Help might be on the way for independent music venues, which have been in dire financial straits since the pandemic began. With no revenue coming in, some venue owners have called it quits and gone out of business. Meanwhile, others have dug into their retirements and amassed debt to hang on to their establishments until the vaccine arrives. Crowdfunding, selling merchandise or grants from philanthropic foundations have provided some relief, but not enough to cover an average San Francisco concert hallâs estimated $18,000â$35,000 monthly overhead costs.
The long-awaited Save Our Stages Act promises some help. Itâs part of the COVID-19 stimulus package that Congressional Democrats and Republicans finally agreed upon on Sunday after months of stalling and debate. The House and Senate must now pass the bill, and President Trump must sign it, before it becomes law. If passed, $15 billion would go to grant programs for live venues, independent movie theaters and other cultural institutions, according to a statement from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Each qualifying venue would be awarded a grant equal to 45% of its 2019 operating costs, or up to $12 million.
Dayna Frank, board president of the National Independent Venue Association, praised the compromise in a statement. She heads an advocacy group of club owners that includes over 100 members in Northern California. âWeâre also incredibly grateful that this bill provides Pandemic Unemployment Assistance which will help the millions of people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own during this economic crisis,â she wrote. âWe urge swift passage of this legislation, which will assist those in the greatest need and ensure the music lives on for generations to come.â
Timing is crucial for Bay Area music venues, which were already operating on thin profit margins due to high rent and mortgage costs. Recently, some club owners have said theyâre weeks or months away from closing.
While pleased with the compromise, San Francisco Venue Coalition member Case Lowdermilk says heâs cautiously optimistic. âThere are a lot of steps still to be doneâimplementation, distribution and tracking all the venues in San Francisco to make sure they can get this money and survive this shutdown,â says Lowdermilk, who is also the assistant general manager of Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
He says the San Francisco Venue Coalition will continue its campaign in city hall, which urges San Francisco to set aside $48 million to allow around 50 music venues to survive 16â18 months of closure. âWeâre kind of concerned that federal money might not be timely enough, so weâre still pushing forward in San Francisco as planned,â Lowdermilk says.
San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney echoed the sense of urgency in a series of tweets. âThe key will also be getting this money to the venues FAST,â Haney wrote. âIf it takes 6 months, or even 2 months, or much longer, it will be too late for many of them. We have to move fast.â
Last week, Haney proposed the creation of the San Francisco Independent Venue Recovery Fund. It doesnât have a dollar figure attached to it yet, and the Board of Supervisors is set to discuss it at tomorrowâs meeting on Dec. 22.
The language and details are forthcoming. I'll work with our local venues to get this support to the venues most in need immediately. We have to save our stages. Much more to do.
— Matt Haney (@MattHaneySF) December 21, 2020
The key will also be getting this money to the venues FAST. If it takes 6 months, or even 2 months, or much longer, it will be too late for many of them. We have to move quicker.
— Matt Haney (@MattHaneySF) December 21, 2020
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