Great American Music Hall
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859 O'Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Contact: Kim Murphy
Phone: 415/202-9812
www.musichallsf.com
Request a proposal for your event from Great American Music Hall
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Why We Like This Place
Standing beneath marble columns, ornately gilded balconies and an elaborate frescoed ceiling, it’s easy to imagine this building’s allure when it first came on the scene as a flashy French restaurant and San Francisco’s grandest nightclub. Opening in 1907 on the heels of the great earthquake, the 5,000-square-foot concert hall symbolized the city’s renewed optimism. The popular club flourished for a quarter century in this incarnation, then became the Music Box, where Sally Rand performed her famous fan dances, and later served as a Moose Lodge and yet another French restaurant.
In 1972 it was reborn as the Great American Music Hall, and in 1994 a complete facelift restored the club to its original rococo grandeur. For more than 25 years the hall has showcased the talents of music and comedy greats such as Ray Charles, the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Jay Leno, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams. Its intimate setting and wonderful acoustics continue to make it a favorite among locals, as well as a devoted following throughout the Bay Area.
In addition to countless concerts, the Hall has hosted corporate bashes, fundraisers, holiday parties, product launches and weddings. Its flexible layout—one large room with balconies, a stage, huge oak dance floor and two full bars—makes it party-friendly, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. The Music Hall also comes equipped with a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system and all the necessary staff.
Couples getting married here use the stage for the ceremony, with their “audience” seated in chairs on the dance floor and up in the balconies. Once the knot has been tied, the rows of chairs are removed and the Hall is ready for the next phase of the celebration. Tables have been set up for dining all around, and even on the balconies if you like. With a band or a DJ making music on the stage and your guests dancing in the center of the room, the festivities can carry on into the night.
The Great American Music Hall offers a couple of very cool options that take the fun factor up a notch: They’ll put the name of your company, your group, your families, or a special message on their marquee (who wouldn’t get a kick out of seeing “Brad has loved Sue since the 7th grade!” writ large as they pull up in front of the Hall?). They can also print concert tickets with your name or event on them that you can mail out with your invitations; guests then present them at the door for quick entry. Considering a theme event? The Hall is the perfect setting for a glitzy casino night, a Barbary Coast bash, or a Phantom of the Opera Night. Swing or ’60s dance parties work well here, too.
Close to Union Square and only ten blocks from Moscone Center, the Music Hall is conveniently situated for post-convention events. The space adapts comfortably to the size of your group, whether you have 100 or 600 guests, and the in-house coordinator will help you book just the right band or DJ.
While you can enhance the mood here with candles or uplighting the columns, the Great American Music Hall is really quite scintillating all by itself. The only building of its kind in The City, it provides a unique window into San Francisco’s colorful, exuberant past.
Capacity
Ceremony |
Reception/Special Events |
Meetings |
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Max. Seated Indoors: 250 Max. Seated Outdoors: |
Max. Seated Indoors: 250 Max. Seated Outdoors: Max. Standing Indoors: 500 Max. Standing Outdoors: |
Max. Seated: 250 |
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Fees & Deposits
Half the anticipated total is due when reservations are confirmed; the balance plus a $500 refundable security deposit are payable the business day prior to the event. Facility rental rates are as follows: Sunday–Wednesday $5,500. There is an additional, but refundable, food and beverage minimum of $3,000. The rental rate for Thursday–Saturday is $7,000, with additional $5,000 food and beverage minimum. Food and beverage minimums are subject to a nonrefundable 20% service charge and sales tax. Holiday rates are 20% higher.
There are additional fees for miscellaneous services, as well as a 20% service charge for an open or hosted bar. Evening rates include house manager, bar and janitorial staff, and sound and lighting technicians. If you use the in-house caterer, hors d’oeuvres start at $15/person, luncheons and dinners at $20/person; alcohol, tax and a 20% service charge are additional.
Availability
Year-round, daily, 6am–4pm or 4pm–2am. Other blocks of time can be arranged.
CateringProvidedBYO AlcoholProvidedSites UsesCeremoniesWedding Receptions Special Events, Parties Business Functions/Meetings Rehearsal Dinners Services/AmenitiesCatering: provided or BYOKitchen Facilities: fully equipped Tables & Chairs: cocktail tables and chairs are provided or BYO Linens, Silver, etc.: provided or BYO Restrooms: wheelchair accessible Dance Floor: yes Bride’s Dressing Area: 3 dressing rooms Meeting Equipment: microphones, stage Parking: valet, garage, nearby lots, on street Accommodations: no guestrooms Telephone: house phone Outdoor Night Lighting: access only Outdoor Cooking Facilities: no Cleanup: provided View: no Other: event coordination, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, entertainment bookings |
Amplified MusicIndoorsWheelchair AccessWheelchair AccessibleSite ViewsNo ViewSite TypeBallroomHistoric/Landmark Building Banquet/Events Facility Other RestrictionsAlcohol: providedSmoking: no Music: amplified OK Wheelchair Access: yes Insurance: required Other: no birdseed, rice or confetti; no stick-on name tags |
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415/202-9812
www.musichallsf.com
Email or request a proposal for your event from Great American Music Hall
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