Hugh's Room Live

What Hugh's Room Live does

Hugh's Room Live is a registered not-for-profit charitable organization operating an intimate live music venue at 296 Broadview Avenue in Toronto's East Chinatown/Riverdale neighbourhood. Founded in 2001 by Richard Carson in memory of his brother Hugh and restructured as a community-owned charity in 2017, the venue occupies a heritage 1894 church designed by architect E.J. Lennox, with The Green Sanderson Hall serving as the main 200-seat performance space (approximately 160 main floor and 40 balcony seats). The organization presents a multi-series programming slate — On Stage concerts, Discoveries (emerging artists since 2005), InTune (mental health, launched 2025), Classical Series (curated by Angela Hewitt and Eric Friesen), and Guest Shows — across roots, folk, jazz, classical, blues, and world music genres, targeting approximately 150+ concerts annually plus additional presenter events.

Name

Hugh's Room Live

Legal name

Hugh's Room Live

Website

https://hughsroomlive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hugh's Room Live is a Toronto not-for-profit charitable concert venue operating a 200-seat heritage church at 296 Broadview Avenue, presenting 150+ live music concerts annually across folk, jazz, classical, and world music genres.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD), Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF)

Keywords

• Live music venue
• Concert programming
• Venue rental services
• Community arts organization
• Charitable fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from concert ticket sales ranging $15-$50+ per show, plus a $5 facility fee per ticket and approximately $3 Showpass processing fee, with HST applied.
2. Venue Rentals: The venue is rented for private events with rates varying by day of week: Monday-Wednesday $850, Thursday & Sunday $1,000, Friday & Saturday $1,350, plus HST. Additional fees for sound technician ($350 for 7.5h call), house PA ($100), house backline ($100), and extra time ($50/hr).
3. Bar Service: Cashless bar serving craft beers (Wellington County Breweries), wine on tap (Peller Estates), pre-mixed cocktails, and non-alcoholic options. Operates under fair wage/no tip policy.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Accepts one-time and monthly donations from supporters. Over 1,000 donors have contributed to the organization. Currently running a $750,000 accessibility campaign. Community bond financing raised $2.6M through Series A, B, C, and D bonds.
5. Securities Donations: Accepts donations of securities as in-kind contributions, liquidated through CIBC Wood Gundy. Donors receive tax receipts for realized amount and avoid capital gains tax.
6. Bequests/Legacy Gifts: Accepts charitable bequests in wills as legacy gifts to support future operations and the music community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Hugh's Room Live operates a historic 1894 church venue (Green Sanderson Hall) presenting intimate live music performances across roots, folk, jazz, classical, blues, and world music genres. The organization runs multiple curated concert series including Discoveries (emerging talent), InTune (mental health programming), Classical Series, and Guest Shows, with approximately 200 seats, ticketed admissions, cashless bar service, and a venue rental program.

Product overview

Hugh's Room Live is a not-for-profit charitable concert venue and music presenter operating from a historic 1894 church at 296 Broadview Avenue in Toronto. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected music programming series, with its core product being the On Stage concert series featuring live performances across multiple genres. Supporting products include the Discoveries Series (emerging talent), InTune Series (mental health programming), Classical Series (classical music), and Guest Shows. Additional revenue streams include Venue Rentals (offering the space for private events with technical services), Bar Service (cashless bar with craft beverages), and Donations/Fundraising (charitable giving programs). The venue has approximately 160 seats on the main floor and 40 in the balcony, operates as a cashless and tipless venue, and is currently undergoing an accessibility project to become fully accessible by Labour Day 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• On Stage Concert Series The flagship concert series presenting ticketed live music performances at the Green Sanderson Hall in Toronto. Shows feature diverse genres with general admission seating, $5 facility fee, and HST. Tickets sold via Showpass and at the door.
• Discoveries Series A showcase series for emerging Canadian artists, featuring multiple performers per evening with 70% of door revenue shared equally among artists. Notable alumni include JP Saxe, The Strumbellas, and Justin Hines.
• InTune Mental Health Series A free four-part program combining live music with dialogue about mental health for artists and arts workers, addressing burnout, financial stress, and career sustainability. Developed with Creative Arts Financial and Revelios.
• Classical Series (Hugh's Room Goes Classical) A classical music series curated by pianist Angela Hewitt and broadcaster Eric Friesen, presenting major classical artists in an intimate, informal format. Featured artists include Carter Johnson, Ryan Huang, and the Cheng² Duo.
• Guest Shows Hosting of guest-presented concerts and events by outside arts organizations and performers at the 296 Broadview venue, broadening the programming mix beyond the resident series.
• Venue Rentals Rental of the historic 1894 church venue (Green Sanderson Hall) for private events such as corporate functions, weddings, and community gatherings. Room rates range from $850–$1,350 plus HST depending on day of week, with optional sound technician, house PA, and backline services.
• Bar Service Cashless bar operation offering local craft beers (Wellington County Breweries), wine on tap (Peller Estates), pre-mixed cocktails, and non-alcoholic options. Operates under a fair wage/no tip policy.
• Donations and Fundraising Program Registered charitable donation programs (Charitable Number 73001 8496 RR0001) including one-time and monthly giving, securities donations liquidated through CIBC Wood Gundy, and legacy bequests to support operations and accessibility projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Presented over 60 concerts in late 2023 and 300+ combined in 2024-2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, significant and minor.

• Creative Arts FinancialflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2026Partner in InTune: a free four-part mental health series for artists and arts workers, blending live music with honest dialogue about mental health including burnout, financial stress, and sustainability. First session April 12.
• ReveliosflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2026Creator of the Soundcheck national mental health study in Canadian music industry. Partner in InTune programming. Released final report showing 84% of music professionals report financial instability affecting mental health.
• ShowpasscoreTechnology or IntegrationCanadian ticketing service provider enabling online ticket sales and event management. Showpass has been very supportive of the venue and individual artists. Their fees are considerably less than other ticket platforms, approximately $3 per ticket.
• Ontario CreatessignificantGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment arts funding agency providing support for the Discoveries series programming. Part of Ontario's creative industries support ecosystem.
• Angela HewittflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-renowned pianist curating the Classical Series along with broadcaster Eric Friesen. Inspired to create series after playing the venue in December 2024, citing intimacy and acoustic excellence.
• Eric FriesenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcaster and music industry figure curating the Classical Series with Angela Hewitt. Former CBC Radio and Minnesota Public Radio executive, founding Program Director for Classic 107 Winnipeg.
• Wellington County BreweriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal craft beer provider for the venue's cashless bar service.
• Peller EstatesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWine on tap provider for the venue's bar service.
• Riverside BIAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness improvement association for the surrounding neighborhood. Venue recommends local dining options through the Riverside BIA website.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hughsroomlive
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxw0kq_gh2vvmDNAG2UmGXg
• Facebookfacebook.com/hughsroom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hugh's-room-live
• Instagraminstagram.com/hughsroomlive
• TikToktiktok.com/@hughsroomlive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hugh's Room Live