Key Points

• The Haunt hosts a wide variety of performances
• Both local and national acts continue to thrive there
• Artists are treated like part of the community making them likely to return

A Small Venue, Big Line-Up

Past some train tracks and across a highway stands a medium-sized building in the city of Ithaca. From the outside during the day it doesn’t appear to be a local hotspot, but on any given night this building boasts a full parking lot, a queue out the door, and people of all sorts lining up to get inside.

This is The Haunt, one of Ithaca’s oldest and most popular venues, and it has remained an attraction for artists and music enthusiasts thanks in recent years to DSP Shows. The  promoter books the shows at The Haunt and recently successfully hosted the Cayuga Sound Music Festival.

“We try to do what is right for our markets and if the money does not work, so be it; we aren’t a metropolis and we don’t have to have a show every night,” said Dan Smalls, DSP founder.

Even without a show every night, The Haunt is still incredibly popular.

“I was always impressed by the team’s ability to fill up The Haunt consistently,” said Josh Fidanque former social media intern at DSP.

When looking at upcoming performances, it is no small wonder why. The variety of artists and genres ranges widely. From underground hip-hop to alternative and indie acts, The Haunt has a bit of something for everyone.

Secret To Success

The secret to success is not variety though; it’s a mix of knowing the audiences in Ithaca and the reputation of the promoter. While Ithaca is a college city, Smalls rarely books performers with any specific audience in mind.

“We don’t specifically program acts for the students or the rest of the community,” Smalls said. “We look for acts whose music or comedy resonates and whom we respect for their ethics or talents or positions – what they stand for basically. I mean sometimes an act resonates more with [the college] crowd, but we do not do a lot of EDM [electronic dance music] or pop or dance style music, which seems to be quite popular these days.”

The focus is instead put on the artist who is the most important part of any show. Employees show them around town, from hiking trails, to the best coffee joints. The human-to-human element is the most important part of attracting artists.

“One thing they do is makes sure the artists are the happiest they’ve ever been,” said Fidanque. “All the managers talk to each other in this business, and you will have a reputation as a promoter.”

Smalls takes this part of his business very seriously. “We give them a great experience and that makes them choose Ithaca over other options because the experience is tantamount.”

It seems both performers and concertgoers have a good time at The Haunt. I personally saw underground rappers Milo, Elucid and JPEGMAFIA at the venue and noticed a particularly excited vibe from them. I have gone to several underground and alternative hip-hop shows in the northeast and I have never had an experience quite like this.

I think JPEGMAFIA put it best at the end of his set when he said, “I need to come back here again, maybe this summer, because you all are great!”