Event Production & Reservations

The first step is to check out our list of rental spaces, which you can find here. Once you’ve found the room that best suits your needs, fill out a Space Use Request Form. Please note that any form submitted is not a guarantee for space, nor is it binding; it provides our Reservations team with the information we need to begin a conversation with you. Based on our team’s capacity and the high volume of building activity, we are unable to accommodate requests that are submitted with less than 2 weeks notice.

We offer hourly rates for our small, medium, and auditorium spaces. These rates are based on a tier system that takes into account if the group is BIPOC and/or TGNC led, if it is 12-step programming, and the overall organizational budget. A member of our Reservations team will be happy to review with you further if you have any questions about which tier you may fall into.

We are proud to host a wide range of groups here at The Center, for both public and private events! Some examples of reservations at The Center include social groups, recovery meetings, rehearsals, board meetings, retreats, fundraisers, performances, memorials, and more. The only requirement we have is that all groups support The Center’s Mission & Values and abide by our Community Agreements.

Our rooms are available to rent during the following hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sundays: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

When we can accommodate rental requests before 9 a.m., we will incur a flat $50 early access fee per day. At this time, we cannot offer access after 10 p.m., or after 8 p.m. on Sundays. On holidays, our building is open for limited hours and space is available to rent from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. To view our holiday hours, scroll down to the “Operating Hours” section here.

When submitting your request, please include the event/group start time (when the public will be invited into the room) as well as the additional time needed for set up and clean up (when you would like access to the room to prepare for the public/clean up after attendees leave). 

We ask that requests be made at least 2 weeks in advance. For larger-scale events, like fundraisers or memorials, we ask for at least 6 weeks notice to properly coordinate logistical arrangements (including a walk-through to coordinate your set-up, connecting with your A/V team, etc).

 While we try to respond to all requests as quickly as possible, we are a small (but mighty!) team and may take up to 5 business days to respond. Please do not submit duplicate requests.

All reservations can access our dedicated Wi-Fi network for events. Please ask our front desk staff for the password when you arrive. We also have a general public Wi-Fi named “MyCenter”, which your attendees can access without a password when onsite.

Our auditoriums are equipped with a screen, projector, and an in-room sound system with up to 4 wireless microphones, which can be added to your reservation for an additional flat rate. Most of the medium and small rooms have a TV that can also be added for a flat rate. All equipment must be returned in its original state; please alert us to any issues so we can address them before the next groups’ use. 

We provide the space and the equipment itself but do not have the capacity to run your media during the event or provide extended A/V support on the day of. (This is why we require technical walkthroughs for events with high technical needs). 

If you’d like to record, livestream, or do any videography, we require you to bring your own A/V point-person and to schedule a mandatory tech-walk connecting us with them at least 2 weeks prior to the event itself. During that mandatory tech-walk through, we will physically review what equipment The Center has to offer so your A/V person is informed on what equipment they need to bring and how to set it up.  

No, we do not offer catering services, although you can connect with the Coffee Project, our fabulous in-house cafe!  Their catering menu is available here, and you can contact them directly at events@coffeeprojectny.com to discuss your event needs further. 

If you are working with an outside caterer, please confirm if they will need a separate room for prep and include that in your request so we can have a fuller scope of your space needs.

No, we do not have a kitchen or an ice machine available.

We are unable to store advance deliveries and cannot be responsible for any mail sent to The Center for your event. Please coordinate with the Reservations team in advance if you need to request deliveries on the day of your event so we can communicate with our front desk team.

Similarly to above, we don’t have space to store belongings for reservations. All materials must be removed from the building at the end of your reservation.

All of our rental spaces are accessible via elevator with the exception of Room 214, which requires climbing 3 flights of stairs to access. We only book this room if we confirm with the reservation’s point person that their attendees will be able to access it. All gender restrooms are available on every floor.

The Center requires all Clients who intend to serve alcohol on The Center’s premises to obtain and abide by the appropriate Special Event Permit from the NY State Liquor Authority (SLA). In most instances, that requires the Client to hire a catering company that has a Caterers Permit they can use for their event. More information can be found on the SLA website.

Clients must provide the Reservations team with a copy of a valid permit and a written Alcohol Service Plan prior to their event. Please note that as a recovery space, alcohol may only be consumed in the designated event space, not in any public spaces like the hallways or lobby.

Please reach out to billing@gaycenter.org for inquiries about your group’s balance. Make sure to include the name of your group and the day of the week + time you meet.

If The Center needs to relocate you to a room that’s larger than your regular meeting space (like an auditorium instead of a medium room), we will honor your regular recurring room rate. 

If you request a larger room than is listed in your Space Use Agreement, you will be charged the larger room rate. Please feel free to confirm rates with us before making changes to your standing Space Use Agreement.