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Listen Bar: A Booze-Free Bar in NYC

We're an alcohol-free bar, featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and the New York Times, launching our first permanent location.

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Project Description

 

Listen Bar is a booze-free bar for when you don't feel like drinking. 

*******UPDATE JAN 27, 2021*******

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this campaign! OVER 200% RAISED!!!

We're in awe at the level of support you've given to an idea that seemed so radical when we launched and now feels so self-evident and has created an entire alcohol-free nightlife culture.

You each have a personalized thank you on our digital wall of fame!

Stay tuned for updates on what's next for Listen Bar.

*******UPDATE MAR 23, 2020*******

Now more than ever, you guys are lifting us UP!

With the closing of bars around the country, we've had to postpone our US & World Tours. Your contributions are an incredible source of support which will temporarily go towards covering fixed costs and providing for our loyal staff.

We hope you find a reward you love & we can't wait to host events for you again.

Thank you for having our backs and continuing to support us during this time apart. The Listen love is STRONG!

**************************************

 

WHY LISTEN BAR

Here's the thing. People shouldn't have to drink just to go out and be social. But right now, going out without drinking is awkward.

1. Other people get weird

2. The drinks are sh*t

3. There's nowhere to go

Plus, you have to do so much planning! 

 

Listen Bar is here to change all that.

Here, you're the bartenders' ideal customer. The drinks are great, the music is fun and everyone is on the same page to have a good time.

 

We've been everywhere from VICE to the New York Times to the Today Show.

Patti Smith's guitarist bartended for us.

Snoop Dogg asked us to name a drink after him.

 

Our alcohol-free cocktails are created by world-class mixologists and served by musician bartenders.

 

With successful pop-ups under our belt, we are now crowdfunding for our first permanent location so we can be open every night.

 

FUND US!

 

 

People love us. They REALLY love us.

In October 2018, we took over an empty bar and hosted a proof-of-concept pop-up. Over 600 ppl RSVP'd. Refinery29 loved us and couldn't get over just how much Listen Bar felt like a regular bar. The Wall Street Journal called our drinks complex and grown-up. This whole crowdfunding campaign started when people asked us not to let the pop-up end. We knew we were on to something, so we're making it real.

 

 

Give it a taste

We've now been hosting events all over NYC and are about to launch a worldwide tour, to give everyone a chance to experience Listen Bar before our we open our permanent space.

Aside from our delicious alcohol-free menu and our rotating cast of musician bartenders, our nights feature everything from karaoke to dominatrix lessons.

To get invited to our parties, sign up at www.listen.bar

 

 

We're a bar for everybody

We're booze-free, rather than sober - so you can be sober or hungover. No pressure, no judgment. 

We're a bar for *everybody* - everybody who's down (or at the very least intrigued) to go out without drinking.

 

Plus, we think about things that other bars don't - like working with a nutrition expert to make sure no matter your diet and tastes, there's something for you on our menu.

 

 

Music is the answer

To reinvent the bar without alcohol, we didn't just create the most badass drinks menu - we also reinvented the classic bar ice-breaker: from "What are you drinking?" to "What are we listening to?" Because at Listen Bar, the bartenders are all musicians FIRST - and they get to make the playlists and show off their tunes. So you always have an easy way to start a conversation with them (or the cutie across the bar).

(Yep, that's J.Scott in the picture bartending - he's the musician behind the bangin' song on our campaign video! With an intro by Phantom Vanity!)

 

 

Funding breakdown

Our initial $25k goal is intended to cover the money we have to put down to secure a space. With our stretch goals, we're looking to cover the $100-200k cost of our buildout, key money, plus funds to go towards year 1 rent and staff costs, a killer sound system and state-of-the-art karaoke setup.

We are also privately raising investment and building brand partnerships that will cover full any additional costs for a space that's truly built for you, our Listen Bar Vol 1 Club.

If you would like to be a part of that process, the investor meeting reward is for you.

