“We try not to be the typical coffee shop experience. We offer something unique and have for many collegiate generations.” – Former 8th Note Coffeehouse events coordinator Kevin Rammer

The 8th Note Coffeehouse has proven itself a permanent fixture in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Union after last year’s budget cut scare. It has been there since 1961 and has always been a place for cheap coffee and free music. Following up on last year’s panic, the UWM Post talked to the former events coordinator and full-time coffee drinker Kevin Rammer, diving into the inner workings and atmosphere that the 8th Note offers tired college students.

Why did you guys almost get shut down last year? The university is always looking for ways to spend less money, and being one of the larger student organizations, as far as budget is concerned, we got swept up in the mess with everyone else (LGBT, CAB, LINKS, etc…).

Why do you think you’re still around? Through a lot of hard work by a lot of people. This place means a lot to many people and when you try to take that away, they are going to fight for it. We offer something unique and have for many collegiate generations. We are doing everything we can to continue that.

What is the atmosphere like at the 8th Note, do you see a lot of regulars? We try not to be the typical coffee shop experience. Our drinks are cheaper, our music’s louder, and our volunteer staff is more animated. We are not the Grind, nor do we strive to be. It’s a very social atmosphere though with our bar and couch seating, but because of our relatively large size you are almost always able to find solo seating in order to study and concentrate. We serve somewhere in the range of 75-100 regulars from people who are here for anything from one cup to go every couple days to those who spend nearly every spare on-campus minute here. (That’s where most of our volunteers come from.)

What is it like to work at the 8th Note? It’s fun. It’s not really work or a job. We aren’t paid in any meaningful sense. The three perks of being a volunteer at the 8th note are the free drinks, control of the CD player, and the tips. It’s more of a glorified version of hanging out.

Would you like to see any changes made? We’re always looking to expand. We offer free entertainment to all students in a diverse manner, be it acoustic solo acts, spoken word, open mic nights, indie rock, punk, bluegrass and metal. We are always welcoming to offer a hang out for new groups of people. At the same time we have a certain atmosphere and vibe that we don’t want to lose sight of as we become more visible on campus.

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