‘They need your support now:’ SaskMusic looks to help struggling venues with t-shirt project

Saskatchewan’s music venues are struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restrictions imposed at the beginning of the pandemic closed many doors in the industry. But SaskMusic is hoping to lend a helping hand with the new “Sask Venues Project.”

SaskMusic’s Communications and Operations Manager, Lorena Kelly told 650 CKOM Sunday that it’s been a rough ride throughout the entertainment scene, but the organization is doing its best to keep everyone afloat.

“Since (the) pandemic began and all the shows got cancelled, we’ve been participating in a number of different committees and meetings, right with colleagues across Canada to (discuss) the impact on live music, particularly venues,” she said.

Thirteen smaller venues were featured in the project. Each t-shirt is $30, and they feature a unique design, an on-brand nod to the venue it portrays, according to Kelly.

“We sought out a variety of different graphic artists across the province. There’s a different artist for each shirt. Often times, they’re artists from the community of the venue as well,” she said.

“Some of them are a little bit similar to what they might physically do, kind of on-brand. Some of them are really, completely different than anything they’ve done before. Even as far as the shirt colour goes, (venues) had complete jurisdiction to do whatever they wanted for that.”

All the proceeds of the sale of each t-shirt will go directly to the venue it portrays.

#SaskVenuesProject T-shirts for the first set of 13 venues are available – but only until August 6! #LiveMusicLovers, show your love & support for them through the pandemic with ALL sale proceeds going to the venues. https://t.co/CgLyXuUUVp
Stay tuned, more venues TBA in set 2! pic.twitter.com/BTjWyIGjCb

— SaskMusic (@SaskMusic) July 30, 2020

The venues are Saskatoon’s Amigos, the Bassment, Broadway Theatre, Black Cat Tavern and Capitol Music Club, Regina’s the Exchange, the Artesian, the Artful Dodger and Creative City Centre. Outside of the two major cities, there’s Danceland in Manitou Beach, Hank’s Tavern in Bradwell, Swift Current’s the Lyric and the Happy Nun Cafe in Forget.

Kelly wasn’t afraid to face the facts of some of the smaller venues within the province, basing her findings off of Canadian studies.

“All of our venues are struggling greatly right now. There’s some projections that up to 90 per cent of our live venues could close. That would absolutely decimate the live music scene, not only in Saskatchewan but Canada,” she said.

“It’s really crucially important that if you love a venue, they need your support now so that they’re going to be there after all of this.”

SaskMusic is footing costs on the project, along with paying its graphic designers as well.

Many of the designs are recognizable, such as the Exchange’s green room wall, signed by bands who have played at the venue.

This phase of the project will close to sales at midnight on Aug. 6. Kelly said they are working on Phase 2 of the project, expected in mid-August.

As for how things have gone thus far, it’s all good news from SaskMusic.

“We’ve already sold out of the first run, so we’re on pre-orders now,” Kelly said.

“We’re into thousands and thousands. Hopefully, we’re going to have a last-minute push… every dollar raised is going to the venues. So, every little bit counts.”

Kelly said the overwhelming support has sparked a few ideas for future projects, as well.

“This one, honestly, has gone so well that we are thinking about, perhaps, it will be an annual thing. Hopefully in a year from now, those venues will be 100 per cent back to capacity, and they will be able to exist,” she said.

Before Kelly would commit to another annual, future project, she made one thing clear for the existing venues.

She said support is needed at a time like this and needed badly.

“Let’s make sure they survive to next year,” Kelly said.

You can pick up one of the 13 designed t-shirts here.