If you’ve been to shows at the following Richmond music venues, you know they all have their own unique vibes and audiences. But other than types and sizes of shows, how else are they different from one another? All venues have their own preference for sound, lighting, and what brands of equipment they offer. Here’s our go-to guide for all of the basic technical specs for popular local venues in Richmond, VA.
The Altria
The oldest venue on our list is the Altria Theater. Built in 1918 under the name “The Mosque Theater,” the building was originally intended to be an “entertainment palace” for the city. The ambitious construction plans included things like a 4,600 seat theater, a pool, a three-lane bowling alley, and a restaurant called The Mosque Grill. The building was later purchased by the city in the 40s and renovated in the mid-90s to preserve the venue to its original glory. Now, it’s home to all kinds of events, including touring Broadway productions, concerts, comedians, lectures, and fashion shows. The venue also contains many other spaces for rental, as detailed on their website.
Venue tech specs
Auditorium capacity: 3,600
Stage size: 40 x 85 ; 3,375 square feet
Sound system: d&b audiotechnik V-Rig system (one of the best in the game, in our opinion…)
Lighting system: A mix of ETC Source 4s and Elation SixPars
Other production specs: Yamaha CL5 control; two 72-channel boards and one 32-channel board. Over 40 wireless mics and over 50 wired options available (a combination of Shure and Sennheiser)
The National
When it comes to Richmond music venues, one of the most prominent is The National. This location is a great place to catch those mid-range performers as they tour nationally. Built in 1923, it would house the successful entertainment fields of the time: “theatre, vaudeville, musical presentations, and the nascent moving picture medium,” so states the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. In present-day, its purpose has shifted slightly, now featuring mostly musical acts with the ability to rent the hall out for other reasons. In 1983, the Historic Richmond Foundation stepped in to breathe new life into the National, one of several renovations the theatre has encountered over its 100-year run in the city. The interior features two floors to watch the show, with the top floor offering the traditional theatre-goer’s seated view and the first floor often featuring standing-only tickets.
Venue tech specs
Capacity: 1,500
Stage dimensions: 42’x32’x5′
Sound system: Avid control with JBL speakers
Lighting system: Chauvet R2s, Chauvet MK1 Hybrid Moving Heads, Elation Protron LED strobes, and Leko 26 Degree Source 4s; controlled through the GrandMA2 board
The Camel
If you’re looking for a cozy venue to check out, head to The Camel. The history of this venue is unique and eclectic, easily mirroring the variety of acts showcased each month. Andrew Bonieskie, a former writer on RVA Magazine, released a deep dive on the history of the Camel and how it became what it is today. From a gathering space known for symposiums of all kinds, to the headquarters of WRIR (Richmond’s own volunteer-run community radio station), to the local venue for smaller musicians we know and love today, The Camel has had its fair share of phases. Check out RVA Magazine’s article here to learn more.
Venue tech specs
Capacity: a little under 200
Stage dimensions: 15’w x 12’d x 13″h; directly on the left when you walk in the door
Sound system: Midas control with Yamaha speakers
Lighting system: Several ADJ par cans of the Mega Hex and Mega Tri varieties
Other production specs: they have the following microphones available: x4 Shure 58’s, x4 sE V7’s, x2 Shure Beta 57’s, x2 Shure 57’s, x1 Beta 52, x4 Sennheiser e604’s, x3 Sennheiser e609’s, x5 Passive Livewire DI’s, and x2 sE Electronics sE7’s Small Diaphragm Condensers
The Broadberry
The physical location for The Broadberry has been a home for music since the eighties. After the venues operating under the names The Cellar Door and Much More closed, NU Nightclub opened its doors to serve Richmonders looking for a fun night out for two solid years. In 2014, The Broadberry first opened its doors under the management of the Broadberry Entertainment Group. An article from former news outlet, RVA News, states that the Broadberry set out to fill the “mid-sized venue” market in Richmond. In the article, Lucas Fritz laments that many bands interested in performing in the city in the late 2000’s and early 2010’s were too large for smaller venues like The Camel, but not large enough for The National and had to skip us over altogether. This venue has a distinctly “Richmond” charm, even a decade after their opening.
The Broadberry’s website features a lot of great information on their website about their production capabilities. The page features a virtual walkthrough, information on seating, booking, and private events, and a detailed list of equipment in their inventory for bookings to utilize during their event.
Venue tech specs
Sound system: Midas control with Martin Audio speakers
Lighting system: Chamsys MagicQ Pro Wing controller and corresponding software.
Other production specs: plenty of Shure and Sennheiser mics and 6x DI’s onsite. Full patch list available on their website.
No matter which of these Richmond music venues you choose to book with for your next event, just know that it will have a lot of charm and character- the Richmond way!