Clubs, theatres and concert halls of all sizes are brainstorming how to get back to business and abide by the safety guidelines imposed by their local and state governments. Every major tour under the sun has postponed or cancelled 2020 tour plans. There is too much uncertainty as to what is allowed and every city and state have different guidelines to follow. While every state has begun reopening, the different phases present too many challenges to make a tour go smoothly, efficiently and profitable. On top of that, indoor venues could face different guidelines than outdoor facilities. Here in Charleston several small clubs that have an outdoor stage have begun to offer some music, albeit local acts. The near term seems ripe for local artists to get exposure in markets where they may have struggled to get noticed in the past. I love local music and support them as much as possible for the variety that they offer at an affordable cost.

Let me offer an idea that I believe has merit, at least in the short run. As the dust settles on the challenges of reopening live music establishments, local bands are playing the stages of your favorite venues. The national acts are sitting home in their living rooms. They have got to be itching to play some live music somewhere. It’s in their blood! If touring is too unpredictable and economically challenging, why not consider establishing residency for a period of time at a favorite theatre for a string of shows? Let me offer my town, Charleston, SC as an example. An artist should consider playing a week or more of shows at a favorite theatre for a smaller audience. If a venue was limited to 25 or 50% capacity, this would necessitate a number of shows to sell enough tickets to pay the band for their time. There would be nights off for the artists to get a break before the next string of shows. Any artist worth their reputation could fill a venue for several nights of limited occupancy.  By establishing residency at a venue, they move in their equipment and it stays there on stage until they are ready to wrap up their residency and move on, whether it is back home or to another city. By doing a residency in a city such as Charleston, they could spend time as a tourist, golfer or beach-goer. It could be the perfect opportunity to bring along their family if schooling permits. They would get to enjoy all that makes Charleston (SC) such a desirable destination. On top of it all, they get to perform to an appreciative fanbase who might not get to enjoy them in such an intimate setting. I don’t envision them getting rich on the concept but I believe that they can structure it to do more than break even.

I haven’t done the math and that is not my purpose in developing this proposal. I will leave that up to the promoters and the concert venue management to make the numbers work. I see the ticket prices being higher than normal but not so high as to make it unaffordable for the average fan. After all, many of their followers may have been unemployed for a while or may still remain that way.

I believe that this idea has merit. It could help music venues reopen and put people back to work. It will give the artists an opportunity to play in front of a live audience for a stretch of time. It could help control some of the cost of being “on the road.” Artists could settle in and enjoy the surroundings of the city that they are in in such a way that the normal tour schedule just won’t allow. The musicians’ families might enjoy spending a week or so with their families in a great city such as Charleston, SC while still being able to get to perform in front of audiences. There is another segment of artist that could be approached and this is the community of artists already living here. I don’t know how unique this town may be but there are bands that came from here and made it big and there are artists that made it big and then moved here.  If you’re out there and restless, how about exploring the concept with venues eager to get started? Why not reach out to the mayor or the county executive with a win/win proposition?

 I believe that bands like Shovels and Rope, Umphrey’s McGee, Hootie and the Blowfish or Darius and his country band could sell out a week or two here. If Susto or Stop Light Observations are hunkered down in Charleston, they could get a week of their own! There are artists that have homes here but like to keep that quiet. We’ll keep your address unpublished in exchange for your talents displayed for everyone’s enjoyment. Bands such as Sister Hazel already have a weekend at the Windjammer (IOP, SC) each summer. Team them up with another band from their era and you could sell 25 to 50% occupancy tickets for a string of shows, all while the band enjoys the comforts of the same hotel room or the rental house on the beach for a stretch. Just a thought…

#charlestonsc #Umphreysmcgee #hootieandtheblowfish #dariusrucker #shovelsandrope #susto #stoplightobservations #sisterhazel #thewindjammer #doyoubelieveinmagic