From a Front Row Fangirl

Preserving an intimate concert experience is so important to me as a fangirl. I love every show no matter the size, but it seems that shows at small venues are more exclusive, intimate and special. As an audience member, and performer you get more out of the concert experience. Live Music Society is fighting to save struggling intimate venues, something I am all for as a music lover!

Dear Fellow Fangirls,

We’re hopping out of the crowd, over the barricade and beyond the big stages to talk about the Live Music Society, a non-profit dedicated to protecting small concert venues to ensure that live music is something everyone can experience.

They are committed to helping curate the best live music experience for everyone, which starts at smaller venues. They aim to please venue owners, fangirls and musicians.

Live Music Society was established in 2020 after COVID-19 started to greatly impact live music and musicians touring. They understood how devastating the pandemic was to live music and how detrimental it would be to so many small venues across the United States. Since their establishment, Live Music Society has helped 155 music venues in America.

This company was started by the founder, Peter Muller. He recently dove deeper into his love for creating music with his band. He then toured with said band in 2019 and visited so many small concert venues and found a deep love a respect for the owners of the venues and the intimate experience it gave to fans. He saw the amount of work these owners put in and how little they seemed to get in return.

Peter Muller in his Founder’s Note, says,

“In return for their efforts, many of these venue owners are faced with dwindling profits and little recognition or appreciation for their work, which seems unfair given how much value they add not only to the communities they serve, but to the larger musical universe. Without small music clubs, so many of our most promising artists wouldn’t have a place to share their work, hone their craft, and build their audiences. 

With the help of some talented friends, I decided to start a charity that would offer small venues the support they need to thrive – extending financial and technical assistance in areas like audience outreach, sound design, fundraising, etc.”

Within the next few months COVID-19 hit the United States and the rest of the world and would impact the live music industry immensely. Peter had no idea how much but, because of the work he was currently putting into his charity he would be able to help so many of these beloved venues get back on their feet after the pandemic.

They operate exculsively through grants. Venue owners or employees can nominate their small venue/apply for a grant through their website. They are currently offering two grants, “Music In Action” and “Toolbox“. The Toolbox Grant was created to provide small venues with their practical needs and has funding up to $10,000 so any one practical need can be met. This is to ensure that the practical space is better for the employees, fans and performers. They have a few examples listed on their website.

These include but are not limited to:

• Improvements that enhance and ensure safety and comfort for staff, musicians and patrons.
• Incorporating innovative technology to modernize operations.
• Engaging consultants to assist with a practical challenge (acoustics, tickets, fundraising, branding).
• Staff trainign and education.

The Music in Action Grant was created so live music in small venues and listening rooms would be accessible to everyone, because everyone deserves to experience live music. This grant wants to help small venues do the following:

• expand their exisiting audiences
• connect with the younger generations
• offer more inclusivity for historically marginalized groups
• generate more press and attention
• increase ticket sales
• increase revenue
• increase hours of operation (explore daytime hours)
• offer an opportunity to take a few risks with little to no setbacks/disadvantages

They want to increase creativity and productivity offering the most out the experience for everyone involved. This grant offers up to $50,000 in funding in project and program support.

Live Music Society is looking to make an impact in the music industry which is so crucial and important especially during times like these. They’re founder and team are all music fans or professionals themselves whether they have helped plan and manage tours, run their own intimate venues, or performed on the live stage themselves you can tell they care and that this mission is important and meaningful to them. I urge you to check out their site and the venues they have helped impact!

For more information on how to donate and support the Live Music Society as well as testimonials and previous winners of their grants head to their site to learn more!