Save Our Stages: A national collective is calling for legislative action in order to save independent music venues
Save Our Stages: A national collective is calling for legislative action in order to save independent music venues
May 22, 2020
Bailey Greenwood of Liaison Artists in an open letter published today on Fault Radio in the hope to save our beloved music spaces.
The shock of COVID19 took the world by storm in mid-March and like the rest of humanity, the world as I knew it ended and something completely foreign and new began. As someone who has worked in the music industry for the last 10 + years never have I seen something like this bring an entire industry to collapse in days. I remember when the panic started, I was getting ready to go on one of the more aggressive tours I'd been on in a long time, 6 planes in 6 days. Though this was something I was used to doing every few months this time around felt really weird and different.
My co-workers were openly worried about myself and the artist I was traveling with; because of that there were so many extra precautions I needed to take to ensure we were as safe as possible. I remember driving to 5 different Walgreens in the city just to find hand sanitizer, gloves, masks ... literally anything that would protect us. All the stores were sold out, so I had to find some old masks from the fires and brought those. I figured at the time this was just because everyone was in panic mode and by the time we’re on the road things would calm down.
A picture by Bailey Greenwood of Dj Heidi from Movement Festival in Detroit last year. The festival was supposed to take place this weekend.
In society we're so used to sensationalized news, nothing could have prepared us for what was in store for us in the coming weeks. By the 3rd day, things had gotten so bad we debated if the last shows on the tour were even going to happen. They did, miraculously... but I never thought that would be the last time I'd step foot in a nightclub for who knows how long. I'm thankful for that weekend but I'm also very worried about what the future has in store for the venues that opened their doors and set the stage for our artists.
Everyone in the music industry is taking a hit right now, from the largest artists in the world to artists just beginning to embark on this journey. Not only the artists, but the entire industry that gives this artist's a platform to exist is struggling to stay alive. Independent venues not owned by a larger entity like AEG or Live Nation, in particular, are working around the clock to try and secure their futures which at this point are completely unknown. And because of that, there is a fear that many of these venues around the US won't be able to open again ... even when we're allowed to dance together again.
I can't stress enough how important independent venues are in the music community. They give a chance to all kinds of artists to share their creativity to the world. Independent venues give us an opportunity to discover something new and culturally engulf ourselves in music/art we sometimes never knew we needed. Without these venues the backbone of the music industry in this country will crumble.
NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) is asking for help in securing financial support from the federal government. All it takes is less than 2 minutes to sign the petition on their website, which will generate an email to your local legislator calling them to help save the arts in your community.
They are calling for modifications to current legislation for businesses that are completely shuttered like these independent venues. Modifications to Small Business loans and the Payroll Protection Program, Tax Relief. Continued Unemployment Insurance, Mortgage, and Rent Forbearance.
PLEASE SIGN AND SUPPORT!
The full letter + the petitioner signatures will be presented in front of congress on Friday, May 22nd, 2020
What is NIVA (National Independent Venue Association)?
- We are a group of over 1,300 independent venues in 50 states that are banding together to ask Washington for targeted legislation to help us survive.
- We were the first to close. We will be the last to open.
- We are 100% shut down for an indefinite period of time.
- We have zero revenue.
- We are small businesses that are in danger.
