Interested in booking a show?
Awesome, read through this entire page; we look forward to hearing from you.
We host: music, comedy, theater, film, literary events, improv, cabaret, spoken word, dance and more.
We also offer Theater Rentals for parties, special events, video shoots etc.

All Local Artists:
- Minimum Documented Draw of 60 people
- Performance Format: Typically, a 2-set format with one intermission. This can be 50 minutes + 50 minutes or 60 minutes + 40 minutes, totaling 100 minutes of performance time.
- Co-Bill Booking: Performers are responsible for booking their own co-bill acts, whether they be bands, musicians, comics, films, actors, or poets.
- Promotion: Performers should have their own promotional efforts in place and also collaborate with our PR team.

Agents, Touring Artists, and Promoters:
We host a diverse array of performances including comedy, music, dance, poetry, and more. Unlike traditional music venues, we do not book opening acts directly. While we can offer suggestions, we require you to arrange for a local opener based in either San Francisco or Santa Rosa.
- Minimum Documented Draw: Touring artists with a documented draw of 60 or more in San Francisco are eligible to perform two sets in an “Evening with” format. Without this documented draw, a local opener is mandatory.
- Booking Local Openers: You are responsible for booking a local opener if needed. The headliner and opener should agree on how to split the artist portion of the payout.
- Line-Up Completion: Ensure that the complete line-up is finalized 8-10 weeks before the performance date. We do not put incomplete line-ups on sale.
- Promotion: Performers should have their own promotional efforts in place and also collaborate with our PR team.

Music Showcases:
Volume/Band Parameters if not already Acoustic/Low Volume
- Vocals can be heard over music
- Play to the Room – Don’t Blast out the Audience
- Ear Plugs are never needed by Audience
- Small Drum Set OK
- If you are not acoustic — this is a good example of a higher volume show for us is The Breeders Tiny Desk Concert.
- We offer a PA with Behringer X2222USB Board, 8 inputs from stage, (2) BOSE Speaker/Monitor Towers, and 5 SM58 mics & stands/5 Mono DIs plus 1 mini-jack adapter to play backing tracks. SF only: (1) In-house Piano. The board has phantom power.
- We are a streamlined service and are not built for more involved sound or tech needs. We are not a music club or black box theater and do not provide the same lighting boards and/or sound engineering that those types of places offer.
- Simple Sound or Tech Set Ups are required: No in-ear monitors, no Condenser Mics, no more than 8 inputs (mics or DIs), simple lighting or sound cues or bring a volunteer to do these.
- There is 1 hour from Load In to Doors opening to sound/tech check all of the performers.
- Please bring only what you note here on the Booking Form or contact us to update it. No surprises, please and no changing the placement of our PA Speaker/Towers.

Comedy Showcases:
We provide the theater and infrastructure and general promotions of our monthly calendar with features on each performance. We are not Comedy Promoters.
Minimum Documented Draw of 60 people
If not local, please take into consideration whether it’s best to pair up with a comedy promoter or if the Touring Comic’s draw can carry the whole show.
Thank you for your collaboration. We look forward to showcasing your talent.
SAN FRANCISCO CAPACITY | TERMS | TIMELINE:
Capacity: 135 (100 seated+35 standing)
Terms: Door Deal = 70% Artists / 30% TLC (after House Expenses)
Ticket Prices: Artists set their ticket prices at $15 or more.
House Expenses:
$225 (standard) $275 (early load-in/theater productions)
$250-300 (10+ performers/costumes with glitter or feathers, etc. requiring extra janitorial services/other miscellaneous changes).
If total Sales $ is less than House Expenses: TLC retains gross amount of door sales. Artists never pay out to meet house expenses.
Evening Shows: Load in 6:30, Doors 7:30pm. Show: 8 / 8:15-10:30pm with one intermission.
Sunday Matinée: Load in 3:00pm, Doors 4:00pm. Show 4:30 /4:45-7pm with one intermission.
TLC San Francisco has an in-house acoustic piano
A rear screen projector with 7 ft x 7 ft screen
Stage size = 14 ft deep x 14 ft wide w/ ADA accessible stage ramp (30″ wide/600 lb capacity).


We have a 30 mile radius clause:
The requirement is that you have NO OTHER SHOWS FOR 3 WEEKS BEFORE OR AFTER.
This is to ensure that you get the best turnout possible.
Thank you for working with us to make your show a success.

How to Book A Show:
The Lost Church books shows approx. 3 months in advance.
Email booking@thelostchurch.org
Subject line should include:
Location (SF or SR theater) + Performer Names and DATE you are requesting.
Body of Email:
- complete line-up
- date range requested
- websites and brief description of the showcase
If music: include a weblink to music or video
If comedy, improv or theater: please include a video.
Please do not send attachments!
Our Booking Agent will get back to you as soon as possible if your inquiry meets our criteria.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to have an intermission?
All music shows require an intermission, Comedy shows can opt to remove it.
How do ticket prices get decided?
Artists set their ticket prices at $15 or more.
Can I have more than 2 acts?
For comedy- yes! For music, or other acts that require set up and tear down- 2 acts is best. Here’s what run-of-show typically looks like, for context:
Load In: 6:30pm
Tech Check: 6:30-7:30pm
Doors 7:30pm
Set 1: 8:15-9:05pm (50-min) –
Intermission: 20-min
Set 2: 9:25-10:15pm (50-min) –
End of Show: 10:30pm
Exit/Lights Out: 11:00pm
Start and stop times are firm, or there’s an upcharge to cover labor for more time. We have to preserve an intermission but we can get a little creative about set time distribution- for example the first set could be split up between two solo artists, each playing half the time with no changeover. We couldn’t split the first set between two bands, because there isn’t time to set up and tear down.
Can we make the show 18+ an over?
Yes we can, if planned in advanced.
Can I bring my dog?
The short answer, NO, we love dogs but documented service animals only.
The Lost Church Provides:
- The Theater: An eclectic blend of a dark, haunted Victorian manor meets Weimar Cabaret/Speakeasy.
- Personnel: Host and sound person on-site
- Sound:
- We offer a PA with Behringer X2222USB Board, 8 inputs from stage, (2) BOSE Speaker/Monitor Towers, and 5 SM58 mics & stands/5 Mono DIs plus 1 mini-jack adapter to play backing tracks. SF only: (1) In-house Piano. The board has phantom power.
- We are a streamlined service and are not built for more involved sound or tech needs. We are not a music club or black box theater and do not provide the same lighting boards and/or sound engineering that those types of places offer.
- Simple Sound or Tech Set Ups are required: No in-ear monitors, no Condenser Mics, no more than 8 inputs (mics or DIs), simple lighting or sound cues or bring a volunteer to do these.
- There is 1 hour from Load In to Doors opening to sound/tech check all of the performers.
- For Music Shows: If not performing acoustic — a good example of a higher volume show for us is The Breeders Tiny Desk Concert.
- Please bring only what you note here on the Booking Form or contact us to update it. No surprises, please and no changing the placement of our PA Speaker/Towers.
- Lighting:
- Full lighting board in San Francisco
- Simple stage lighting in Santa Rosa
- Promotions:
- Social media promotions managed by a dedicated TLC Social Media/Community Manager, including posts and ads
- Advertising in select local media (digital and radio)
- Press releases to local media
- Local internet listings
- Monthly in-house calendar distributed in the neighborhood and city, and displayed as posters and handbills
- Promotion in the Lost Church Bulletin (6,800+ weekly subscribers)
- Support:
- Fiscal sponsorship for recurring series promoters applying for grants
- Ticketing service available through our websites: