Rep. Williams Fights for Music Venues as SBA Gridlock Continues
Rep. Williams Fights for Music Venues as SBA Gridlock Continues
WASHINGTON, D.C- Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) voiced his frustration and displeasure with the Small Business Administration's (SBA) handling of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program. The SVOG was authorized by the Congressman Williams' bipartisan Save our Stages Act, which was signed into law by President Trump on December 27th, 2020.
"Nearly two months since becoming law, the SBA still has not made the application for the $15 billion SVOG program available for the thousands of music venues, theatres, and museums that are struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. As these businesses wait for this program to get up and running, they are prevented from accessing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or other emergency relief options in the interim," said Congressman Williams. "Venue operators have nowhere else to turn and the SBA is not acting with the necessary urgency to provide a lifeline to the businesses who were the first to close and will be the last to reopen. I've heard gut-wrenching stories from my constituents and venue operators across the country who feel betrayed by the SBA's bureaucratic delays."
"It's beyond reason that the federal government could discharge the funds associated with the PPP to the tune of over $750 billion dollars but be unable to fulfill their obligations to the $15 billion SVOG program. Because the SBA has ignored pleas from venues falling under the SVOG, I'm including many of their stories with my statement. I hope everyone can take a moment to reflect on the challenges that venue operators still face."
Hear directly from the music venue operators below:
"Here at Plaza Theatre Company in Cleburne Texas, our once thriving community theater is mere weeks away from having been completely shut down for an entire year by the COVID-19 pandemic. When the legislation creating the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant was passed we knew that a lifeline for the entire performing arts industry was soon to be available. Every day we eagerly await finalized eligibility information and for the application process at SBA.gov to begin, and every day that goes by without the initiation of this process is another day of unpredictability for the future of our business. We are quite literally at the end of our emergency resources and await the commencement of the SVOG with great anticipation." - JaceSon P. Barrus, Plaza Theatre Company, Cleburne, TX
"Every day Poodie's Roadhouse is not open is everyday our employees and musicians are out of work. Our doors have been closed for a year now and unable to re-open until the Shuttered Venue Operators grant funds actually get into action. In my opinion holding out and prolonging this is the real crime. I cannot open my doors to begin start up without these funds. Poodie's is a staple in the community of Spicewood Texas and surrounding areas, these people need some out door music now more than ever!" - Sharon Burke, Poodie's Roadhouse, Spicewood, TX
"In what has been a nightmare scenario over the past year for independent music venues, passage of the grant program for shuttered venue operators was a lifeline our industry desperately needed. Many venues that have made it this far are hanging on by a thread. It is now crucial that these lifeline grants are distributed as quickly as possible to ensure that what remains of our industries ecosystem is saved." - Mark McKinney , Floore's Country Store, Helotes, TX
"We are grateful for the Shuttered Venue Operator Grants, as they are a true lifeline to the live music industry. However, the delays in getting the funds distributed is causing further harm to our businesses. We need relief now." - Edwin Cabaniss, Kessler Presents, Austin, Houston, Dallas, TX
"We have spent the last 11 months watching all of our cash reserves evaporate, seeing our employees suffer, and digging into financial debt in the hopes that we might recover. It's frustrating because the end of the pandemic is in sight...and we can envision a reopening. But we might not be able to last that long. Independent venues need help, immediately, or they will not be able to recover." -Chad Carey, Paper Tiger, San Antonio, TX
"The misappropriation of funds by the [Small Business Administration] is a travesty. The response time it has taken and the non‐formulated manner in which factoring who receives money is a travesty. It's a travesty that busines owners like me are going to have to pay back. The response time for understanding what my industry is facing has been null.' -Danny Miller, Miller AVL | Omega | Galexy, Austin, TX – Fort Worth, TX – Lubbock, TX – Oklahoma City, OK
Several months after the passage of the latest relief bill that included the SVO we are still waiting for funds to be released. After almost a year without any significant income waiting all of this additional time has been nerve wracking. Our options are limited and our livelihoods and those of our staff and artists are in serious peril. We were offered hope, but instead given bureaucracy and delays. -Houston Area Venue Operator
"We won't last another month. I'm laying off employees this week that I've kept on this entire time because we can't make the next payroll let alone make rent next month. We have lost as much as we can afford to lose. Our venue will close and our finances will be in ruin for years to come without receiving the Shutter Venues grant immediately. " - John Larue, Owner, Deep Ellum Art Company, Dallas, TX
"The situation is urgent. For many of us, the SVOG would provide resources that are critically needed to help organizations like ours weather a pandemic that continues to keep our venues closed and providing minimal earned revenue. But we're still waiting for guidelines and the PPP2 deadline is looming. We may run out of time and have to decide to apply for a PPP loan, even though it is far below what we need." -Debbie Storey, President and CEO of the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas.
