Many Beloved Los Angeles Venues Have Shut Their Doors Due to the Pandemic, Where Will up-and-Coming Artists Play?
Landing Gigs May Never Be the Same For Budding Artists
Music venues in the world’s entertainment capital went dark in March 2020. For these venues, both large and small, the road back to normalcy has been arduous. Despite vaccine rollouts and Los Angeles being upgraded to a ‘yellow tier’ in terms of COVID precautions, clubs and concert halls remain dormant.
Live music in Los Angeles entered uncharted water in 2020, with hallmark venues such as The Satellite going out of business. Artists have adapted to live-stream shows on social media platforms, but brick-and-mortar establishments are left with bills and no revenue. As live music is slowly set to return for larger, outdoor venues this Summer, up-and-coming artists who make a name for themselves at smaller clubs are also left out of the equation.
The Federal, a restaurant, bar, and music venue beloved by North Hollywood residents, was recently allowed to re-open due to relaxed COVID-restrictions. The Federal, similar to many businesses found in the North Hollywood Arts District, had an uncertain future in 2020, as well as early-2021. Serving food became a massive advantage for The Federal, with their upstairs area (venue and bar) still being closed off. Bands, comedians, and DJs used to frequent their stage, and now, they can look forward to roaring back in late-Summer.
When asked if he expects shows to be as available to up-and-coming artists such as himself in a post-pandemic world, Seattle-based singer-songwriter Xander Corbett states that he hopes for the best.
“I want to be optimistic in this situation,” he says. “But it’s increasingly looking more and more difficult to even look at shows that we could book as smaller artists, which is kind of stressful… I’ll play in a Walmart parking lot at this point. If it’s safe, I’ll play there… I’ll be there.”
Adding to the number of lost, homey venues, The Satellite, an esteemed club for live music and dancing, was forced to convert itself to a full-time restaurant in a last-ditch effort to stay afloat. Since the Summer of 2020, The Satellite has gone on to feature up-and-coming artists on its social media pages, holding live-stream shows and COVID-safe showcases. It speaks to the unpredictability of the ‘new normal.’ A GoFundMe and support via PPP loan(s) were not enough to survive without typical revenue streams, alluding to the sheer cost of Southern California’s operations and rent, in particular.
Additionally, adapted budgets and expenses are especially pivotal for Los Angeles’s many up-and-coming artists and bands as they navigate a new era for performances.
Brenda Carsey, an L.A.-native and prolific singer-songwriter who constantly engages with local artists, had this to say about the future of landing gigs.
“I do think the availability will be the same,” Carsey suggested. “Tons of venues are still holding on and are slowly beginning to open. Also, there are so many small little rooms and spaces in this city, from bars and lounges to cafes and restaurants to breweries and art galleries. It just takes a little creativity, vision, and a willingness to reach out and pitch a creative idea and you can transform a space not thought of as a venue into a venue. Music is beautiful, everywhere… There is so much we have to put up with, so much we can’t control, and so much we have to roll with that I know that we will all fly past these strange times with the emergence of new gathering spots, new nights, and new community and cultural centers.”
The difference in Xander’s outlook compared to Brenda’s shows where music, live music especially, is currently at. It’s uncertain, yet hopeful. Thousands of aspiring artists call Los Angeles home, and while it’s taken over a year and a half to begin reopening, a post-pandemic world may provide fresh and previously unforeseen opportunities for promising creatives.
