Remember the late great NJ music venues Birch Hill, Hamilton St. Cafe, Club Krome and Bloomfield Ave. Cafe? Every weekend, you'd hit up a show to hang out with your friends, see your favorite bands and discover new music. The local scene was truly alive...Until the venues started closing, bands began to struggle and fans experienced a major void.
Enter Stars and Scars. We miss what you miss! S&S strives to recreate the sense of community and respect that shows used to have. Our goal is to someday open a music venue that New Jersians can call home. In order to do so, we need your help! Come to our shows, contribute to our webzine and become part of our movement to revive the NJ music scene!
"Stars and Scars LLC began as a self-published fanzine coming out of Middletown, NJ. They have since blossomed into one of the best indie music promoters in the area. Working with a strong DIY ethic over the years and a undaunted sense of pride and love for local musicians, Stars and Scars has become able to successfully network with local artists both well known and emerging in order to create venues that never cease to attract a diverse crowd." - Ubbo Zine
"Everyone at Stars and Scars is a close friend, and they provide a stress-free and fun environment for all the bands playing at their shows." - Anthony Manginelli, The Call Out
"It's great to know that there are people in NJ who still care about creating great shows." - Jaclyn Falk
"The difference is that you love music, and the majority of NJ promoters love money." - Adam Bird
Listen to an interview with the S&S staff on 88.9 The X here!
Visit our website at starsandscars.com!
Join our Facebook group! Follow us on Twitter!
Check out our Online Store! Order at our shows - we'll pay for shipping!
By attending our shows, you support local music and community organizations, in addition to help S&S come closer to opening a venue!
Want a table to sell stuff at our shows? Message us!
RSVP to Beats & Breaks on Facebook !
RSVP to Best of the Beasts on Facebook !
Want to be considered for our shows? Message us and include: Dates/venues/your draw at your 3 most recent shows in NJ + your e-mail address
Why play a Stars and Scars show? We care about YOU! You receive $3 of every ticket you sell and/or from each walk-in to see you - not $1 per ticket like those other promoters! Pizza dinner plus snacks and beverages will always be provided for you! (first come, first serve)
We book dedicated, hard-working local bands that understand the importance of promoting themselves. We are looking for bands who draw 20+ people to see them play - the more experience you have playing shows and the bigger your fan base, the better for everyone!
To cover our expenses, each band we book MUST draw 20+ people in order to receive $3 per ticket. We do not require ticket sales; however, they are very helpful! We understand it can be frustrating to sell tons of tickets before a show, so we only ask that you try to sell 8 tickets in advance (can request more) and draw 12+ walk-ins night of show. If requested, tickets will be mailed to you approximately 3 weeks before the show date. If you do not draw 20+ people from your ticket sales and/or walk-ins, you will only receive $2 per person and may not be considered for re-booking.
Sorry, we do not give guarantees. If you are an out-of-state band, please expect $10-$20 for gas money. Additional payment may be given based on draw at the discretion of S&S staff. We aren't like other promoters - all profits from Stars and Scars shows go into our savings account, not someone's pocket! We want to continue running shows forever and open a venue someday, so please understand our policies and future expenses to keep this going. Thank you!
Note from Elyse - I am not a fan of bands that jerk me around. If I offer you a show and you never respond, book another show on the same date, violate our agreement or confirm then cancel, I will not work with you again.
Join the Stars and Scars Facebook Group!
Click to join!
For every S&S show, 5 members of our Facebook group will be chosen at random to receive free admission! Gotta be in it to win it!