The Tinder Box
Handpicking Bands To Pay The Rent

Resembling a kindergarten classroom after arts and crafts time, The Tinder Box in Brattleboro, VT, is a venue that values the art of performance and expression more than making money. Although this is a noble act, it may be the venue’s problem.

The performance space is located on the first floor of a building the owners rent as well as another floor which is used as private studio space for bands and functions. Even though The Tinder Box hosts bands between five and six nights a week, opens around 2 p.m. for some quality hang out time and is commended on its quality of shows as well as being an all-ages venue, it seems to be struggling financially.

Because there is no alcohol on the premises, all events at this venue are all-ages and run entirely by volunteers. However, due to the lack of sales from the absence of alcohol and the premise of a “strongly suggested donation” rather than a cover charge seems to be driving the venue to poverty. A large plea on their MySpace page begs fans to “Save the Tinder Box” by donating money via Paypal, so that the volunteer “broken hippies … can start eating three meals a day again.”

Another hurdle that comes with relying on donations

is the fact that the venue says out right that bands will probably not be able to book shows with the venue. Because The Tinder Box puts its bands first, most of the money collected goes to them, leaving little to pay the place’s rent. Because of this, the owners often spend their time setting up shows for bands they are familiar with rather than reviewing new bands that would need booking and advertising.

It’s safer to say that The Tinder Box is a great place to see shows rather than play them.

www.myspace.com/thetinderbox

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