The Ted’s Experience
Ted’s is a 62 seat intimate listening room and bar. Our mission is to bring local, regional, and even national/international acts to Wilmington, NC in a space that feels homey and comfortable for both musician and patron alike. Here are a few FAQ’s and additional info about our venue!
F.A.Q.
What is a listening room?
A listening room is a small, intimate music venue where listening to and enjoying the music is the primary focus. This type of setting is not like your average bar or brewery where there’s lots of conversation happening - it’s a space where music lovers can come and really listen to music and hear the stories behind their favorite songs. We kindly ask our patrons to keep conversations to a minimum (this is our nice way of saying that talking during the performance is not appropriate). This allows our patrons to experience the pure MAGIC that happens when audience and musician truly connect!
Why is there a ticket charge?
We are a very small and intimate space and unlike a bar, our patrons are not there primarily to drink. We charge a ticket price so that we can afford to pay the musicians that play a fair fee. Also, we are truly hosting a performance at Ted’s. The musicians will tell stories behind their music and engage with the audience unlike most bar/brewery gigs.
Can I purchase tickets ahead of time?
Yes! In fact, we encourage it so you are guaranteed a seat.
IF AVAILABLE, we will also sell tickets at the door before and during the show. We only have 62 seats, so shows do sell out frequently. We will make announcements for sold out shows on our “SHOWS” section of the website and via social media. You’re always welcome to e-mail us to check availability as well: liveattedsbooking@gmail.com.
Online sales end for Friday and Saturday night shows at 6:45pm, Sunday shows at 2:45pm, and during the week at 5:45pm (unless otherwise stated). This helps us ensure we know the exact count of tickets left to sell at the door and adhere to our capacity limits.
What if I bought a ticket and can no longer attend the show?
All ticket sales are final. We do not offer refunds or credits for tickets purchased if you become sick or no longer can attend the show, just like any other performance arts venue. We suggest finding a friend who would like to attend and pass your tickets along to them.
Where do I park?
There is a small gravel parking lot behind Ted’s that fills up quickly and 1 handicap spot that leads to our ramp entrance. Most folks park in the grass along the Ted’s side of Surry St (PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NOW “NO PARKING” SIGNS ALONG THE BLACK FENCE ON SURRY ST). There is also some free street parking on Castle St.
NEW PARKING CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF WILMINGTON: As of October 2023, we have a contract with the city that allows our patrons to officially be able to park in Dram Tree Park lot (the big paved parking lot right across from Ted’s). You should not leave your car there overnight, but you are welcome to park there during our regular business hours.
What if I see a friend I want to catch up with?
Not a problem! We have a big back deck with beautiful views of the Cape Fear River and a front porch with rocking chairs. Come early and catch up with a cold beverage before the show starts! There is also a 15-20 minute break in the middle of the show.
What kind of drinks do you serve?
We offer an assortment of domestic beer, imported beer, and an extensive selection of craft beers. We also have wine by the glass, non-alcoholic drinks, Panacea Kombucha, and coffee available.
Do you have food?
We do not have food trucks or serve food at this time, but we do have an assortment of nuts, popcorn, chips, and candy.
Can I bring my kids? What about those under 21?
We unfortunately do not allow young children. This environment is like attending a theater production or a show at The Wilson Center. Everyone is seated and very quiet throughout the show, which is a hard ask for the littler ones. We do not like to set an age restriction just because every child is different, so please use your best judgement. Otherwise, we invite all ages! We are first and foremost a music venue and not just a bar, so we do allow those under the age of 21 too. Please note, however, that we do not offer any child ticket discounts. All ticket prices are the same for everyone.
What if I really, really, really enjoy a guitar solo?
Clap, cheer, give a whistle! Go tip the band. Tell them how much you loved it at the end of the song! Go chat with them during the set break. Buy some merch at the end of the show. Give them a follow on Instagram or a “like” on Facebook. Join their e-mail list. Tell your friends!! This is meant to be an interactive experience, so while we do not allow carrying on conversations with a friend throughout the show, it does not mean that you cannot engage with the musicians.
Thanks for checking out this info! If you are bringing a friend for the first time, please let them know what a listening room is all about. Our goal is to continue giving our patrons a unique music listening experience that you cannot get anywhere else in Wilmington, NC. It’s a beautiful thing and we hope you’ll come check it out for yourself!
Woodsongs Coffeehouse & Listening Room
“By the term “coffeehouse” we mean a clean listening space for artists and audiences to enjoy each other’s company, their music and mutual encouragement. It’s the kind of acoustic venue that whole families can visit. In the 1960’s just about every town in North America had a coffeehouse. Usually volunteer-run and held once a month, these were the musical breeding grounds for artists like Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Don McLean, John Denver and so many others. Very often, the coffeehouses would be held in schools, church basements, clubs or even in living rooms. Time moved on and the music scene changed, but the coffeehouses continued to present wonderful concerts. By the late 1980’s and into the 90’s artists like Suzanne Vega, Tracy Chapman, John Gorka, Beck and Dar Williams cut their musical teeth in these small, hometown music venues.
The WoodSongs Coffeehouse is our way of encouraging the resurgence of this musical tradition plus bring them all together in a national association of venues. This will help make booking artists, finding an audience and keeping the venues easy and flourishing for years to come.”
To learn more about Michael Johnathon’s Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour, click here: http://www.woodsongs.com/