‘We will open, but it’ll cost us’
A popular Wellington live music venue will open next week for the first time since the lockdown began – even though it will likely be operating at a loss.
Although bars are allowed to reopen next Thursday, eight weeks after the country shut down to stop the spread of coronavirus, they will have to follow strict rules, including requiring customers to be seated and served by a single staff member.
Even popular bars have been hit hard by the Covid-19 restrictions, and many owners say they won’t reopen until the Government lifts physical distancing requirements.
However, Rahine O’Reilly said her bar and music venue Meow, in Te Aro, will start hosting gigs again immediately.
‘‘We’ve got two jazz shows next week.
‘‘We’re just going to be very small and seated. The business will not probably quite cover costs.
‘‘But it’s more just everyone’s desperate to get back to work, the musicians want to play and create some money for them and awesome positivity,’’ O’Reilly told
Meow employs 12 staff whom she has been able to continue paying, despite the bar making no money for eight weeks, thanks to the wage subsidy. O’Reilly said while the extra eight weeks of wage subsidy payments announced in Thursday’s Budget would help ensure her workers had an income, other costs were stacking up.
She was yet to review Meow’s accounts to work out how much money the business had lost because of the coronavirus pandemic as it was ‘‘too distressing’’.
But this time of year was usually Meow’s busiest, she said.
In an ordinary week, Meow hosted between three and five performances by mostly international acts.
However, Meow is likely to see far fewer bookings as travel restrictions prevent foreign musicians and bands touring New Zealand. Meow has now turned to fundraising in order to pay its rent and stay open.
It is one of several bars that have been appealing for donations as part of the #saveourvenues campaign, and has raised almost $15,500.
Wellington venue San Fran has raised just over $47,000.
Despite the uncertainty facing the live music industry, O’Reilly remains optimistic about Meow’s future.
‘‘Venues are used to running off the smell of an oily rag. Because we’ve been there for 10 years we’re not as in as desperate a position as the other newer venues,’’ she said.