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Concessions: Our inside concession stand offers a variety of snacks and soft drinks including fresh popped popcorn. All snacks and drinks can be obtained for various donation amounts. This includes mouth-watering homemade Chicken & Dumplings (while they last) and a hefty, delicious pulled-pork BBQ sandwich that is quickly becoming a crowd favorite for a $3.00 donation. Soft drinks are served in cans, accompanied by a free cup of ice.
Alcohol: MCT Theater does not serve alcohol. However, when appropriate, events are on a BYOB basis. Small coolers are allowed (that will fit under a chair), but all alcoholic beverages must be kept in a cup, with no open display of alcohol containers. All local, state and federal laws concerning alcohol, drugs and firearms must be observed.
Vendor space: MCT Theater provides free vendor space as needed for artists wishing to sell CDs, T-shirts or other promotional materials. MCT does not impose a commission on artists' concession sales, but will accept donations from artists sensitive to our mission.
We have a variety of Music City Texas T-shirts that are given as a "premium" for donations ranging from $5 to $15. We also have a high quality, attractive tan MCTT Logo cap with burgundy or black bill for a $10.00 donation. We also provide space for local artist's who wish to make their CDs available for purchase.
The basic format of the First Saturday of the Month show is as follows:
Showtime: Richard Bowden with Moon and the Starz perform a 40 minute set, based on the musical comedy of Richard Bowden/Pinkard & Bowden.
Intermission: 20 minutes
Special Guest: Approximately 30 minutes (sometimes finishing with accompaniment by Moon and the Starz).
At end of set, Special Guest exits stage without intermission, and Moon and the Starz finish the evening with a 40 minute set of original Classic Country/Rock/R&B style tunes with an occasional Classic Oldie thrown in. This set features the incomparable golden voice of drummer Greg Attaway, the songwriting and vocal prowess of guitarist John Early, the mellow crooning of bassist Pat Roberson and the rockin', singing keyboardist Mark Harrell. Of course, the "Old Glory Hog" himself, Richard Bowden won't let the night end without singing a couple of more, too, and usually there is a featured foot-stompin' fiddle tune provided by guest musician and MCT Board Treasurer, David Hulme.
Seating for First Saturday shows is tables and chairs and church-like pews with built in table ledges. Seating is "first come, first served," but tables can be reserved in advance for parties of eight (8) or more while they last.
NOTE: Acts wishing to showcase themselves at the First Saturday shows must contact the theater to set up an audition or must provide the theater with a recording which accurately represents their proposed performance.
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to the technological advancement of consumer recording equipment, "Artists having CDs out" does not constitute "headliner status." Although the theater recognizes that there are many quality and highly talented acts in the musical marketplace, "headliner status" can be defined here as "an act that has the potential to draw 300 to 450 fans to a performance at our theater." If your act does not have that potential, then see "First Saturday Shows" above. The theater has promoted and will continue to promote acts toward "headliner status" who are willing to showcase at First Saturday shows in order to develop their drawing power at MCTT. Seating for these shows is concert seating (all chairs), and all seats are numbered, reserved seats. Financial supporters of the theater called "Patrons" are given the opportunity to purchase reserved seats before tickets go on sale to the general public.
Due to the size of the theater, the amount of tickets that can be purchased by any individual may be limited, at the discretion of MCT, to avoid potential scalping and to allow more folks the opportunity to get tickets. The windows of opportunity for Patrons to purchase "Super Show" tickets are published and made known well in advance and are distributed in order, from the highest Patron level on down. Once the windows of opportunity for Patron ticket purchasing have passed, the remainder of tickets are offered for sale to the general public.
To become a Patron in order to get "first shot" at buying "Super Show" tickets within six months before a "Super Show," one must first become a "Flat" donor -- that is, signing up with a "flat yearly donation in full" at whichever level one chooses (see more info at the "Becoming a Patron" link on our home page).
After the initial first full year donation, Patrons wishing to continue their support can change status to "Sustaining Patrons" -- that is, to switch to a monthly donation to make it easier on one's pocketbook. We were forced to adopt this policy after our first "Super Show" as, unfortunately, there were those who signed up at the lowest level of Sustaining Patronship in order to get tickets, only to cancel their Patronship after the show, making only the first monthly donation payment. Being the honest folks that we are, this was a "loophole" that we overlooked, and therefore we were compelled to adopt the "Flat full year donation" policy in order to be fair to all, especially to those who have become Sustaining Patrons in earnest.
However, one can become a Sustaining Patron by signing up with only the first month's donation payment if they choose to sign up at least six months prior to any scheduled "Super Show" or if there are no scheduled "Super Shows" posted on our Schedule of Events.
We appreciate and value our Patrons highly, as they are the lifeblood of the Theater. We do our best to offer as many "perks" as possible to our Patrons, such as "free First Saturday of the Month" show tickets during the summer months, periodic Patron Appreciation Parties and any other benefits that we can come up with, including "meet and greets" with the artists. These benefits are offered to all levels of Patrons with the exception of "meet and greets" which are designated by the artists themselves, depending on the artist's time availability for such "meet and greets." However, we always encourage our artists to allow as much time as they can in order to accommodate as many of our Patrons as possible.
In cases where there is not time for the artists to meet and greet all of our Patrons, in an effort to be fair, we offer the opportunity to our highest Patron level first and then to the next level down and so forth, until the allowable time is used up. Whenever possible, we encourage the artists to come out after the show and allow everyone in the audience the opportunity to get autographs, pictures, signed CDs and merchandise.
MCTT also hosts an annual New Year's Eve party on December 31, complete with a professional fireworks display, with music provided by Moon and the Starz with a regional guest band to provide dance music.
Starting in 2006, MCTT will host an annual "T-bone Walker Blues Fest" to occur each Spring.
On off nights, the theater is often donated to civic organizations for local functions or rented for private functions such as weddings, receptions and parties. It is also occasionally rented for concerts presented by other nonprofit organizations such as Performing Arts Councils (PACs). NOTE: It cannot be rented directly to bands or acts who wish to promote their own public performances.
MCTT has both a highly talented and professionally trained FOH (front of house) sound tech and on-stage monitor tech, provided at no cost to headliners (if needed). Tips are accepted by both.
Stage and Lighting: Stage lighting is a multi color stationary stage wash with one operated theater follow spotlight from front of house. There are 4 DMX controlled DJ or "cyber" lights available along with 8 multi colored par cans on the DMX controller. Stage has a permanent, colorful backdrop painting of an area lake scene as well as four little electric fake firepots across front of stage that have endeared everyone who has entered the building. Stage dimension is 24'W X 17'D and is equipped with an 8' X 7' X 1' standard, 'touring and moveable staging' drum riser with optional 4’ high plexi-glass baffle cage. (Artimus Pyle had two complete drum kits on this riser … we still don't know how he did it.) Wing space is minimal (basically a three to four foot walkway around the dimension of the stage). There is a small bathroom on each side of the stage, downstage, and an 8’x 8’ equipment room in each corner backstage. MCTT provides a seasoned Follow Spot Operator at no charge to headliners. The spotlight operator also accepts tips.
IMPORTANT: Although the venue is set up as a theater, from a production standpoint, it should be treated as a small nightclub. Only minimum backline is required, as a low on-stage volume is necessary for optimum house sound. The on-stage sound, monitor system and house sound have been applauded by every act that has performed here.
