Local music scene in crisis
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » In the classic 1971 song “American Pie” there is a constant refrain referring to “the day the music died.” Singer-composer, Don McLain says the lyric refers to the plane crash that took the life of rock star Buddy Holly, along with the Big Bopper and Richie Valens.
Almost 50 years later the phrase could be about the coronavirus’ effect on local music. With the recent mandate that halves attendance capacity at venues under 500 people, music at local clubs, bars is virtually non-existent.
I recently had separate telephone interviews with Sarah Craig, the executive director of Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs and local music promoter, Greg Bell, the president of Guthrie Bell Productions.
Each has cancelled all live performances. Bell has cancelled all his bookings, even the ones that would only draw half the venue’s capacity.
“It isn’t socially responsible,” he says. “If only one person caught the virus it would not only be immoral, it would continue the spread of the virus. We just have to ride this out,” he says.
Caffe Lena has also cancelled all performances through April 12.
“Even if it was economically feasible, putting people at risk is completely wrong and not what we are about,” says Craig
Legend has it, and Saratoga old timers insist, that McLain started writing “American Pie” while performing at Caffe Lena in the late-60s. So there is a touch of irony that Craig insists that during this crisis the venerable coffee house will not let “the music die.”
Live music will be performed every night on the stage of Caffe Lena. But in accordance with the ban there will be no audience. They will be live streaming the shows at 8 p.m. every evening. The broadcasts can be found on Caffe Lena’s You Tube channel or accessed through their website caffelena.org.
Craig says there is no fee to access the concerts. However, there will be a plea for the viewer to make a donation. All donations will be split 50/50 between the Caffe and the performer.
“If a local artist can make $150 for his or her performance that will be a help until things get better,” she says. Craig also reveals that a board member is offering a stipend to anyone who participates in the live streaming.
Both Craig and Bell agree that the performers will be hurt.
“Bands will break up,” he says. “A lot of local band members have day jobs, so they should be all right. However, smaller groups who tour might not survive.”
Bell said there are meetings taking place within the local music industry trying to find ways to help musicians in need.
“The ideas range from a major streaming telethon to Go Fund Me type efforts on a communal scale. It hasn’t taken a form but everyone understands that for many, this is a crisis,” he says.
Craig says, “We have to help the local musicians. They are the first ones to contribute their talent free of charge to worthy causes.
They need help and it’s time to step up.” She is hoping that mid-April the venue can start offering shows at half capacity.
The 47 Phila location seats 110 people, so an audience of 55 is doable, she says.
Bell, who presents at large venues like the Palace Theatre and the Egg, as well as clubs like Putnam’s Den in Saratoga and The Hollow in Albany, is less optimistic on an April time table. Indeed, he is not rebooking any shows in April. “I am hoping when the warmer weather arrives and music moves outdoors things will get better.”
But he points out that present uncertainty is already affecting summer business. Bell produces a couple of large outdoor festivals. “Usually, in the past, if I announced the dates and acts people would be purchasing tickets today. In this environment no one is buying tickets, even for the summer months.”
He points out that it is fiscally dangerous to hold a concert that needs to sell 3,000 tickets without a healthy presale.
Neither individual had an answer for the current situation, but both feel this is a temporary problem.
It was Craig who spoke for the entire industry when she said, “Music is too important to the soul for it to just disappear.”