 


We're opening Listen Bar together

We're committed to building Listen Bar with the people who want us to exist.

This is your chance to influence what neighborhood we open in, what drinks go on our menu, and so much more. Tell us what you want!

And if you're outside NYC - we love you too! Gather your troops & stay tuned for our upcoming tour stops

However much you contribute, you are part of the club - and will get a personal thank you from our founder Lorelei on our website's WALL OF FAME.

 

THANK YOU! Let's do this!

- Lorelei & the Listen Bar team

The Campaign FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Where will Listen Bar be located?
  • Brooklyn! Brooklyn is a part of our story and where a lot of our community is - both the musicians and the bar-goers. We've been looking at places in different parts of Williamsburg, with an eye for what's easy to get to. Your contribution is also an opportunity to bring us closer to you. Ultimately, we're doing crowdfunding as a way to connect with our people and cater to you, so if we get a bunch of contributions from a specific zipcode, we'll have a look at spots in the area!
  • What's this about a January pop-up?
  • Yep! We're giving Manhattan a taste of Listen Bar with our Dry January happy hour every Monday at VON. So if you buy drinks / a membership to Listen Bar, you can get instant gratification and pop on over to the happy hour for a preview of what it'll be like when we have our own space. It's every Monday in January, 7-11pm, downstairs at VON - 3 Bleecker St, New York NY 10012.
10/25/2020
A drink at the bar
$15
Rachel Harvest
10/14/2020
Listen Bar sweatshirt (limited edition)
$75
NINA KAUFELT
08/24/2020
Investor Meeting
$500
Katrina
06/24/2020
F*CK YEAH
$5
Dottie A Garrity
06/24/2020
Listen Bar Pack
$25
Bethany Hays-Alsin
06/23/2020
Monetary Contribution
$5
Ryan Adamiak
06/15/2020
Golden Ticket
$150
06/02/2020
A drink at the bar
$15
Miruna Macri
05/18/2020
Listen Bar Pack
$25
jamie alexandra galvis
05/13/2020
Monetary Contribution
$100
Monetary Contribution

Access to early invitations to future events, exclusive updates, and behind-the-scenes news.

102 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Listen Bar Pack

A *limited-edition* pack of goodies, including:

- 1 canvas Listen Bar tote

- set of 6 Listen Bar coasters

 

4 Left
36 Supporters
Select this reward
65.00 USD
Listen Bar sweatshirt (limited edition)

Soft crewneck sweatshirt. Embroidered on the front with our classic "good ass times." 

Logo screenprinted on the back.

A collaboration with musician-owned Emulsion Printhouse.

 

10% of each sale supports one of the musicians who bartend at Listen Bar.

Unisex. Available sizes M & XL. Please specify size in notes.

11 Left
4 Supporters
Select this reward
15.00 USD
A drink at the bar

Get a drink. Any drink. On us! (pop-up location OR permanent location)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

152 Supporters
Select this reward
45.00 USD
5 Drinks (1 FREE)

Get 5 drinks for the price of 4. (Pop-up location OR permanent location)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

77 Supporters
Select this reward
75.00 USD
Your name carved into our bar

Get your name (or someone you really like) carved into our bar

+ Get a drink. Any drink. On us! (pop-up location OR permanent location)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

78 Left
122 Supporters
Select this reward
100.00 USD
Golden Ticket

A ticket to 1 Listen Bar event of your choice:

Opening Night (Our first ever party at our permanent space)

Industry Night (Our first ever industry night for F&B industry folks)

FF Night (Female Founders Night)

(includes 1 free drink at the event)

 

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

54 Supporters
Select this reward
5.00 USD
F*CK YEAH

Show your love, so more spots like us open!

Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

30 Supporters
Select this reward
250.00 USD
Alcohol-free Mixology Class

A spot in one of our alcohol-free mixology classes with Listen Bar menu director Eamon Rockey, of Eleven Madison Park fame and head of Beverage Studies at the Institute of Culinary Education. Each class is hands-on and intimate (only 10 spots!).

