Ever find yourself seated behind that same dull, gray cubicle in need of a proper pick-me-up? Maybe you’d rather be at a concert or at least have a quality coffee in hand.
In April, Sips n’ Strings — a collaboration between the Music Settlement and Phoenix Coffee Co. — returned to Cleveland for the first time since 2019, bringing the concert experience and better coffee right to the workplace.
It’s as if they heard our business-casual prayers.
As the name implies, the program offers local businesses a music- and coffee-fueled break in the middle of the workday, with brew provided by Phoenix and local musicians brought in by the Music Settlement. Notably, the entire offering comes free of charge.
“2019 served as a great way to pilot the program,” says Director of Marketing Sydney Miller. “And then with the success of the 2019 tour in Cleveland, we decided we wanted to do it again. The response was so positive in the community.”
The entire program takes roughly one hour from quick setup to tear down; music generally lasts around 40-45 minutes, Miller says.
Sips n’ Strings then aims to provide a relaxing break in the middle of a busy day while connecting Clevelanders with local musicians they may not have encountered before.
The music varies based on the availability of players — meaning you may get a fiddler one week and a guitarist the next.
“Musicians are all excited and lined up and really interested in going,” Miller says. “A lot of our musicians are not only our instructors but working at other places. So, to be able to visit and connect with local businesses has provided them a way of also getting out of their normal regular routine and connecting with different folks that they might not have met.”
Currently, the offering remains seasonal for the warmer summer months, but the reception has been just as warm and Miller hopes to see the musical reprieve utilized more and more across The Land. The next performance is scheduled for Friday, May 26 at the VA Medical Center.
“We're really excited to bring Clevelanders opportunities to kind of discover new talents and interests and build confidence and explore self-expression,” she says.
To sign your business up for Sips n’ Strings, check out the Music Settlement website or email Miller at smiller@themusicsettlement.org
