DIY performance house Space Camp packs it in

This past school year, all eight roommates of the four-story house are involved with the production of Space Camp. Between booking shows, manning the door, checking sound, coordinating with artists and maintaining the space, all hands are needed, especially with performances slated for in the house’s basement and living room nearly every weekend.

“There are a few of us who study music industry for our career path, but for everyone else it’s like ‘I love music’ or ‘I love sound,’ ” project member Allison Carr said. “We all have interests in art and its consumption and curation. All of us have made it an important part of our lives.”

In the past 18 months, Space Camp has hosted nearly 50 shows in total. Despite having three to four bands a night, the collective can’t manage to host 90 percent of the acts who contact them interested in playing Space Camp, according to Pacheco. Known for its distinct culture, the venue creates the perfect weekend experience for music fans. Each show draws in a crowd, yet organizers deem it to be a concert hall.

“I wouldn’t necessarily consider Space Camp to be a party,” Carr said. “It’s unlike other shows where people go to drink and hang out. Here, people come to hear the music.”

The performances, mostly indie rock, are lined up with full bands and/or acoustic sets at nearly every show. Along with student bands, well-known acts from all over the country perform at Space Camp, bringing students and Syracuse community members alike to see personal favorites.

While they may come for the music, attendees also flourish in the vibes of the environment. Space Camp fosters a culture that allows acts and fans to feel at ease no matter their background or identity.

Project member Nate “Nort” Currie, who aims to ensure others have a comfortable time, considers safety when preparing and hosting a Space Camp event. Currie prioritizes monitoring the house and being vigilant and responsible for everyone around.

“There’s clearly people who come back here who are looking for that,” Currie said. “This is the place I would want to hang out if I didn’t live here. I like making sure the atmosphere is good, and I think that’s also something that motivates a lot of us to stay involved.

“We want it to be different.”

With six of the eight current Space Camp organizers graduating from Syracuse University in May and moving away, the Space Camp era will come to a close. Rather than pass the mission along to other fants, the group wants the experience as they remember it to stay in tact. Space Camp will dissipate, similar to Scarier Dome, another Syracuse DIY music venue that ended in spring 2016.

“If we were to use the Scarier Dome name, it would have just been so wrong,” said Carr. “That’s exactly how I think people would feel about someone using ‘Space Camp,’ but it wasn’t us.”

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