LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 17 draws a crowd; it's Partio and the venue itself. It's this fact that allows Munley to keep taking creative risks with new and unique bands, all with the safety that the community has his back always. Booking bands and building relationships "Party on the Patio is the best, least-known bands in the coun- try." ~ Waterhole owners Eric Munley and Kiki Sarko Folks often take for grant- ed the eclectic yet consistent nature of the line-ups for Partio, but it takes thoughtful cura- tion to create. The success of Partio has been driven by this curation, and it's done, as Eric says, by splitting bands into two groups: returning favorites and first-timers. We all know acts like the Mallett Brothers Band, Raisinhead, and Folkfaces — just three examples of bands that bring energy and never fail to make everyone feel at home. Then there's the newcomers, of which they try to make 50% of the line-up each year. These bands are often found from tip- offs by friends, live listenings by happenstance, or a concert- ed online deep-dive. It's not an exact equation, but there are some key pieces that make a band a good Partio fit. (If you've been to a Thursday night at the Waterhole, you may already know these three pieces.) The band needs to have the ability to play two 75-minute sets, have consistent energy all night, and peak at the end of the show. Again, not an exact science, but as Munley and Sarko say, the goal is to keep it "fresh, electric, and unforgettable." Drawing bands that have the ability to do the above is about more than just money offered, it's about the experience Eric and Kiki create for them. As opposed to up-and-coming bands touring big cities playing to half-empty rooms in huge venues, they can play on a packed patio of people seemingly pre-programmed to dance the night away, singing and sharing the energy alongside them. It can be their best stop of a tour, by far. It's also how hands-on Munley and Sarko are with the entire process that brings bands back, from setting up the bars, stage prepping, and getting the green room ready before the show starts to Munley running sound and Srko bartending once the show begins. Outside of the prepping stages and show time, they'll even house and cook homemade meals for the bands that come to play, cultivating personal relation- ships with some of our favorite artists. As an easter egg for regular Partio-goers, Tyler Westcott from Folk- fakes officiated Eric and Kiki's wedding, and West End Blend played at it, too (an all-time favorite of Saranac Lake's annual and beloved Winter Carnival). Bands don't come to the Waterhole as just another gig. They come because they fall in love with this place, the engaged and present audiences, and the connections they create. How can Partio be free? How is there no cover charge? It is something that we all talk about, sometimes take for granted, but don't know how it works. Well, it's quite the hustle, that's how. Munley and Sarko knew that keeping Partio free for attend- ees meant a tighter budget. Covering artist fees, paying staff, and marketing off of solely bar sales is tough, but worth it for them with the mis- sion of giving our small com- munity access to live music. With the cultivation of a spon- sorship program, the budget for Partio has grown over the years, allowing the ability to book bigger acts while keeping the cover charge non-existent. Since the Waterhole has become the town's primary social hang-out spot each week, it's naturally a good option for local businesses to connect with our com- munity. One such sponsor is Northern Power and Light, which among others, supports sustaining this free event that allows the community to come togeth- er and create lasting memories. More than anything, it's the experience that keeps Partio free. Munley explains that "years of booking taught me that when you really take care of artists, when you create a night that feels unforgettable, they want to come back." Supporting the bands in the way they do, by not only making sure every stage and sound detail is dialed but also enabling them to sell band merch and pass around a donation basket in the crowd, keeps them coming back and contributes to Partio being completely free. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention the 12-hour Thursdays that Munley and Sarko manage to do every week, a big factor in all of the success. If you see Mun- ley among the crowd managing the sound or Sarko behind the bar making sure everyone is having a safe and fun experience, be sure to say hi and thank them! The view from the balcony at Partio. Photo credit: Troy Tetrault

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