Frequently asked questions about the Tractor (a.k.a. log-winded explanations to the basic info page):

Q: I am under 21, may I come to a show if I don't drink? May our underage child come to a show if we accompany them? And so on...
A: No, no, no, and no. We are strictly a 21+ club and minors are not allowed in under any circumstances. This is due to the building's layout which makes us unable to meet the state Liquor Board's requirements to allow minors in. It sucks, but it's the law and we are bound to it. Please see our links page for information on underage activities and venues around Seattle.

Q: Why do I have to show my I.D. even if I am obviously over 21?
A: Again, a state liquor law. No matter your age, if you are in a bar or tavern in Washington State, you are required to have proper identification to enter and we are required to verify it.

Q: What forms of identification are acceptable?
A: According to the Washington State Liquor Control Board, valid I.D. is a current U.S. or Canadian issue driver's license or identification card, or a current passport (U.S. or international). We cannot accept expired I.D. or international driver's licenses (other than Canada) as I.D. Minors may not enter the venue under any circumstances.

Q: May I run a tab at the bar?
A: Yes, with a debit/credit card (Visa & Mastercard, American Express). We charge a $.50 (fifty cent) fee per transaction and have a $10 minimum on credit/debit card sales. However, we really like cash.

Q: Why do you charge a transaction fee and have a $10 minimum?
A: We charge a transaction fee because we are charged a fee by the processing company for every transaction we run through the card machine. We have a $10 minimum because the lower our average transaction amounts are, the higher our percentage rates go. In addition to the per transaction fee that banks charge to process cards, they also take a percentage of our total sales. This goes for debit or credit cards. We'd like to keep our average up so our percentage rate is lower. (You'll find that most bars and clubs around Seattle are doing this now.) We really like cash.

Q: What happens if I forget to close my tab? How do I get my card back?
A: We close all open tabs out at the end of the night and add a 20% gratuity (which you were going to leave anyways, right?) to the tab. We keep the cards for 30 days, after which they are destroyed. We will not mail cards back to you, we will not give them to your friends. You may pick them up in person during our normal business hours and with proper I.D. If you live far away, it's probably faster to cancel your card and have your bank send you a new one. We really like cash.

Q: Why do you charge a service charge on advance ticket sales? Why does Ticketweb charge a service charge?
A: The face value of each ticket sold, minus very basic show-related expenses and city admissions taxes, goes to the artist. We make no profit off of ticket sales or money taken in at the door - that is the band's money. As much as we would like this to be an altruistic venture strictly for the love of music, that love don't pay the rent. We charge the $1 per ticket service fee to help cover the expenses of running this joint. It is not included in the listed ticket price in order to keep the accounting of what goes to the band and what goes to us separate. Ditto for Ticketweb - they maintain an extensive website and phone bank so that we are able to sell advance tickets to people who can't make it here in person to purchase their tickets. They have a staff to pay and expenses as well.

Q: What time does the show start? Is there an opener? Is the showtime when the opener goes on or the headliner? Who's going on first? And so forth...
A.1: Most of this infomation is on the CALENDAR page of our website. We try to keep it as current as possible, and we put all the information we have up there. Please bear in mind that this is a human business and things are always subject to change. (Sometimes we are truly the last to know.)
A.2: How to understand our calendar listings:
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Fri, Jan 7 [the day and date of the show]
[bands are listed in reverse order - the band at the top will be the last one on (a.k.a. the "headliner"), the one at the bottom the first (a.k.a. the "opener")]
THE KITCHEN SYNCOPATORS [last]
THE TALL BOYS [middle]
RED BROWN & The Tune Stranglers [first]
9pm [this is the showtime, this is when the first band/artist will go on (and we try to start as close to that as possible)]* $7 [this is the cost of the show*; listings that say "adv" and "dos" next to the price are indicating the purchase in advance* and day of show prices] www.kitchensyncopators.com / www.thetallboys.net
[these are websites about or related to the bands/artists, their record labels, any show sponsors, etc]
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*not including service charges

Q: Exactly what time is the headliner going on? Exactly what time will the show be over? And so on...
A: We usually do not have exact set times (aside from the opening band) until the bands/artists have arrived and soundchecked, so you're somewhat on your own there. As a general rule, an opening band will play 30-45 minutes and there is a 15-20 minute break between bands. The show headliner will generally play one 60-90 minute set, or two 60 minute sets with a 15-20 minute break in between. However, it is all entirely subjective and depends on the mood of the artists, the alignment of the planets, and so forth.

Q: What time should we get there [to get a good seat]?
A: Doors open anywhere from 30-60 minutes prior to the listed showtime. We shoot for 60, but it doesn't always happen that way. If you are coming to a seated show, seating is on a first come, first served basis and it's up to you to decide how early you want to get here. Generally, 15-30 minutes before showtime is a good guideline. If you are coming to a non-seated show, it's your call as to when you get here - there ain't much to fight over in terms of seating on those nights.

Q: Is the show going to sell out?
A: We always hope so. However, our psychic powers are limited and we do not know if and when any given show is going to sell out. In general, there are usually some tickets left at the door the night of most shows, but the number will vary and how long they last is anyone's guess. Weekend shows generally sell out or are very busy. Big acts (Dave Alvin, Tift Merritt, Jay Farrar, Alejandro Escovedo, Derek Trucks for examples) will usually sell out, sometimes in advance of the show. If you are at all concerned about it, spend the extra dough to get an advance ticket and alleviate your stress.

Q: When is [insert band name here] going to be at the Tractor again?
A: Use the power of the web! Check the band's website and ours. If there is nothing posted on either website, then we don't have anything scheduled at this time. We post show information as soon as possible after it is confirmed. If you have a favorite band, it is a good idea to sign up on their e-mail list as well as our e-mail list. Sometimes bands will play other venues in town besides ours and that way you will be kept up to date as to their activities. Also, we have no control over when a band decides to tour - we get a lot of e-mails from people saying "Please book so-and-so, we want to see them.". Well, so do we, but if they're not on tour there's not a lot we can do about it. Again, band's websites are a great resource as to what they are up to and can usually answer your questions about the band better than we can.

Q: Can I get a [insert incredibly foo-foo drink name here]? Or how about a dry martini, extra olives, etc.?
A: Not really. We are a [relatively] full bar, but we like to think of ourselves as a This-n-That type bar, i.e. Gin-n-Tonic, Jack-n-Coke, Vodka-n-Cran, and so on. We have no blender, no blue stuff, we don't muddle, and we rarely strain. Martinis are coming in a plastic picnic cup, just like everything else. If we were any farther east, we'd have sawdust on the floor and a mechanical bull in the corner, so keep the environment in mind when you're ordering - keep it simple and always have a Plan B. 

Q: Can we have dinner at the Tractor before/during the show?
A: We have a small menu available, but we do not do any sort of table service (for drinks or food) - everything is served from the bar and there is no wait staff on the floor. If you want to have a sit-down meal before the show, we suggest any of the myriad restaurants in the Ballard Ave neighborhood. There's everything from sandwiches, hot dog carts, and burger joints to fine dining; Indian to Thai to Italian to Cajun to Mexican and back again. See the NEIGHBORHOOD INFO & OTHER LINKS page for some of our suggestions.

Q: Why do you stop serving and start kicking people out between 1:30-45am when 2am is the legal limit?
A: The way Washington Liquor Laws are written, public places such as bars, taverns, clubs, and restaurants have to have all alcoholic drinks cleared from the floor and all patrons out of the bar by 2am. So, we start early so we don't get in trouble with the liquor board. This is standard in most Seattle bars.