75 percent of who are 14-18 years of age.

Sad serves a real purpose, and proof is in the numbers, says Bonner. The band count is not added to beef up attendance numbers. The kids use Sad and count on it.

Till now, half of its $140,000 annual operations budget was raised through $8 tickets to its concerts and dances; the cost was recently raised from $7. During the school year, events are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. In the summer, the café is open six nights a week.

In addition to its in-house programs, Sad Café, named after an Eagles song, acts as an agent for other community youth programs, says Bonner. It is all in jeopardy.

Sad called on area towns to help. Only two weeks ago, Hampstead, Kingston and Newton voted to donate $5,000 each to its programming. Plaistow and Atkinson already committed $5,000 each. And Danville is in for $500.

"That’s bought us time, (in which) we wrote grants," Bonner says. "We’re still working on private and state funding."

This isn’t the first time Sad has been backed to the wall, she says. That’s why, in addition to securing funding for the day-to-day expenses, it’s looking at running a capital campaign and purchasing its own building, making its future more secure.

"To be able to continue to give programs and expand, we need to own our own building. … Rent here is $3,300," says Bonner.

Since the problems arose, interested adults have formed a booster club, The Friends of the Sad Café, to help make it happen. More members are being sought. There are also three in-house fund-raisers planned.

Coming April 2 is a five-band show, organized by musician Mike Previti, who is in one of the performing bands. The show runs from 7 to 11 p.m. Other performers include Breaking Tradition, the café’s after-school program band; The Juice; Breakaway; and Mighty Purple. Tickets are $8.

On April 9, it’s Averi, a Boston rock band, which got its start at the café back in 1998. Meet the Day will open the show. Tickets are $10. The show runs from 7 to 11 p.m.

Finally on April 17, The Kingston Big Band will perform. Tickets are $5, and the show is at 2 p.m.

"We offer a safe, substance-free environment to the youth of the surrounding area, something they wouldn’t find elsewhere. … We get a lot of support from the kids. They love it," says Bonner. "If we’re not here, they won’t have what we offer."

Those interested in supporting The Sad Café may send donations to The Sad Café, PO Box 1051, 148 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, NH 03865, or if you are interested in joining the booster club, call 392-8893.

Celebrating our 10th rocking year! Lots of big shows coming up-check out our myspace.com/thesadcafe ...

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