What We Do
Our aim is to provide a platform for singer-songwriters to get their songs heard, try out new songs with a sympathetic audience, or make their first tentative steps to performing in public.
While we do have regular performers, we do not want to create a clique, so we take care to ensure everyone gets a fair chance to get heard - hence our rather involved booking policy below.
When, where, how
Out of the Bedroom runs every Thursday night downstairs at the Canon's Gait bar, Edinburgh ( Map opens in new window ). We start at 8 and finish at 11. We ask audiences not to chat during the performances - if you want to catch up with friends you can do it during the break or nip downstairs to the main bar.
There's at least one short break, to allow for chat, buying of drinks, and selling of mystery prize tickets.
There's no admission charge but you can support OOTB by buying a raffle ticket during the break. The raffle is drawn about 10.30, and prizes are, well, quirky.
For performers
The performers' slots are for 3 songs, for which we allow 15 minutes time (this includes the time to set up and take down each performer, and for applause, song introductions, etc). Two acoustic guitars are alway available for you, or you can use your own. There's also a keyboard, but let us know at the start of the evening that you need it.
But it doesn't end there! Every performer at every OOTB is reviewed - you can read the reviews on this site or receive them each week by email. There's nothing snide in our reviews - we've been criticised for being too positive at times, but the aim is to encourage songwriters and help them develop. Reviews are written with this in mind.
We regularly put out CDs of OOTB performances, so you could be invited to appear on one of our CDs.
OOTB Booking Policy
First bookable slot is at 8PM, and the last slot is at 10.45pm.
You need to arrive well before 8 to put your name on the blackboard which sits on the left of the stage.
Blackboard singing in the dead of night
When the compere for the night arrives, s/he will offer slots to people in the order in which they got their names on the blackboard.
Allocation of the slots will go, on a first come first served basis within each group, to those who:
- didn't play the previous week (the " A list")
- did play the previous week (the " B list")
If all slots are filled, we start maintaining a squashee list. This means that if we happen to run ahead of time, then "squashees" can play one song only. The squashees wait until just before the break and end of the night respectively to see if they can play, as only then can we gauge if we have made up time. As before, squashees are selected on a first come first-served order.
Being placed on the squashee list does not guarantee an opportunity to play.
The fairly disorganised practice of "pre-booking" slots won't be continued either, as we've had too many people not turn up. Similarly, we won't be allowing anyone to "book by proxy" (i.e. get someone else to book for them) either, for the same reason.
OOTB may use its discretion to occasionally pre-book artists, and also to decide if someone should be on the "A" list or "B" list.
Essentially though, we're trying to encourage a fair rotation of artists each week, in a transparent manner.
If you have any comments about the OOTB booking policy, please feel free to let us know.