Bon Courage
Bon Courage is a simple and easy-going jazz room newly opened in 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The impetus for opening Bon Courage (aka “Bon Kura”) was to encourage and support musicians and the arts during that difficult period, thus, bon courage (have courage, good luck) was meant as much for encouraging the musicians as well as the general public and audience. It’s a sentiment that can no doubt also be directed to the brave entrepreneurs who opened such shops in the middle of unpredictable health emergencies as well.
The no-frills room is structured as a sort of mini-theater for live musicians and film events. The programming schedule contains live jazz events, cinema, and other drama-related acts. The live jazz shows often are made up of local musicians who are hand-selected and arranged into groups by the owner, who also operates the business and can be found with his pup Pascal on many days and nights at Bon Courage.
Bon Courage features a stage taking up about half of the room, and three rows of about eight fixed-in-placer classroom-style or simple movie theater seats facing the stage. These bare-bone seats even have built-in slide-away side tables complete with pencil trays and cup recesses.
While the third-row seats have good views, they may be partially obstructed by anyone sitting directly in front, so extra cushions are piled up nearby to help improve the comfort, sound, and views of the stage for those seated in the back.
The chatty bar master is often seen with his beloved dog Pascal, who is friendly and well-behaved and does not disturb the musical performance. At some times if the mood is right, Pascal may even wander around the shop to greet any welcoming customers. This cute dog is well-mannered and doesn’t bark or cause any problems during the shows, and most of the time stays cuddled with or close to the bar master.
At this is a one-person operation, the system is casual but straightforward. First, there is admission payment due at the door upon entering. Next, customers take a seat from among the three rows of seats and wait for people to get in and get settled. After this is done, customers can buy optional drinks, alcohol or non-alcohol, starting at 400 yen or 200 yen respectively.
These are mostly canned or bottled drinks similar to the selection available from convenience stores and vending machines. Customers are also allowed to bring in their own drink of one bottle or can and any small snacks like sandwiches or onigiri rice balls, but should remember to take their empty containers and trash with them when they leave.
The back of the stage also has a projection screen for movies which are shown on occasion. These, as well as storytelling events, plays, and such, are listed along with the jazz events (daytime and nighttime) on the online events schedule.
Along with the very reasonable prices and a casual, up-close live jazz experience, the bar master also specifies his “photo time” rule before many of the live shows start. In general and somewhat common at jazz bars (although sometimes as unwritten rules), customers are asked to refrain from audio and video recording and using smartphones and similar devices, since the seats are very close to one another and bright screens can distract other customers and the musicians.
However, at Bon Courage, “photo time” begins for the encore or last song of the second set, when customers are welcome to take photos of the musicians while performing their last song. Although rules regarding photos vary from place to place, it is good to have it made clear here, as it relaxes the performers and customers who are prepared for when the mobile phones come out and the shutter sounds start to chirp.
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Located near Suidobashi and Korakuen stations in Tokyo