Music Venue
Located directly on Miramar Beach in Half Moon Bay, 45 minutes from San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society is an intimate live music venue presenting Sunday afternoon headliner Jazz, Classical and World Music. We bring a concert approach to Jazz music, with a club ambiance. There is a communal feeling to the Beach House and Concert Room, a room that brings the musicians and audience together in a special way. As a registered non-profit since 1964, the Bach is partially supported through memberships, but is not member-only. It is open to the public seeking the artistic and musical styles that may interest them.
Though not a bar or restaurant operation, we cater a light buffet and have a wine and beer bar. You can bring your beverages into the Concert Room. Patrons may also bring their own picnics if they confine their eating to the outer decks, weather permitting. Our motivation is for everybody to have a musical experience. Yes, we clear out the chairs and dance occasionally.
Tickets at the Door
The Bach Society has an open-door seating policy for non-members. You pay at the door when you arrive and put a name tag on an available seat.
Payment
Payment for entry is made at the door. We accept cash or checks. $5 per transaction is added to credit card payments. There’s a $5 discount for students under 25, and children who do not occupy a seat are free. See calendar page for concert prices.
Finding Seats
You can arrive when the doors open at 3 pm to place a name tag on any available seat inside the concert room. We usually get everyone in, and for popular shows make “standing room” available at a discount. Standing room includes seating on the inside deck where the music can be heard. From 3 pm to 4:30 when the music starts you can enjoy the beach house and beach, purchase our catered food and beverages. There is limited picnic space outside.
Reservations for Members
Current Bach Members may make email reservations and will receive priority seating in the center and east wall sections. Contributors may also request specific seats if available. We ask that Members reserve no later than the Thursday prior to the performance to assure Member seating, especially for popular performances and notify us in advance if they cannot make it.
Member Cancellations
Since we do not take payment in advance, it is important that you notify us if you cannot attend. Please call us at 650 726-4143 no later than 2 p.m. on the day of the concert so we can make your seats available to others. If you are going to be late (after 4:30), let us know and we will hold your seats. Otherwise, “no-show” name tags are picked up 5 minutes after the music starts.
Becoming a Member
If you want to be assured of reserved priority seating by becoming a member, please provide a credit card number and expiration date with your email reservation. Membership costs $250. You receive four tickets worth $120 which you can use at the performance, and continued reservation privileges for the year of your membership. The other $130 is totally tax deductible. Contributors who donate an additional $200 or more can request specific seats.
It’s Worth It
We are a intimate venue (200 capacity) right on the beach. For 42 years folks have felt privileged to have found this unique and special “home for jazz.” The acoustics are exquisite, and no seat is more than 35 feet from the stage. Musicians love to play here, partly because of the intimacy. They can see us easily as we can see them. It makes a difference, and they respond.
Although a musical pleasure, a small venue inherently has monetary limitations. Due to the high cost of quality talent, their overnight accommodations, and other production costs, seldom is a concert profitable for the Bach. Nor does the Bach own the food and wine concessions provided on performance days. To compensate, Pete Douglas has depended on rental of the Douglas Beach House (home of the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society) for offsite meetings, weddings and parties. Memberships, co-sponsorships and donations are the only other form of income for the Bach Society. They are essential to keeping this unique musical experience alive. Download the application and be a contributor to Friends of the Bach. Our thanks to those who understand and respond.
Please email or call 650 726-4143 for more information. Thank you!!
© 2001-2008 Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society