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

4 Left
11 Supporters
Select this reward
650.00 USD
Vol 1 Club Membership

10% off all drinks for a YEAR

+ Get your name (or someone you really like) carved into our bar

+ Free event tickets & plus one's to our regular events (starting NOW)

+ Free monthly members-only nights

+ 1 free VIP ticket to opening night (includes 1 drink ticket)

+ Limited-edition ListenBar Vol 1 Club pin 

+ Listen Bar swag (coasters + a tote + matches + classic Listen Bar pin) (Ships anywhere in the world)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist

 

---

How big are the savings?

$100 opening night ticket + $75 getting your name carved into the bar + $325 in drink discounts & free event tickets

= WORTH IT if you think you'll go just ONCE A MONTH!

Think you'd come once a week? Membership saves you over $700!
Coming 2-3 times/week? You'd SAVE more than $1,500!!

Come be one of our Listen Bar VIPs.

** This is based on an average tab of 2-3 drinks / night **

---
This is a crowdfunding-exclusive offer. 

Save over $100 on the full price of membership (once we open, membership will cost $777).

 

10 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Name that Drink!

THAT'S RIGHT, A DRINK IN YOUR NAME!

Name a booze-free drink recipe by one of our mixologists that will be served as a monthly special during our first year!

+ 1 free VIP ticket to opening night (includes 1 drink ticket)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

10 Left
2 Supporters
Select this reward
3,000.00 USD
Host your event

Have Listen Bar to yourself for a booze-free event.

Birthday, wedding party, company party - you do you! 

(For groups up to 70 ppl)

 

---

This is a crowdfunding-exclusive offer. 

Save over 25% on full price rental.

10 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
5,000.00 USD
Listen Bar comes to YOU

Have us over to your office or your party.

We bring the drinks & tunes, you bring the vibes.

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

9 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward
350.00 USD
An hour with a VC

Sit down with Catharine Dockery, venture capitalist and founder of VC fund, Vice Ventures. Pitch your business in-person for a chance to get funding on the spot, and workshop your pitch for future VC meetings.

Profiled in the WSJ, Catherine and Vice Ventures are the first VC fund dedicated to "naughty" industries that are typically restricted from VC funding - like sex, alcohol, CBD and more. While her focus is growing startups in vice-related industries, her expertise extends far beyond these categories, most notably in fashion and consumer goods.

8 Supporters
None available
500.00 USD
Investor Meeting

Interested in investing in Listen Bar more formally? Thank you. We will be taking on a select group of investors. You can purchase an exclusive invitation to our Friends & Family investment round here. As a thank you, we will send you a fabulous bottle of alcohol-free wine to enjoy as we welcome you to this exclusive group!

27 Supporters
None available

About the Entrepreneur

Brooklyn, NY
Created 1 Campaign
Lifestyle

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

Access to early invitations to future events, exclusive updates, and behind-the-scenes news.

102 Supporters
Select this reward
25.00 USD
Listen Bar Pack

A *limited-edition* pack of goodies, including:

- 1 canvas Listen Bar tote

- set of 6 Listen Bar coasters

 

4 Left
36 Supporters
Select this reward
65.00 USD
Listen Bar sweatshirt (limited edition)

Soft crewneck sweatshirt. Embroidered on the front with our classic "good ass times." 

Logo screenprinted on the back.

A collaboration with musician-owned Emulsion Printhouse.

 

10% of each sale supports one of the musicians who bartend at Listen Bar.

Unisex. Available sizes M & XL. Please specify size in notes.

