Mumbai's young talent shortlists the best venues for you to catch a cultural or music gig

Good live music spots can encourage artistes to write and compose better. Ian Anderson, vocalist, flautist and guitarist for British Rock group Jethro Tull.

famously said, "I was always more interested in the ultimate live performance rather than the recording for its own sake. And, for the audience too, that thrill of just being there." Of late, performance spaces in the city have seen a rise in gigs across music and the arts. Young musicians pick their favourite venues.

Best Equipment
Singer-songwriter Nathanael Mookhtiar, who often collaborates with bands and ensembles for performances, chooses Tuning Fork (Khar). "As an Indie artiste, it is a promising venue. Having performed there, I found the atmosphere positive. From an artiste's perspective, it has state-of-the-art equipment with skilled engineers handling the sound," he says.

While there is no monetary promise made to artistes, Tuning Fork offers a barter. "The artiste gets audio and video masters of the performance, and is given recording time as compensation. Footfalls comprise mostly of music lovers. Even the food is delicious, and the service, good," he elaborates. Mookhtiar adds to his list Hard Rock Café and antiSOCIAL for the gargantuan stage, lights and sound.

Innovations matter
Singer-songwriter Nestor Coutinho believes venues need to be more out-of-the-box. "If a venue supports the Indie scene, it should be open to every possible act. On the other hand, an artiste shouldn't be fussy about pay. It is a two-way street," says the 32-year-old.

He, too, picks Tuning Fork among his favourites. "It is a cozy place and is ideal if you wish to catch a small, intimate gig," he adds. Singer-songwriter Rajesh Ravi (27), meanwhile, is now eyeing a slot at antiSOCIAL. "Everyone seems to love the place. But if you look at it from an all-round perspective - music concerts as well plays and stand-up comedy - The Cuckoo Club (Bandra) is doing well. They give equal weightage to all art forms. They even have a Jazz night these days," he suggests.

For the laughs
Stand-up comedian Sumit Anand feels that a good stand-up venue is not just about the stage and set-up. "One needs to understand how a venue pitches comedy, the value it deserves and the audience it attracts. As performers, we prefer an audience that picks comedy over chicken, especially when their order is served. That would mean that the gig is top priority. Tuning Fork and The Cuckoo Club get it right," he says, pointing out that certain venues, like Canvas Laugh Club, are so good that they're bad. "They can make the performer complacent. It is like being at Wimbledon and winning every match in straight sets," he laughs.