08/16/2026
One of the hardest things about running Butter Notes has been figuring out how to properly pay the artists who provide the music here.
Jazz and community building are core pillars of what we do, but at the rate and amount of coffee that we sling, it is nearly impossible to consistently support artists at the rate they deserve. That disconnect has been really challenging for us.
We’re now growing a partnership with Jazz Clubs Northwest, a nonprofit in the greater Seattle area that puts on jazz walks and helps create continuity between those events and shows at places like ours.
Danny, the organization’s founder, has been gracious enough to partner with us. We’re still contributing what we can, but this support helps us pay artists a bit more and makes the whole thing a little more sustainable.
Honestly, it feels like nonprofit relationships like this are crucial if a small jazz café like ours is going to survive. If I were smarter, I would have more seats and be an amazing marketer who could fill every seat every night. Then artists could just focus on making the best work they can without having to market themselves.
But it’s not the real world, and we are living in the sauce right now.
Last night was a fully seated show. It was amazing, and it felt like the start of something really good. I kind of feel like I’m dating Danny now, and I hope we have a beautiful relationship moving forward.