11 Left
4 Supporters
Select this reward
15.00 USD
A drink at the bar

Get a drink. Any drink. On us! (pop-up location OR permanent location)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

152 Supporters
Select this reward
45.00 USD
5 Drinks (1 FREE)

Get 5 drinks for the price of 4. (Pop-up location OR permanent location)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

77 Supporters
Select this reward
75.00 USD
Your name carved into our bar

Get your name (or someone you really like) carved into our bar

+ Get a drink. Any drink. On us! (pop-up location OR permanent location)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

78 Left
122 Supporters
Select this reward
100.00 USD
Golden Ticket

A ticket to 1 Listen Bar event of your choice:

Opening Night (Our first ever party at our permanent space)

Industry Night (Our first ever industry night for F&B industry folks)

FF Night (Female Founders Night)

(includes 1 free drink at the event)

 

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

54 Supporters
Select this reward
5.00 USD
F*CK YEAH

Show your love, so more spots like us open!

Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

30 Supporters
Select this reward
250.00 USD
Alcohol-free Mixology Class

A spot in one of our alcohol-free mixology classes with Listen Bar menu director Eamon Rockey, of Eleven Madison Park fame and head of Beverage Studies at the Institute of Culinary Education. Each class is hands-on and intimate (only 10 spots!).

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

4 Left
11 Supporters
Select this reward
650.00 USD
Vol 1 Club Membership

10% off all drinks for a YEAR

+ Get your name (or someone you really like) carved into our bar

+ Free event tickets & plus one's to our regular events (starting NOW)

+ Free monthly members-only nights

+ 1 free VIP ticket to opening night (includes 1 drink ticket)

+ Limited-edition ListenBar Vol 1 Club pin 

+ Listen Bar swag (coasters + a tote + matches + classic Listen Bar pin) (Ships anywhere in the world)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist

 

---

How big are the savings?

$100 opening night ticket + $75 getting your name carved into the bar + $325 in drink discounts & free event tickets

= WORTH IT if you think you'll go just ONCE A MONTH!

Think you'd come once a week? Membership saves you over $700!
Coming 2-3 times/week? You'd SAVE more than $1,500!!

Come be one of our Listen Bar VIPs.

** This is based on an average tab of 2-3 drinks / night **

---
This is a crowdfunding-exclusive offer. 

Save over $100 on the full price of membership (once we open, membership will cost $777).

 

10 Supporters
Select this reward
1,000.00 USD
Name that Drink!

THAT'S RIGHT, A DRINK IN YOUR NAME!

Name a booze-free drink recipe by one of our mixologists that will be served as a monthly special during our first year!

+ 1 free VIP ticket to opening night (includes 1 drink ticket)

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

10 Left
2 Supporters
Select this reward
3,000.00 USD
Host your event

Have Listen Bar to yourself for a booze-free event.

Birthday, wedding party, company party - you do you! 

(For groups up to 70 ppl)

 

---

This is a crowdfunding-exclusive offer. 

Save over 25% on full price rental.

10 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
5,000.00 USD
Listen Bar comes to YOU

Have us over to your office or your party.

We bring the drinks & tunes, you bring the vibes.

+ Access to the first Listen Bar playlist.

9 Left
1 Supporter
Select this reward
350.00 USD
An hour with a VC

Sit down with Catharine Dockery, venture capitalist and founder of VC fund, Vice Ventures. Pitch your business in-person for a chance to get funding on the spot, and workshop your pitch for future VC meetings.

Profiled in the WSJ, Catherine and Vice Ventures are the first VC fund dedicated to "naughty" industries that are typically restricted from VC funding - like sex, alcohol, CBD and more. While her focus is growing startups in vice-related industries, her expertise extends far beyond these categories, most notably in fashion and consumer goods.

8 Supporters
None available
500.00 USD
Investor Meeting

Interested in investing in Listen Bar more formally? Thank you. We will be taking on a select group of investors. You can purchase an exclusive invitation to our Friends & Family investment round here. As a thank you, we will send you a fabulous bottle of alcohol-free wine to enjoy as we welcome you to this exclusive group!

27 Supporters
None available