accepted to attend a show in NYC , but now we ’ re hosting 50 + shows a month across the city .”
Although the Sofar community has expanded to include thousands of people , it still retains a certain intimacy . Run by a small staff of people — most of who started out as volunteers — the hobby-turnedbusiness is an experiment in keeping a movement authentic and sustainable at the same time . So far , it has withstood the test of time . And the outlook is hopeful , as long as it continues to “[ break ] down the barrier between artist and attendee , so you can have a real conversation with them , even grabbing drinks with them after a show or hosting them on your couch next time they ’ re in town .” BY LILLY MILMAN
What constitutes a good space , or venue according to Sofar ? We pride ourselves on showcasing amazing talent in nontraditional venues . When we first started out , Sofars were all held in people ' s homes . Now we ’ ve hosted in everything from speakeasies to boats to cheese shops — even at the top of a ski jump in Norway ! We ’ re looking for unique spaces where you wouldn ’ t normally see a show , and a welcoming host who ’ s excited to meet new people .
What were some of the challenges in executing the idea and how have they been overcome ? Sofar shows take place in over 400 cities around the world . We want to allow for local individuality across all our Sofar chapters , while ensuring the same Sofar vibes , quality and spirit are the same whether you ’ re seeing a show in New York City or Kampala . It ’ s amazing to walk into a show in another country , not speak the language , but still know how the show will go ! We ’ re always working to keep all our city leaders up to date and in the know about what ’ s going on with Sofar around the world .
What makes a Sofar show different from , say , a DIY house show ? We didn ’ t invent the DIY house show . We see Sofar as a different concept and community . We started very organically , when our founder and CEO Rafe Offer found himself frustrated by all the distractions of live events . We ’ ve all been at a concert where the crowd is talking too loud , the person next to you is filming the entire show on their phone , or someone is spilling beer all over the place . He and his friends decided to host small groups and artists they knew in their living rooms in London . After a few shows , their friends-of-friends started doing the same , and then someone asked if they could bring the idea to Paris . It then spread to more cities around the world , from Rio de Janeiro to Los Angeles to Mumbai . It ’ s a global community where guests and performers can truly connect and feel they ’ re included .
Can you explain the growth of Sofar over the last few years , and how you anticipating it growing next ? We ’ ve hosted thousands of artists over the past 9 years , and we want to continue offering them these unique opportunities to perform ! We also want to make Sofar more accessible to the guests who want to attend . Three years ago , I used to wait five months to be accepted to attend a show in NYC , but now we ’ re hosting 50 + shows a month across the city . This allows more chances for connection and discovery within our community . Over the past few years , Sofar has grown from a hobby into a business in order to keep this movement sustainable . Where everyone was volunteering their time at the beginning , we now have 50 + full-time employees who help run these events in some of our biggest cities , and offer support and resources to our many cities and artists around the world . Almost all of these employees started off volunteering within the Sofar community .
Could you describe your favorite experience with the organization ? I ’ m one of those people who went to a lot of concerts , but always saw the artist as “ other ” and someone that ’ s inaccessible . Over my years with Sofar , I ’ ve connected with hundreds of artists at shows , and they ’ re just like you and me ( although a lot more musically talented ...). Sofar breaks down the barrier between artist and attendee , so you can have a real conversation with them , even grabbing drinks with them after a show or hosting them on your couch next time they ’ re in town .
Cheyenne Cohen for Sofar Sounds