A NOTE ON GETTING BOOKED
Updated 5/14/26
We are an independent venue and it is impossible to respond to every band that would like to play here. If you are a right fit for The Porch, we will reach out to you to discuss dates. Usually the room is booked 2-3 months in advance, so it could take some time to circle back to a request.
Please be patient and don't spam the inbox. Keep your follow up emails in the same chain. If you don't hear from us, don't take it personally - you just might not be the right fit for the room.
The Porch is focused on local artists. That doesn't mean we don't book touring or regional artists, it just means it's not the priority.
We do not book via social media. If you message the bar on IG, FB or whatever other app your heart desires, we will send you the email address.
Thank you for your interest in playing The Porch in San Marcos, TX!
WEEKEND SHOWS
We generally book multi-band live music lineups or DJs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Because we're located in a main downtown entertainment/tourism hub, it is not always possible for us to charge a cover. 90% of the time when you perform at The Porch our payout structure is 10% of bar sales.
The other 10% of the time, I will offer a guarantee, but that is usually reserved for local artists with a draw.
Because we rely heavily on foot traffic and TXST students, it is important that we keep shows free and work together to get the word out about your shows. Your pay is directly tied to how well the bar does, so in the immortal words of Jerry Maguire: "help me help you".
WEEKDAY SHOWS
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are predominately held for residency events/artists.. These events rarely change or alternate, just an FYI.
GETTING BOOKED
Booking email: theporchonhopkins@gmail.com.
When emailing about a potential show try to include:
1. Your name and/or your band name.
2. Link to your website and/or social media.
3. Link to recorded music.
4. Link to a live performance if possible
5. A brief (2-3 sentences please I beg you) description of your music and or bio.
6. What dates you are looking to book.
7. Your set length(s).
8. You desired guarantee.
Including this information will save us both a lot of time. It is greatly appreciated if you keep your booking requests in the same email chain so we don't assume you're reaching out for the first time.
ONCE BOOKED: PROMOTING THE SHOW
Help us make your show a success. It is important to get the word out about your show so we all help foster a strong community of live music supporters.
LOCAL RADIO
Connect with the TXST's college radio station KTSW and ask them to play your music or to perform a live set in the days leading up to your show. *NOTE: the station is not required to play music of The Porch performing artists simply because we're an underwriter*
Reach out to our local San Marcos independent radio station, KZSM, and see about getting on one of their local programs like Revolving Door, We The People, etc. Almost all of the show hosts and DJs are local and love to support live music programming.
FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM
Make a Facebook event and add The Porch as a host. Invite your friends. Invite your parents, bosses, dogs, etc. Because there is so much programming on a weekly basis, I cannot create individual Facebook events for every show.
Share your event with San Marcos local Facebook groups, especially San Marcos, TX: EVENTS. Other local groups worth posting in:
SAN MARCOS LIVE (event network)
Talk about your show on social media and tag us @theporchsmtx. We will retweet, like, post to stories, etc. The more active you are the better. Local Instagram accounts worth tagging and inviting to your shows:
@listensanmarcos
@smtxbulletinboard
@barhopsocial
@luistheliving - best for food/festival events
@thesanmarcoslife
@sanmarcostxguide
@smtxqc - best for LGBTQIA+ events
@downtownsmtx
@downtownassocsmtx
@qtcalendaraustin - best for LGBTQIA+ events
PRESS & CALENDARS
Share your show details with local / regional press outlets. I send out weekly email blasts and monthly newsletters to all of my industry contacts, but you should, too!
Here is a good starting point for event listings and press
Austin Chronicle, clubs@austinchronicle.com
Austin360 Music Source, musicsource@statesman.com
do512, cm@do512.com
Downtown San Marcos Association, info@downtownsanmarcos.org
KTSW 89.9, ktswpromotions@txstate.edu
KUTX, music@kut.org
KXAN, desk@kxan.com
KZSM, kzsmsanmarcos@gmail.com
San Marcos Daily Record Music Listings, agonzales@sanmarcosrecord.com
Spectrum/Time Warner News, txnewsdesk@charter.com
Texas State University Star, universitystar@txstate.edu
Visit San Marcos, cvb@sanmarcostx.gov
POSTERS
San Marcos responds really well to handbills and posters around town. Hit up coffee shops, vintage stores, the library (library requires a stamp to hang), etc.
Create a show poster and bring it to the bar to hang up (10 copies MAX).
Please: Do not plaster posters all over the downtown buildings, on the sides of businesses, and on lamp posts, etc. The city cleaning crew will remove them in the morning and I'll get a note from the downtown team, which I like to avoid. Instead of hanging them outside, you can ask these local businesses to hang your poster or leave some handbills by the register:
Independent Shops
2nd Chance Books
Alpha Strike Games
Atypical Apothecary
Barefoot San Marcos
Blackbird Brims
Comic Relief
Daughter of the Wild
Douglas Smith Artisan Soap Co.
Dragon's Lair Games
Freaky Findz
Galaxy Bicycles
Got Toys?
Green Heron Books
Katz Billiards
KnD's Boutique
Herbs and Oddities
Jams Music
LBJ Museum of San Marcos
Lago Vista Film Lab
Ollie's Market
San Marcos Art Center
San Marcos Film Lab
The San Market
Shop 1893 at The Price Center / The Price Center
Stinky Dawg
Tattoo Parlors
Classic Tattoos
Our Lady
Tattoo Emporium
Records & Vintage
Lovebuzz
Old Soul Exchange
Record Lagoon
Rhinestone Cowboy
The Spot On The Square
Twice Blessed Consignment
Vagabond Vintage
Headshops
Happy Clouds
The Cigar Vault
Connoisseur Smoke
Endo Smoke and Vape
Green Goddess
Happy Clouds Smoke Shop
Hill Country Vape & Smoke
Marvelous Smoke
Restaurants & Coffee Shops
Alvin Ord's
Archie's
Babe's Coffee and Donuts
Blue Dahlia
Cafe on the Square
The Coffee Bar
The Davenport
Dos Gatos Kolache Bakery
The Fairview
Goatcha
Gumby's Pizza
The Halal Project
Icy Rolls
Industry San Marcos
Insomnia Cookies
Jax Bros Sandwich Shop
Jo's Cafe
Lazy Daze
Mochas and Java's North LBJ
The Native Blends
Rhea's Icecream
Tantra
Triple Six Social
Wake The Dead
Email poster graphics or shoot them to us on Instagram so we can help you promote through our platforms.