Hootananny and The Gellions make last-ditch appeals for donations to ensure they stay afloat after massive financial hit of Covid-19
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Two city music venues are making a last-ditch plea for support after crowdfunding appeals they say are vital to their future fell far short of their targets.
Hootananny's in Church Street and High Street venue The Gellions in the Highland capital have both taken a huge financial hit due to the coronavirus pandemic which they fear may see them having to close their doors for good.
They had hoped to raise donations of up to £50,000 and £35,000 respectively to ensure they stay afloat, but Hootananny has, so far, taken in donations of just £3566 from crowdfunding while The Gellions' total stands at just £620.
Their campaigns were launched after influential UK charity Music Venue Trust (MVT) identified them as facing an imminent threat of closure.
Hootananny's leading shareholder, Kit Fraser, said it was important people supported the cause and added: "The misconception about venues is that they make a ton of money – but in reality what comes in the front door goes straight out the back.
"The problem with music venues is they're very labour intensive – you can be busy and not make money. You have to be very busy. It’s particularly true in Inverness, and the reason for the red listed venues here is because we have a micro-culture where you don’t charge to see live music.
"In a normal year we don’t make a lot of money but we do it because we love it."
Adding that he was "very grateful" for the donations received so far as well as government funding including furlough he nevertheless added: "It’s pointless us putting on live music now, because we can only accommodate 29 people with social distancing restrictions. But, if we can get the government grant, we can put on these shows, give the artists money, and livestream the shows too.
"Inverness doesn’t realise, but they are spoiled for live music – not just live music, but free live music. Artists from the area have said 'Inverness punches way above its weight in terms of the night time economy'."
Gavin Stevenson, owner of the city's oldest pub The Gellions, said it had been a tough year and income had been reduced by 75 per cent. He added: "Even at the best of times music venues are run more for love than for money, operating on wafer thin margins, and 2020 has been very much the worst of times.
"The good news this week about vaccines is very welcome, although it's tempered by the scientists saying it'll be at least another three to six before things return to a more normal state, so we'll be living with these restrictions for much of next year.
"We were lucky enough to receive some Grass Roots Music Venue funding from Creative Scotland earlier this year, which helped us survive so far, but that funding was only designed to last until October and we are now in December with no news yet of follow up grants.
"That's why our Crowdfunder campaign is so important. We'd like to thank everyone who has donated so far, and we've just added an amazing prize for one lucky contributor of a private concert with Schiehallion for them and up to 24 of their friends, just as soon as it's allowed under the regulations."
MVT champions grassroots live venues as the breeding ground of top acts in the multi-billion pound UK music industry and has gained the ear of Scottish and UK governments, levering grants for crisis-stricken enterprises.
Nick Stewart, MVT's Scottish rep, said it was crucial to help the venues and added: "Music Venue Trust has been working with Scottish Government to protect as many venues as possible, but these are the small number of places that are in real danger of imminent closure. They either get support or they will close, it’s as simple as that.
"Venues are the local scene. They are also the national and UK scene because the artists that cut their teeth in these local venues become the festival headliners. Lewis Capaldi played small venues all over Scotland for years honing his craft before making it big. Local venues are also the places where musicians meet and make scenes.
"The venues on the red list are all normally really busy, they’re not failing businesses pushed over the edge. The trouble is – if a venue closes then it’s so expensive and legally difficult to open a new one that it’s far easier and cheaper just to keep the venues we have."
He said Scottish Government funding to help grassroots venues ran out in October and the venues "hate having to ask the public for help". He added: "We’d love the public to help, but we also need the government to take control of the situation.
"They can’t preside over this loss to the cultural landscape, people should write to their MSPs saying it cannot be allowed to happen, especially in Inverness where two important venues are about to be lost."
• For more information visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-venues-red-list
