The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville rents its listening room for private events of up to 90 guests, such as corporate performances, showcases, receptions and celebrations. A private event here centers on a live set by two or three hit songwriters sharing the stage.
Seminars and company events
The venue states that it is available for private events during the day and into the evening, with several rental packages designed around the needs of each group. It names corporate performance events, showcases, receptions and celebrations as typical uses. This is a room for a client dinner, a team evening, an industry showcase or a launch with a music program, not for a day of parallel sessions.
A private performance typically features two to three songwriters who play their songs and talk about the stories behind them, which gives guests a direct view of the craft. The event team helps choose songwriters suited to the group and to its budget. Options added to the program include a meet and greet or a question-and-answer session with the writers, signed songwriter merchandise and other Bluebird merchandise.
Rooms and capacities
The venue has one room, and it seats 90 people overall. The venue notes that this number goes down according to the type of food service chosen, so a seated buffet will hold fewer guests than a reception with drinks. Give the team your headcount and your service format at the first request.
Catering
The event planning team advises on meals, either from the Bluebird Cafe menu or from an outside caterer. The venue keeps a list of preferred vendors that it works with regularly. If you arrange catering yourself, the caterer must supply plates, flatware, serving pieces, napkins and its own staff, and the setup should be buffet style. Depending on the menu and the guest count, the caterer may need an extra service table and additional staff to keep the display running.
Beverages come in three formats. With open consumption, the renting party pays for every drink consumed. With a cash bar, each guest pays for their own drinks. With drink tickets, a set number of tickets is provided per attendee and the renting party pays for the drinks bought with them. Packages can include a full bar, beer and wine only, or non-alcoholic drinks such as iced tea, coffee and soft drinks, charged at regular Bluebird bar prices.
Getting there
For large groups, the venue recommends carpooling or bus transportation, and the team advises on how to coordinate parking for the specific event. The venue's calendar shows evenings closed for private events, which is a sign that exclusive bookings are routine here.
How to ask
Contact the venue through the private rentals page, which gives an email address for event inquiries. Send the date, the number of guests, the food format and the kind of performance you want, so the team can propose a package and suggest songwriters.
