What is Java? The party palace, the venue, party mountain, that place you tried to sneak a glass bottle into the other week (yeah, we know what you did). To some, it is a brief respite from life where the outside world doesn’t matter, to others, a night they don’t remember and have to be told about… to us Java Beans, however, it is a way of life.
Each week, the Java Barn hosts a band (or sometimes THREE!?) to play a free show, open to anyone and everyone who could possibly want to attend. The fun-loving nature of “El Granero” draws in locals from Potsdam and Canton, in addition to eager college students ready to dance the long, fun night away.
To the residents of the Java Theme House at 5 University Ave., Java is more than just a fun place to go out on the weekends- it is a job and a responsibility. As members of the Java House, the 12 of us work together to make sure each weekly show runs smoothly.
The “Boss” of the show registers the event and ensures that order is maintained throughout the night, and “Guest” tends to the band’s wishes all night long, including ordering their food and welcoming them to the venue. “Promo” creates social media events and covers the campus in posters, while “Food” prepares for the ravenous show attendees by venturing to P-chops or Save-A-lot to buy massive amounts of snacks for the night (or puts out the fantastic local snacks we receive from Bittersweet Farms).
The ever-coveted job of “Clean-up” tackles the mess in the venue the next day with a thorough mop, after they sort through the mounds of refuse collecting cans to recycle- #TheEnvironment.
Just like the USPS, weather doesn’t stop us from delivering delicious musical envelopes to the masses. Doesn’t matter if it’s 80 degrees or below zero, your tender-loving, Juul-inside-the-venue-hating staff members can be found standing outside the doors and cruising in front of the stage to make sure everyone is safe and having fun.
Some staff members put in some extra work on the side too!
Do you ever wonder why you can hear “Dancing Queen” during set-break even though Stephanie, who won’t be able to speak in class tomorrow, is belting out the lyrics directly into your ear? Our incredibly talented sound technicians Bjarne Nielsen ’19 and Jack Pattison ’20 work constantly to make sure all the instruments are mixed properly and the volume levels outshine Stephanie very clearly singing in the key of F even though ABBA is playing in A.
Wonder who answers the javabarn@gmail emails? Well that would be our resident knife-making-sailor and booking agent Jack Dolan ’20.
To close this fantastically written article- nay, masterpiece- let’s talk about the Java Love, Dave. Java Love is a term you might have heard kicking around campus. You might ask yourself “what does it mean?” Well, nobody knows what it means, but it’s provocative.
In truth, nobody knows what it means because it doesn’t mean just one thing. Java Love is bringing your friend tea when they’re sick. Java Love is walking your drunk friend to their room even though you want to go to sleep. Java Love is embracing people for who they are. Overall, Java Love is what drew all 12 of us housemates to 5 University Ave., and it’s what keeps us working every day to put on shows for everyone who finds their way to the Java Barn.
If you are interested in learning more about Java, come find any of us amazing, world-renowned, baked in a buttery, flaky crust and punk-rock house members at the next show!