DNA Lounge is a late-night, all ages San Francisco nightclub and has been one of San Francisco's most popular nightclubs for over a quarter century.

DNA Pizza is our adjacent late-night restaurant.

Who We Are

The umbrella of DNA is host to countless vibrant communities and thousands of regulars. We've had many years of the most diverse, weird, interesting calendar of any venue. A typical month here doesn't include just bands and DJs, but comedy, lecture series, circuses, robotic exhibitions, dance performances, hair shows... We always strive to provide a home for a whole lot of truly amazing art.

We are one of the very few independently-owned, non-corporate-controlled live music venues still remaining in San Francisco.

DNA Lounge has always been a political project: an attempt to move the needle of culture in this city. To provide a forum for a wide variety of art that makes this city a better place. DNA Lounge is putatively a business, but it is also activism.

A political, cultural and artistic project like this does not come cheap. While we consider DNA Lounge to be monumentally successful in all the ways that truly matter, monetarily, the club has always operated at a significant loss.

In the last few years, the financial situation has gotten particularly dire, and we're trying very hard to figure out how to keep the lights on. I wrote in details about this on the DNA Lounge backstage blog a few years ago.

A major contributing factor to our plight is that San Francisco's local music scene is being systematically taken over and dismantled by the multi-billion dollar international media conglomerates AEG and Live Nation / TicketMaster. For years, they have been using their vertical integration and monopoly power to make it nearly impossible for independent venues to compete with them —- and then taking those venues over when they fail. I wrote about this on the DNA Lounge blog in 2018, but it's only gotten worse since then, with Great American now controlled by Live Nation, and with Slim's, Mezzanine, Elbo Room and Hemlock now permanently closed.

Meanwhile, the astronomical wealth inequality in San Francisco is destroying cherished local businesses and cultural cornerstones on a daily basis, driving them away with high rents, real estate speculation, and higher costs across the board.

So we are asking for your help.

Your sponsorship helps ensure that we can continue bringing you the kind of awesome, eclectic and weird events that you've come to expect from us! Your sponsorship keeps us independent, and lets us continue to take chances on the kind of local live entertainment that makes San Francisco great.

"But what's in it for me?"

Your donation allows DNA Lounge to continue to exist, plain and simple. We think that's important. We think that's a pretty big deal. We hope that you do too!

But to sweeten the deal, and to give you some well-deserved bragging rights with your friends, the higher levels of monthly patronage include a membership card that entitles you to free admission for you and a friend!

THE GREEN CARD — $15/month.

Entitles the card holder to:

Free admission for 2 to any event before 10pm.
Skip to the front of the line (all night).

THE BLUE CARD —- $30/month.

Entitles the card holder to:

Free admission for 2 to any event, all night.
Skip to the front of the line.

THE GOLD CARD — $60/month.

Entitles the card holder to:

Free admission for 2 to any event, all night.
Includes 2 drink tickets.
Skip to the front of the line.

THE BLACK CARD — $200/month.

Entitles the card holder to:

Free admission for 4 to any event, all night.
Includes 4 drink tickets.
$50 off purchase of any VIP table.
Skip to the front of the line.

The fine print, for all cards:

You must bring your card with you and show it at the door.
Cards are non-transferrable: you must be present.
Standing room only (general admission, not reserved seating).
Charity events and private parties are excluded.
After you sign up, we mail you your card shortly after the 1st of the month, since that's when Patreon first charges you.