Check out Knights of Columbus halls, American Legion posts, Masonic temples, and Elks lodges. These are purpose-built meeting halls that are empty unless the organization that owns them is holding a meeting, and can usually be rented for relatively cheap. I got my start booking shows doing local bands at the Hamden American Legion post.
flytweed t1_j4xk8dc wrote
Real inexpensive and grassroots = Bregamos Community Theater; Overlooked= Canal Dock Boathouse; newcomer Hotel Marcel’ top floor. All in New Haven