"The impact on eliminating live shows has been devastating to not only the artists but also the sound companies, vendors. Promoters, venues, and everyone associated with producing live music! The financial & mental stress has been catastrophic! Time for our leaders to help!! NOW!!" -Aubry Harris, Two Frogs Promotions, Ardmore, OK
"Our combined voices for help were finally heard and we are so grateful for the funding that has been specified for live venues, movie theaters and museums to help us survive until we're allowed to reopen. However, we now sit and wait for an agency moving at a snail's pace to open up the application portal. We need the funds now …. please, please, please." -Drew W. Taylor Managing Director, F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Wilkes-Barre, PA
"Because of the inefficiencies of this particular program and the advanced restrictions that I was able to learn about, I had to forego the opportunity to participate in order to go after PPP2 money before it ran out. I am a unique situation because I have figured out how to operate since June of 2020 in order to survive and pay my drastically reduced staff. I would have been relegated to the back of the line because my staff got off their ass and became creative. I will receive less money than I would have been eligible for through Shuttered Venues Operators Grant, but a bird in the hand is worth more than this deal in the bush. I did confer with my favorite Senator, Cindy Hyde-Smith from the great state of Mississippi. She concurred." - Matt McDonnell, Mississippi Coast Coliseum
‘The Classic Center normally provides nearly $50 million in economic impact to the Athens community. We have had no federal relief thus far and are in desperate need of the shuttered venues program. It is important to keep these venues running so we can assist our hospitality industry rebuild as soon as we can get the vaccine distributed. These public facilities are critical in supporting our small businesses who depend on the business we generate through tourism.' -Paul Cramer, Classic Center, Athens GA
"Let us open and serve our community. Get this grant out now!" -Tom Fohn, Elsinore Theatre, Salem OR
"We are all holding on for hope that this act will make a difference.. holding off another round of PPP in hopes this save our stages funding will be there if we do get to the 3rd round applications that allows those with 50%+ revenue loss... so we are waiting another month once SBA opens the applications. As the struggle and restrictions continue to compound we need help immediately to ensure we are around to make it to any rebuild moving forward! Help us! " - Shawn Krauel, Orlando Amphitheater, Orlando FL
"As a Talent Buyer, I have seen the devastation of our Live Concert Industry. Clubs have closed, production companies have gone out of work, casino showrooms have been dark since about March 2020 and live entertainment will be one of the last things to come back at many of those properties , festivals are trying to come back knowing they may have capacity restrictions still in place or have to cancel altogether once again, agencies letting good staff go, artists trying to do virtual concerts to make some money, and so on. It has been a real disaster for many in our Industry since and we still cannot say with any real certainty what to expect in 2021. Many in this Industry seriously need help." - Bob Galombeck, Houston Productions, LLC, Las Vegas – Minneapolis – Seattle
"The future of our industry, our livelihood, and the entertainment of this great nation depends on your decision. We are the emotional support for all of American. We help people heel through self expression. If you wish to feel raw emotion just let the music play." -Larry Miller, Appalachian Wireless Arena, Pikeville, KY
"Working in the live entertainment industry has brought our clients, artists, and fans experiences we will remember for a lifetime. During these virtual times in the entertainment industry, it has made it very difficult for entertainment producers to pay their necessary bills. Without the support of our government, our small business will struggle to make it to 2022." - Charlie Jones, Jones and Brown Productions, Bethesda, MD
"In Colorado, with the "maximum capacity" capped of people per venue rather than just a percentage, the max cap rule leaves me able to sell out at 16.8% capacity, obviously with 100% of my bills. Without the grant money, I'm not able to open, as such a reduced capacity means I lose more money being open than I do remaining closed. I had to lay off all of my staff the week of Thanksgiving and go back to work as a nurse to try and pay bills. (Being self-employed, my unemployment was denied.) The future of my family (I'm now a single mother of two), as well as my 24+ employees depends on the grant money being disbursed as quickly as possible." -Nicole Scott, Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon & Concert Venue, Fort Collins, CO
The Southwestern Fair Commission, Inc dba the Pima County Fair is a 501 (c)4 and as such, does not qualify for any grants or loans. If things don't change and if we can't get any funding, we are uncertain how much longer we can stay in business. -Launa L. Rabago, Pima County Fairgrounds, Tucson, AZ
Congressman Roger Williams represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas and serves as a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and as Vice-Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee.