PlanJam!From your screen to the scene

There are good things to say about the Verity Room, a small performance hall located in Simi Valley, but majority rules for the bad. This small room, located in the back of a low budget music store (don’t get your hopes up, I wouldn’t look for Fender or Gibson here), is supposed to be a haven for young singer songwriters, and artists. Instead, The Verity Room is an overpriced sweat shop family oriented performance space.

Let’s start at the beginning. Upon entry to Guitar Merchant (located, but well hidden on Topanga Canyon Blvd) you’re charged seven dollars for admission to the back room. You walk through the small hallway and are at once greeted with a very pleasant sight. The first good thing I’ll say about the Verity Room is that its image is top notch. It’s visually pleasing to the eye, but comfort is a problem. Though there are plenty of seats, very few of them are actually comfortable. I think it’s safe to say that the tables are from the outdoor section, and the lonely pillows on the ground are missing their couches.

So grab a seat now. The performances are usually top notch, and places like this are always known for breeding the next wave of amazing talent. The room is also home to a very beautiful, and great sounding grand piano, an instant plus for piano playing performers. There’s enough room on the stage for a full band, and the sound system can handle just about as much as it needs.

There is one major problem that will always hurt the Verity Room. The one thing that always brings people to a performance in L.A. is Alcohol. The Verity Room, on the other hand, does not sell Alcohol or any other beverages at all. That lack of liquid equates to a lack of ticket sales. It’s really hard for young emerging bands to pack people in based on the music alone. And to top that of, when the room does fill up, it heats up, a major pain for those performing.

I will say that from a performers point of view (I have performed their on a few occasions), the help is really great, and they treat bands right. The sound is usually top notch for what they have, and performances are often quite spirited. All in all, their hearts are in the right place. With a little work, The Verity Room could be a great place to bring your friends and enjoy some local talent. Instead it’s a work in progress that warrants a visit, but it’s not a top priority.