Rental Rates

Renting The Christopher Cohan Center
The Center is available to rent by individuals, commercial businesses, not-for-profit organizations and agencies of government. By virtue of the Operating Agreement among the Center's partners, the university has priority use of up to 12 dates annually. Traditional performance dates, "Annual Holds," have 2nd priority. All other performing arts events are third in priority. Activities other than for the performing arts may then be scheduled. Usage policies may be obtained by calling the Center's office at (805) 756-7222. Rental rates may be subject to change.

Rental Rate Schedule
Rental rates are established by the Central Coast Performing Arts Center Commission (CCPACC). A minimum rental rate will be charged to each Client of the Center to cover the cost of administration and other fixed expenses. If the Gross Sales Break Point is reached for an event, a “Percentage of Gross Revenue” rent formula is added to the standard minimum rate. Percentage rent is calculated as the percentage, designated by criteria above, times the gross sales reached beyond the break point. Percentage rent on top of minimum rent is capped at a maximum of $1,700 per performance.

Incremental production costs associated with an event will be charged back to the Client as per the Usage Policies. Labor costs may exceed the rent for performances requiring rehearsals and extended take-ins with large crews to set up special lighting, sound and scenery. There is no discount for labor costs for non-profit groups.

Venue Rates
NOT-FOR-PROFIT/PUBLIC AGENCY
These subsidized rental rates are made possible, in part, through operating funds provided to the Center by the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center.
Days Location Minimum % Gross Sales
Break Point
Fri-Sun Concert Hall-Performance $1025 6% $18,000
Mon-Thu Concert Hall-Performance $800 6% $18,000
All Days Concert Hall-Rehearsal $340    
All Days Pavilion-Performance $400    
All Days Pavilion-Rehearsal $150    
All Days Founder's Room* $175    
All Days Lobby* $300    
All Days Plaza* $125    
All Days Philips Hall* $125     
PRIVATE/COMMERCIAL
Days Location Minimum % Gross Sales
Break Point
Fri-Sat Concert Hall-Performance $2375 12% $24,000
Mon-Thu Concert Hall-Performance $1750 12% $24,000
All Days Concert Hall-Rehearsal $800    
All Days Pavilion-Performance $750    
All Days Pavilion-Rehearsal $240    
All Days Founder's Room* $450    
All Days Lobby* $750    
All Days Plaza* $375    
All Days Philips Hall* $375     
* If use is not associated with Concert Hall or Pavilion rental

Ticketing Fees
Ticket Office Staff

Night of performance - minimum $160 ($60/hour for overtime)
(over and above normal ticket hours –10-5 M-F/10-2 Sat)

Pavilion & Spanos Theatre minimum $60 ($60/hour for overtime)

Ticketing Fees

$2.15 per ticket or $750 per day “in lieu” fee for free or non-ticketed events in Harman Hall; $250 per day in the Pavilion and $250 per day In the Spanos Theatre.
(Certain exceptions apply for events priced under $14 – please contact Ticketing Services Manager.)
$.85 per ticket for Student Rush (Not for Profit/Public Agency only)

Ticketing System Event Programming

Harman Hall $150 (per performance); Pavilion & Spanos Theatre (per performance) $110

(Note: All ticketing set-up data must be submitted by the client at one time on the Ticketing Information Sheet. Once original Ticketing System Event Programming for an event has been loaded to the ticketing system, every change requested to the original data submitted on the Ticketing Information Sheet will be charged a new fee.)

Bank Cards Charge-back for cost to Center for all credit card bank charges at 3.5% (commercial promoters only)

Youth Outreach at Performing Arts Center (YOPAC) Events
Young Artists on Stage (YAO)

2.10 for every ticket distributed from all sources

Student Matinees (SMAT)

1.10 for every ticket distributed from all sources

In addition, each ticket sold through the PAC ticket office will carry a fee of $2.15. Please discuss YOPAC event qualification with the Center’s Managing Director.

Front of House
    Not For Profit Commercial
House Manager and Ushers Harman Hall $230 $345
Pavilion & Spanos Theatre $120 $230

Event Insurance
All events must provide minimum insurance as stated in the License Agreement. Insurance arranged through the Christopher Cohan Center and its partners will be billed to the client at Cost + 25%.

