FAQ

CAN I MAKE A RESERVATION?

We do not take reservations or group bookings. Being first-come-first-served is an important part of who we are; we want music lovers like you to know that you can come-by whenever it moves you and you'll have just as much right to a seat as anyone else. We want you to stumble on new music and new acts that you wouldn't have otherwise planned to see, and in turn, for those performers to gain new audiences. Holding seats or selling tickets seems antithetical to all of that.

DO I NEED TICKETS?

No tickets required. We do over 700 non-ticketed shows per year; two shows a day, seven days per week. On the rarest occasion we'll host a ticketed show, but even then, we guarantee room for walk-ups.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO ARRIVE?​​​

Earlier is better, especially if you are a group who'd like to sit together (10 pax max). We're usually at legal capacity within the first hour after opening, but there is lots of turnover throughout the evening (especially between the shows) and we move the queue as quickly as we can. So although there might be a bit of a wait to get in, we promise it's worth it. 

HOW DO I PAY FOR MUSIC?

Thank you for asking! To help compensate the incredible professional musicians entertaining you, we simply add $6 per person to your bill for every set you are in the audience for. As an example, two-hours of quality live music will cost you about the same as a glass of wine. 100% of those monies go to the artists and the live music program ... or on GroundUp Thursdays, is donated to Downtown Eastside charities (see question 8 to learn about GroundUp). 

We think this is better than charging a larger fee at entry (cover charge) because you are only billed for the time you are here and listening to music. So you can plan your visit to be as short or as long as your budget allows.

HOW CAN I RETRIEVE SOMETHING I'VE LEFT BEHIND?

You can pop-by anytime after we open at 6PM (every day) and speak to the host. Anything left at Guilt & Co— if turned-in or found by our team— is labelled and stored for 15 days. If you'd like to confirm we have it before journeying down, please contact us here.

CAN MY KIDS COME ALONG?

Unfortunately no. We are a 19+ no minors establishment. But we loooove that you want to share live music with your kids so here are a few nearby options we recommend: The Second Floor (Water Street Cafe) and The Lobby Lounge (The Fairmont Pacific Rim). But after the kids are in bed, come see us.

DO YOU HOST PRIVATE EVENTS OR LARGE GROUPS?

We are not a private event venue. Nor do we do large group bookings. We are happy to recommend our neighbours at The Portside Pub and The Blarney Stone, both of whom are larger, often host live music, are more operationally suited to groups, and last we checked, accept large-group bookings.

CAN I PLAY AT BE TEASED?

If you are interested in playing at Guilt & Co, or represent someone who is, email us here. Please introduce yourself and include an EPK; the more we learn about you in the initial reach-out, the better.