Do you know the way to San Jose? Diana Ross did, and she's just one of many music legends who boast an association of some sort with this fine live music city. So if you're hosting a concert, theater show, or other performing arts event, rest assured that you're in the perfect location.
From springtime in April, through the height of summer in July and August, and as the weather starts to cool in September and October, downtown San Jose plays host to a huge range of popular music festivals, live music concerts, and cultural and performing arts events. And if you're looking for the best music venues in San Jose, you'll find a host of great options on the Giggster app—download it today to find your perfect space.
Special events deserve special event venues, and from the San Jose Civic to the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (built by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation), there are plenty of great sites to choose from. If you're looking for a unique and charming concert or performing arts space on Santa Clara St or anywhere else in San Jose, you'll find options aplenty with Giggster.
Imagine a sun-drenched outdoor patio in the heart of San Jose. Where better for a Sunday session with a few beers, a plate of appetizers, and an acoustic performer playing some awesome live music?
The best theater venues offer a stage, excellent acoustics, and a strong connection between artist and audience—perfect for memorable music or performing arts events.
You don't need a grand venue like the San Jose Civic or the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts to host a great show. Explore Santa Clara St and surrounds, and you'll find many unique and unconventional venues for a variety of special events.
From chic lounges and tapas bars to VIP clubs, there are plenty of different live music locations to choose from in the San Jose area.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: There are 16 inspiring and enchanting live music locations to choose from on Giggster. From blues to rock, hip hop to alternative, you'll find beautiful performing arts spaces to suit any style of sound.
Hassle-Free Booking: Ready to take to the stage? It's quick and easy to find great concert and live music venues with Giggster. Just search for San Jose locations, use the convenient filters to find suitable properties, and contact venue owners directly with any questions.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: If you need to make a late adjustment to your concert plans, it's easily done. If you book at least 48 hours before the event date, you can cancel your booking for free within 24 hours of receiving your confirmation.
Platform Protections: Boost your confidence and peace of mind when booking a space by including optional liability, damage, and cancellation insurance.
From theater shows to live music concerts, many legends of stage, screen, and music have performed in San Jose. Here are just some of the event types you might like to consider for your San Jose music venue.
Birthday Parties – Choose Your Celebration. A stunning space like provides the perfect setting for a band or DJ to get everyone up on the dance floor and celebrate your birthday in style.
Concerts – Take to the Stage. From blues to rock, hip-hop to country, search for a performance space that matches the genre and style of music you're showcasing.
Gala Dinners – Elegant Evening. From networking events to gala dinners, many music venues offer a versatile setting for sophisticated corporate events.
Album Recordings – Press Record. Head for the studio to lay down some tracks for your next album, with all the high-quality mixing gear and the soundproof setting you need for awesome audio.
Music Video Shoots – Roll the Cameras. Capture raw footage of the artist doing their thing on stage to emphasize their talent and authenticity in a music video.
From the grand surroundings of the San Jose Civic to much humbler suburban venues, look for the following features when choosing a performing arts space.
Start with a checklist of practical must-haves. Put together a shortlist of all the essential inclusions you want in a space, such as a Santa Clara St location, easy access, seating capacity requirements, private parking, and more.
Check the atmosphere and acoustics. Next, look for a performing arts venue that has the ideal ambiance to suit the style of music event you're hosting. Excellent acoustics are a must, too, so it's worth checking out a show in person before booking a space.
Find the right host. The best venue host will respond quickly to questions and be happy to work with you to host the type of music event you want.
Check the price. Finally, make sure the venue you choose is a good fit for your budget. Use Giggster's price search filter to find locations that won't break the bank.
No matter whether you're in downtown San Jose or anywhere else around this fine city, there are lots of reasons why the area is a perfect match for music events. That said, there are also a few factors that could make you consider other options.
Advantages
With great theater and music venue locations on the Giggster app, there are lots of options to check out when searching for a venue.
From Diana Ross to a bevy of other music industry legends, a long list of big names have performed in San Jose over the years.
San Jose's strong live music scene, from technicians for productions to singers for shows, makes it a natural choice to host performing arts events.
Disadvantages
The best venues are in high demand and book out quickly, so it might be difficult to secure the space you want.
Popular San Jose venues don't come cheap, so you might need to increase your budget to host the type of music or theater event you want.
San Jose may not be as large as LA and other California cities, but it still has its share of traffic woes.
Planning a performing arts event or live music concert is a long and stressful affair that could leave you with nothing left in the tank. Use the steps below to guide you through the planning process.
Set a Goal – Kick off the planning process by setting a clear goal for the type of event you want to host. What sound will you create? What experience will you offer to attendees? Will it be large or small, casual or formal, indoors or outside?
Choose Your Date and Budget – Next, decide on the ideal date for your performing arts occasion, and crunch the numbers to work out how much you can reasonably afford to spend on your San Jose event.
Find a Venue – Compare the Giggster performing arts venues in the area to find your ideal space. From a large stage to a great lighting system, comfortable theater seats to easy access for people with disabilities, a Santa Clara St location to awesome acoustics, find a location that offers everything you need.
Secure Talent – Book any artists and performers you need to take to the stage, and hire any audio, lighting, security, and event personnel you need to host a successful occasion.
Hire Equipment and Extras – You'll also need to ensure that there are suitable food and drink options for all your event attendees.
If you're on a tight budget, the simple tips below will help you plan performing arts events that won't break the bank.
Know your audience size.
You might have grand visions of filling out the 2,800 plus seats of the San Jose Civic just like an international act like Diana Ross, but it's important to be realistic about the number of people you can expect to attend your event. This will ensure that you avoid paying too much for venue capacity you don't need.
Plan your event in detail.
Put together a detailed plan for your concert, theater, or performing arts event. This will ensure that you make the most efficient use of the space in the time you have available.
Avoid peak concert season if you can.
The months of June, July, and August fall in peak tourist and events season in San Jose. If you can move your performance to quieter months like September and October, you could save on venue hire costs.
Make your events stand out on the San Jose cultural and performing arts calendar. Download the Giggster app today and start comparing the best music venues in San Jose.