Patron Fees
(charged to patron in addition to advertised ticket price)
Facility fee (for facility and theater equipment fund):
Harman Hall $3.00 per single ticket
P Pavilion & Philips Electronics Hall $3.00 per single ticket
Ticket order handling fee:
Mail, phone and fax orders $5.00 per order
Daily Campus Parking $5.00 per vehicle
Event Parking

$6.00 per vehicle at parking structure
$5.00 per vehicle in advance at PAC box office

Technical Charges
Supplies and Materials Fee
Small events including meetings $25
Large events including performances $40
Current Labor Rates
Technical Staff $36 per hour

Appropriate crew size and mix for safe operation will be determined by the Center’s staff based on event requirements. Clients’ crew members require training and certification prior to the event.

Campus Sponsored Special Events
All special events sponsored by Cal Poly organizations will be assessed a $60 administration and custodial fee.

Wire Transfer Fees
Settlements received via wire transfers will have the following fees applied to the transaction:
Domestic Wires $9.00 each
International Wires $21.00 each

Piano Rental
Concert Grand Performance* $325
Concert Grand Rehearsal $125
CP Music Dept. Grand Performance $100
CP Music Dept. Grand Rehearsal $50
Piano Tuning at cost

* Steinway piano in memory of Dr. Alexander Capurso

Recording/Television/Film Fee
Daily Rental Fee for creation of recordings for sale to the general public:
Not-for-profit organization audio, video, TV or film production 15% premium
Commercial audio, video, TV or film production 30% premium

This rent premium does not apply to recordings made for internal use by the organization or for sale solely to the performers or their families.

Appropriate acknowledgment of, or attribution requirements for, the Center must be negotiated with the Center.

Product Sales
Sales Commission for the Center:
Not-for-Profit Groups 10%
Not-for-Profit Groups w/assistance of the Center 20%
Commercial Groups 25%

Request for Use of the Center

If you wish to rent one of the venues at the center, a Request for Use form must be submitted. Once the form is submitted, the managing director will review the requested venue, date and time. You will be contacted with the results of your request. There are five different Request for Use forms. Please choose the form appropriate to your organization status and the venue.

If you are requesting use of the Christopher Cohan Center for an event, meeting or special event, please use this form. PC users: to use this file as a Word Document, right click on the link and save target as a word document to your desktop.

If your organization is on-campus and you are requesting the use of Philips Electronic Hall (Room 006-124), please use this form. PC users: to use this file as a Word Document, right click on the link and save target as a word document to your desktop.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Rental Rates
ON CAMPUS ACADEMIC
Pay no rent. Pay for all technicians.
Labor Charges
Student Tech $15 per hour
Technical Director $30 per hour
Stage Tech $26 per hour
Stage Hand $23 per hour
ON CAMPUS NON-ACADEMIC
Pay daily rental rate. Pay for all technicians.
Flat Daily Rental Rate $100
Labor Charges
Student Tech $15 per hour
Technical Director $30 per hour
Stage Tech $26 per hour
Stage Hand $23 per hour
NON PROFIT/PUBLIC AGENCY
Pay daily rental rate. Pay for all technicians.
Fri/Sat Performance $300
Sun-Thurs Performance $200
Fri/Sat Rehearsal $150
Sun-Thurs Rehearsal $100
Labor Charges
Student Tech $15 per hour
Technical Director $30 per hour
Stage Tech $26 per hour
Stage Hand $23 per hour
PRIVATE/COMMERCIAL
Pay daily rental rate. Pay for all technicians.
Fri/Sat Performance $450
Sun-Thurs Performance $250
Fri/Sat Rehearsal $150
Sun-Thurs Rehearsal $100
Labor Charges
Student Tech $15 per hour
Technical Director $30 per hour
Stage Tech $26 per hour
Stage Hand $23 per hour

Request for Use of the Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre
If you wish to rent the Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre, a Request for Use form must be submitted. Once the form is submitted, the managing director will review the date and time. You will be contacted with the results of your request.

If your organization is requesting the use of the Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre, please use this form.