AC: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced running a venue?
Austin: The constant threat of noise complaints is something that definitely keeps me up at night (RIP Divan Orange). Many of our main challenges spawned from the instability of our landlord, who unfortunately passed away in May 2019. As previously mentioned, he was a fairly disorganized person who left behind quite a few big messes that we had to wrap our heads around. Also, there were a few stressful months where we didn’t know who our new landlord was going to be and if they would kick us out or crank up our rent. Luckily, it all worked out in our favour for the most part, and we’ve got a more sturdy foundation than ever!
Evan: Recent challenges also include attempts to bridge the divide between French and English programming, and offering better representation for those from marginalized communities.
AC: How do you actively work to make The Diving Bell a safe and inclusive space?
Evan: When we first decided to open up The Diving Bell, we did so with the knowledge that extra measures would need to be taken to accommodate our guests. It has always been a priority to create a welcoming, diverse, and safe space for anyone attending our events. Our staff has been trained in de-escalation and conflict resolution techniques, as well as first aid. What is becoming clear is that regardless of the culture and environment that exists past The Diving Bell door on the third floor, there needs to be the same amount of work put into our stairway and the street outside. Our little corner of St. Laurent Boulevard is not yet the safest space for marginalized peoples, and we hope that by listening to the needs and concerns of our community that can help to make The Diving Bell an even safer and more inclusive space moving forward.
Sarah: As Evan mentioned, active listening and keeping an open dialog with community members is something we take very seriously. We promise transparency and encourage folks to inform us either directly, or anonymously if they feel unsafe or unwelcome in our space. What is great about booking at The Diving Bell is that we are a multi-performance space, which allows us to bring different creative communities together under one roof. When booking, Austin and I always try and put a variety of events on the calendar to ensure that the community we are serving feels represented.
Maryse: I think we make a strong effort to listen to our community about their needs and concerns and to try our best to address them. We especially want to make sure marginalized groups like the queer and BIPOC communities feel safe, welcomed, and included in our space. We need to keep learning by actively listening to folks, and be open to how we can change to better understand and respect their realities.
Austin: With that, we also strive to be as friendly and welcoming as possible on all fronts.
AC: What would your advice be to people who are looking to get involved in the DIY scene by running shows, or even a venue?
Austin: Safety first! All it takes is one mishap to ruin everything for a DIY venue. For example, the fire at Ghostship in Oakland a few years ago was a terrible reminder of the importance of taking these things seriously.
Evan: The best advice I can give is to do what you love, find people with the same passion, and learn to count on each other. This kind of thing can’t be done alone; it truly requires a village. Put on a show in your kitchen, put on a show in a park… The space is not what’s important; it’s what happens inside it. Be safe, be kind, be respectful, and listen.
Sarah: I’d say go for it - our city needs more venues and people running shows! Just keep in mind that it is a lot of work getting anything off the ground. Opening a venue requires spending a lot of time on tedious paperwork and dealing with the frustrating budget constraints of independent promoters. So, you really have to make sure your heart is in it! These early stages are never as fun as they seem.
AC: If I’m an artist or organization looking to book the space, what do I do to get involved? What information should I include in my email?
Evan: The best way to get involved is to send us an email at info@divingbellsocial.com, or come by and visit us during a show! We’re always happy to meet new people and brainstorm new ideas.
Sarah: If you reach out to us by email; you should always include links to your project, dates, and a short overview of the event in question. This seems super basic, but you'd be surprised how many emails I get missing that info! Also for music shows, if you are a touring band, please send us who you have in mind for local support! If you are a local band, please send me your full line-up or at least an idea of what it will be. I think a common misconception is that venue bookers and show promoters are one and the same. As a venue booker, I will rarely put a line-up together for you, that’s a promoter’s forte.
Evan: We will also be adding a FAQ section to our website and booking form in the coming weeks, which should help facilitate your booking requests!
