The Charlotte Music Crisis
The Charlotte Music Crisis
As we all know, we have been in a state of lockdown in Charlotte since early March of this year.
Schools, daycares, salons, bars, restaurants and a multitude of other business types are still affected, either shutdown completely or operating at a lowered capacity.
The impact of these closures—on a national level—has been far reaching in the sense that there have been quite a few, very prominent, businesses that have completely shut their doors. Employees laid off, their incomes affected…the whole thing.
One of the most affected industries in the Charlotte area is the music scene. With all of the business closures, and the state lockdown, music venues throughout the state are still closed! Going on seven months now, to be exact. Why though!?! Because when have you ever been to Tremont or the Fillmore and have been able to manage to stay 6 feet apart from other show goers!?!…I’ll wait!
So, what are the effects on the Charlotte scene, exactly!? Let’s take a look at NoDa’s Neighborhood Theatre, for example, who had to start a “GoFundMe'' fundraiser…which raised $20,000 in the first day, with a goal of $50,000…to cover their operating budget throughout the state-commissioned lockdown. As of June 16th, the goal had been met…which per the article from WBTV, will only cover a total of two and a half months of fixed expenses just to keep the venue’s bills paid (i.e. rent/mortgage, insurance, minimal utilities, taxes, and payroll).
So, what has been done, if anything, to prevent the collapse of these venues? Per an article from “The Charlotte Observer,” music venues were at their breaking point back in early September. Per Joel Kuhlmann, the owner of the “Evening Muse” in NoDa, “To keep the music system alive, we are going to need life support.”
With statements like these, you may conclude that all is lost, there's no point in being a musician, and other such doom and gloom. While this negative portrayal of the music scene is certainly reality for many larger venues and studios with high fixed overhead costs, there are opportunities that have begun to sprout.
For example, the smaller studios now have a chance to step up their game in order to help the artists that no longer have a studio to record with. While the traditional music venue may struggle to keep up with fixed costs, the online platforms like stageit that allow you to live stream an event, such as a concert, has now become a necessity in place of the brick and mortar venue. In fact, there are opportunities artists are seeing now with online streaming that may forever alter the face of live performances. Just a couple of examples include the introduction of an online chat thread allowing fans to interact with not only each other, but you the artist while you are onstage. Not to mention that now there are no geographical barriers between your fans and your show, which means if somebody in Germany wants to tune in, you better think of a way to cater to them. And it's not just an opportunity for artists. Many studios, like Back Porch Sessions, are converting their recording space part time into a performance room in order to bridge the technological gap that may prevent some artists from tapping into this new medium.
If, like many bands, you found yourselves mistakenly trying to fill every weekend with being on a stage somewhere, you may have found it difficult in the past to make time for the boring business and marketing stuff. Well guess what, there is only so much new music you can write during the lockdown, so maybe use this as an opportunity to develop your groups business and marketing skills so that you are in a position to dominate with or without the presence of a physical music scene.
Look, the bottom line to all my musician friends out there. Are some things going to change in the music scene? Absolutely! But this change brings opportunities ensuring that not only will the scene survive, it will likely be even better once things open back up. So keep writing, keep working, and keep looking forward to your opportunities, not your limitations.
About the author - Family Tree Records is a recording studio / label located in Shelby, NC. Learn more by visiting their Facebook at www.facebook.com/familytreerecords2014.
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