Are most gatherings of this sort this expensive? I havent looked to far into it yet but man that seems steep.
There are a lot of expenses. To name a few - venue, insurance, security, artists fees... That being said, there's usually something to cater to your budget. We have a local group of folk musicians that work with the city of Poway, California to put on top notch events for no or little cost:
http://www.meetup.com/Poway-Folk-Circle/
We have lots of ukulele clubs (this is not a complete list):
San Diego and South Orange County California area ukulele clubs:
Sunday:
5:00PM Ukulele Sundays
Molly Bloom’s
2391 S El Camino Real
San Clemente, CA
http://www.meetup.com/UkuleleSundays/
5:00PM E Kanikapila Kakou
Bubba Kahuna’s
34320 Pacific Coast Hwy
Dana Point, CA
https://sites.google.com/site/letskanikapila/
Monday:
8:00AM Sunset Strummers
McClellan Center
1400 Vale Terrace Dr
Vista, CA
http://www.cityofvista.com/departments/parks/documents/Page12_000.pdf
6:30PM Ronnie Seno and Quintinn Holi
Chris’ Ono Grinds
4651 Mission Gorge Pl.
San Diego, CA
http://www.onogrindscafe.com/index.html
Tuesday:
9:00AM StoneAge Strummers
Joslyn Center
111 Richmar Ave.
San Marcos, CA
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_StoneAge_Strummers/?yguid=89084008
10:00AM Norman Park Center
270 F Street
Chula Vista, CA
http://www.chulavistaca.gov/City_Services/Community_Services/Recreation/PDFs/MarchApril2010-2.pdf
6:30PM Hau’oli Strummers
Big Kahuna’s
3780 Ingraham St.
Pacific Beach, CA
http://www.hauolistrummers.com/
Wednesday:
Lake Elsinore/Wildomar Elks Lodge, Ukulele Club
33700 Mission Trl, Wildomar, CA
10:00am to 11:30am
Call Bill Bonin at 951-678-0250
6:00PM Moonlight Beach Ukulele Strummers
Today’s Pizza and Salad
481 Santa Fe Dr.
Encinitas, CA
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/moonlightbeachukestrummers/
6:00PM Aloha Strum
Dana Point Yacht Club
http://www.meetup.com/alohathursdays/
6:30PM Bertrand’s Music
13179-5 Black Mountain Road
San Diego, California 92129
(858) 780-1812
http://www.facebook.com/BertrandsMusic
7:00PM Hui o Hawai’i
Advanced Ukulele
752 Grand Ave.
Spring Valley, CA
Thursday:
8:00AM Sunset Strummers
1400 Vale Terrace Dr
Vista, CA
http://www.cityofvista.com/departments/parks/documents/Page12_000.pdf
6:00PM Ukulele Society of America
Stagg & Lion
850 Tamarack Ave
Carlsbad, CA
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukulele_society_of_america
Friday:
Saturday:
11:00AM Momilani’s Island Traditions
1906 Oceanside Blvd. (bring your own chair)
Oceanside, CA
http://ukulele.lanaicityrental.com:8081/Andy's/
2:00PM Hui o Hawai’i
Beginner and Intermediate Ukulele (Two separate groups)
752 Grand Ave.
Spring Valley, CA
Usually around 1:30PM Ukulele Friends
Vista, California
http://www.meetup.com/Ukulele-music-group/