In this week’s episode, Matt Ford sits down with Hap Pardo, Director of Musical Operations at Wha Entertainment to talk about Bleecker Bell, the new 200-cap venue preparing to open in Greenwich Village, and what it takes to build and sustain independent live music spaces in one of the country’s most competitive markets.

Inside the Episode:

• Why the team behind Cafe Wha? and Groove is opening a new 200-cap venue in Greenwich Village
• How COVID reshaped the programming at Cafe Wha? and Groove
• What it takes to balance great programming with the economics of running a small venue
• How Prism and Insights help the team evaluate shows, make smarter offers, and find the right room for an artist
• Hap’s journey from jazz guitarist to a career in New York’s live music scene
• The story behind Van Halen’s unforgettable 2012 performance at Cafe Wha?
• What Hap is seeing in ticket and bar sales today, plus his take on AI and emerging venue technology