Information for Performing Artists

Thanks for your interest in the Leo Coffeehouse. It was started by students at the University of Cincinnati 43 years ago and is now run by an all-volunteer group, the Queen City Balladeers.

The Queen City Balladeers maintain three goals for the coffeehouse:

  1. To provide support for emerging local talent via open mic and opening sets
  2. Provide a listening room for local and regional established acts
  3. Grow and support a strong folk music community in Cincinnati

The coffeehouse is open only on Sundays during the school year (Sept-May). There are 3 sets/acts each night between 7:00-9pm, and the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month the 1st set is an open mic. The audience varies in size (30-100) but is always supportive and will buy product if they like what you do. We do not take any percentage on sales. The Leo is a listening room. The whole point is the music. We provide a great sound system and a soundman to run it for you. If you bring a blank CD or mini disk, he will record your set for you. We also present a summer concert series that presents a showcase, representative of Leo Coffeehouse talent, to the city. So, by doing a set at the Leo, you are in the running for our summer concerts.

Unfortunately, due to our non-profit all-volunteer weekly format, we are unable to pay performers. You can sell product and we can find you a place to stay in town (with one of the club members) if you are on the road.

Also, due to our non-profit status, we do not carry membership with performing rights organizations (PRO), such as ASCAP or BMI. Therefore, in the unlikely event that a PRO would bring material performed at the Leo Coffeehouse into question, we ask that you sign a waiver stating your responsibility for any copyrighted material that you choose to perform.

If you are still interested, and live locally, we invite you to play an open mic (please arrive by 6:30 pm as it’s first-come-first-play and there are only 3 slots). This can lead to future bookings in opening and/or feature sets. If you are an established local act, are on tour or from out of town, please send a demo to us and follow up at:

Spencer Funk
Leo Coffee House
C/o 4231 Appleton St.
Cincinnati, OH 45209
513-321-8375
via email: leo@wildcarrot.net

General promo info:
Place: Leo Coffeehouse
Location: Zion Church of Christ, Founders Hall; Indian Mound Ave and Montgomery Rd; Norwood, OH
Admission: Free to QCB members; $3 at the door for non-members
Contact: 513-321-8375; leo@wildcarrot.net; www.qcballadeers.org
Details: Non-smoking room, off-street parking, handicapped accessible, beverages and baked goods available