All aspects of the music industry are being impacted during the COVID-19. With massive tours postponed until 2021, festivals cancelled and many artists left scrambling in lockdown to quickly restructure their business strategies. The death of cultural venues may be next.
Los Angeles' famed Troubadour recently launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign, while sharing to Los Angeles Times that the venue "can't foresee being able to ride this out" without significant help from donors.
“It looks tacky,” general manager Christine Karayan shared to the Times, “but it’s a reality at this point. It’s not a joke. If we’re going to survive this thing — and that’s a big if — we’re going to need all the help we can get, from any direction we can get it. … We know there’s going to be a huge fatality rate as far as how many venues will not be able to open again when/if this thing ever ends. We’re just looking to survive, like everybody else.”
The Troubadour Relief Fund, which raised $32,286 out of its $50,000 when this article was written, looks to support its "wonderful staff who has not been able to work," the GoFundMe describes.
"Our team consists of bartenders, security, sound and lighting engineers and box office personnel," the campaign details. "These are the people welcoming you into the venue and bringing you great experiences inside the showroom."
The Troubadour has been the birthplace of many legendary artists' careers, from Elton John to James Taylor and Tom Waits. Guns n' Roses played their first sold-out show at the Troubadour in November 1985. Drinking buddies John Lennon, Harry Nilsson and Alice Cooper, also known as The Hollywood Vampires, made regular appearances at the club and were even more regularly thrown out.
Located on 9081 Santa Monic Blvd, the iconic hotspot first opened its doors in 1957 and has cemented its place in West Hollywood as a staple in live music ever since.
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