Eric Sosa
Tell us about you and your work
I am a Queer Puerto Rican music venue and bar owner - based in NYC for the past 20+ years, but originally from South Jersey. I got my start on stage in the theatre and then organically transitioned to venue programming in the early aughts. My goal was to eventually open my own venue that would showcase Queer and BIPOC artists and uplift those communities. That goal finally came to fruition with the opening of C’mon Everybody in 2015, an intimate venue in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. I most recently opened a second venue during the pandemic called Good Judy in Park Slope.
What inspires you?
Artists really inspire me. Having performed for many years, I really get inspired by the artists that I work with. Seeing them flourish on stage energizes me and brings me so much joy.
What does community mean to you?
To me, the community feels like home. Being a marginalized person, the community has always kept me going - it’s people who you can lean on, who understand your story because they have experienced a similar story. When I’m in a venue and I’m with my community - that's an incredible feeling, and that’s why I want to continue building more venues that are safe spaces and that nurture community.
Favorite film
Rosemary’s Baby is at the top of my list and the French film Ma Vie En Rose.
Favorite song
Ah, that's a tough one - I have so many! I’m a huge disco fan so I would have to say it’s a tie between “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston and “The Boss” by Diana Ross, but I also have a soft spot for 60s/70s singer-songwriters and Laura Nyro is a favorite, so I’m also gonna add her rendition of “It’s Gonna Take A Miracle” with Labelle. That one really gets me.
Favorite place
Provincetown is a magical place in the summer and the Hudson Valley is another favorite of mine for upstate getaways.
Links
C’mon Everybody - Performance & Event Venue
An independent bar & performance venue deeply invested in uplifting our community 🌈
Good Judy - Bar
🌈 A bar & venue for queers + allies