RANT about Jazz Clubs , Culture and Taxes
Today I’m more than a little ticked and fired up about the jazz club situation in Toronto. For that matter, my comments can apply anywhere where jazz clubs struggle to survive.
In recent months and years we have seen the demise of the Top ‘O the Senator, The Montreal Bistro and the struggles of smaller clubs like the Red Guitar and others. I KNOW we aren’t the only place with a jazz scene in Canada, but this is where I live and so my rant focuses on OUR situation. The REX is holding its own (offering 17 shows a week) and does so in the face of financial burden and through the strong commitment of Bob and Tom (owner and manager).
Jazz is an important part of the culture of Toronto. There are some of the finest jazz musicians living anywhere in this city. We have an enthusiastic jazz community of musicians, enthusiasts, and plenty of emerging artists coming out of some of the finest music programs found anywhere. There is a successful annual downtown jazz festival that does its best cope with financial mountains and the Beaches Jazz Festival as well as many smaller festivals in the 905 area code, including Oakville, Port Credit and others.
So if we have musicians, audiences and a strong community, what the h**l is the problem?
First the clubs. These are incredibly difficult ventures for the owners and managers. They multitask like crazy. They run a bar, a restaurant, a musical venue. They must promote the music side of their ventures with websites and whatever else they can afford to do. The must hire a good chef and offer an appealing menu. They have upkeep, they have instruments and sound systems, a piano to maintain (ain’t cheap) and they must deal with the business of booking musicians and then offering a welcoming ambience and environmemt to patrons and musicians alike. It is basically a HUGE task. No wonder the lifespan of clubs is shortened. Owners become disenchanted and discouraged and are even criticized for decisions they make as they try to balance all of the multi-tasking.
We are in the middle of a municipal election. The front runners are David Miller and Jane Pitfield. Message to the Mayor and the aspiring Mayor: recognize that this is an important part of our city’s culture and do something to make the lives of club owners a bit easier. Perhaps even provide incentive to keep this part of our town’s artistic life healthy and perhaps encourage growth. This is great for tourism, and has great potential to bring dollars into the city without raising taxes if it is done right. How? First of all – Give the owners a flippin’ BREAK on the ridiculous amount of money they need to pay in property taxes each year. In order to pay musicians the usually ridiculously low amount of money they work for, cover charges and other negative options must be applied. Okay, so the tax base will be affected in the short term. A FEW clubs are going to get a tax break. The benefits to the city in increasing the quality of nightlife opportunities for the post theatre, opera and symphony crowds will be great, and again, the reputation of our city as a happening place to hear great live jazz will positively affect tourists. Hello, hotel owners!!!! Anyone see potential here? Mr Mayor, City Council, you should be on this like a cat after a mouse.
If someone is willing to break their backs running a multi-dimensional business like a jazz club/bar/restaurant/hotel, perhaps there should be subsidies provided based on whatever criteria make sense. Audience share, number of musicians employed, whatEVER it takes.
GIVE THE CLUBS A CHANCE TO SURVIVE AND TO PROSPER!!!!!!
One final note. The city of Montreal has developed an enviable reputation for their international jazz festival. This is a festival STRONGLY supported by the city (6 figures I am told). Toronto, to its shame ’supports’ its festivals with token (4 figure) gesture.
End of this chapter of this rant.
P