By K.D. Norris
In the spring of 2020, WKTV visited Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up, one of more than a dozen West Michigan and more than 3,000 nationwide “independent” music venues, asking them how they could survive the crippling impact of COVID-19 and related government restrictions.
At the time, Michelle Hanks, who with husband Gary Hanks, own and manger Seven Steps Up, was cautiously optimist despite a total stoppage of the nation’s independent venue musical artist tours, not to mention restrictions that either limited venue attendance or shut them down completely.
“Out of crises, good things can sprout up,” she said, referring to a planned national independent venue advocacy group, to possible governmental support, and to fans of small music venues simply stepping and giving what they could give.
So, now more than six months — six hard months — later, with a new State of Michigan funded Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program now taking applications, following up on a successful GOFundMe campaign for Seven Steps Up and other support from various sources, Hanks remains optimistic despite the venue’s currently dark stage.
“As of now, we are still closed with no known opening date. Our employees are permanently furloughed. Our calendar is bare,” Hanks said this week to WKTV. But “we are cautiously optimistic that we will have regular concerts in the fall. We have many dates held and rescheduled, and the conversations are definitely increasing.”
Hanks credits the venue’s survival so far to several sources, both local and national.
“Seven Steps Up received GoFundme support in the second quarter of 2020,” she said. “We are extremely grateful for the support we received when we received it and we hope that every venue in Michigan that is eligible applies for this (Michigan Stages Survival) grant, as well as the federal Save our Stages grants.”
Seven Steps Up also received a grant through Live Music Society (livemusicsociety.org) in November 2020.
“We were one of only 20 venues in the U.S. and the only one in Michigan to receive the first round of grants,” she said. “Between the GoFundMe and this grant, we’ve been able to survive. (But) we really need the federal funding to get us past this and help us as we open our doors.”
Governmental grants and touring acts needed
The Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program will provide a total of $3.5 million in one-time grants of up to $40,000 to eligible entertainment and live music venues throughout Michigan “that have realized a significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency declarations.”
The application window open Thursday, Jan. 21, and will close at noon on Thursday, Jan. 28. For more information on the grant, visit michiganbusiness.org/stages/. The Michigan Independent Venue and Promoter Association (MIVPA) will be responsible for accepting, reviewing and approving applications. The state will then distribute the grant funds based on the recommendation of the MIVPA.
The MIVPA is one of those small venue organizations which formed in the aftermath of the early 2020 industry shutdown. On a national level, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) was first formed to advocate for the industry in Washington, D.C.
“The MI Stages Survival Grant Program is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of many venues involved in the Michigan Independent Venue & Promoter Association (MIVPA), a new trade association here in Michigan that came about through relationships developed through NIVA (National Independent Venue Association),” Hanks said. “These grants can be a lifeline to Michigan venues as we await for the Federal relief grant program.”
Seven Steps Up is a member of both NIVA and the MIVPA, and Hanks is one of the co-founders of the MIVPA.
But in addition to simply keeping the bills paid and awaiting the opening of venue doors, Seven Steps Up and other venues still need a regular schedule of touring acts.
“One of the things that is a challenge for us, and for other small venues like us, is we can’t just bring our employees back for one show,” she said in the initial interview last year. “We have to be able to get up and do a regular number os shows for it to make any kinds of sense for anyone.”
Seven Steps Up usually has 7-to-9 part-time employees for 132-seat sold-out shows.
“I think we may get an opportunity for some sporadic shows earlier in the year, but don’t think we will see regular concerts and tours before (fall),” Hanks said. “So much depends upon what is happening with the roll out of the vaccine, COVID cases, etc. I feel really good about the fall, and am hopeful for anything earlier.
“I think the entire industry is simply waiting to feel safe. If we open our doors and people don’t feel safe to come inside to enjoy the concert or artists don’t feel safe to travel, we won’t see this industry restart. … Hopefully, the vaccine will allow this to happen within the next few months.”
For more information on the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) visit their FaceBook page here. For more information on Michigan Independent Venue & Promoter Association (MIVPA), visit its Facebook page here. For more information on Seven Steps Up, located at 116 S. Jackson., Spring Lake, visit sevenstepsup.com.
