Exit/In May Shut Down Over Sprinkler Ordinance
Remember when we told you in October of last year that the new sprinkler ordinance—required for all live entertainment clubs with a capacity of 100 or more as a fire safety measure—could possibly shut down smaller, older clubs who didn't have the money for installation?
That may be happening to Exit/In, according to an e-mail owner Josh Billue just sent out. The legendary club has until March of ’09 to get the sprinklers installed, but it's coming up with $40,000 that has them unsure of their future.
Hello Friends,For nearly 40 years the Exit/In has been a part of the Nashville music community, and now it needs your help. Legislation was passed that requires all music venues (and only music venues) to have a fire sprinkler system installed. Although we understand and agree with the purpose, the sprinkler system cost, (somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000) and the time frame, (must have the system installed by March of "09") provide daunting task for any venue. Thus we find ourselves in a situation where if we are unable to raise the money for the system, the doors will close. We have decided as a staff, that our best plan of action is to have a benefit for Exit/In. Six days of music, beer, and good times with our community. The goal would be to raise the money needed to purchase the fire sprinkler system, but no matter what, have a good time. The dates that are tentatively set are Dec 26-31. Any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to everyone,
Josh Billue & the staff of Exit/In
Comments
Uh, the fact that they are planning a benefit on those dates means they might as well go ahead and shut the doors.
Posted 07/08/2008 at 05:30:15 PMWhat he said. They'd be better off with monthly benefits for the rest of the year. Holding them the week between Christmas and New Years is a surefire way to fail, unless they're planning on booking some really big acts.
Posted 07/08/2008 at 06:29:13 PMGet some cheap-ass shirts (Gildan) with "Save Exit/In" written on it, sell them for $20 each at every single show from now until you're saved or closed and that's probably an easy few thousand bucks there.
Posted 07/08/2008 at 07:21:29 PMI don't understand the rationale behind having only one benefit event, even if it is a week long, to save one of the most important venues in town. Not just because of the history behind it, but because it's one of two venues in town that has the ability to book reasonably sized national touring bands.
Are there any other venues in town that are likely to shut down over this ordinance?
Posted 07/08/2008 at 08:26:04 PM1) Season of giving
2) It's a lull in the calendar year that bands normally are not touring. Instead of closing the doors for those day, why not try and make money to pay for the sprinkler systems by doing a benefits.
Posted 07/08/2008 at 10:43:50 PMMan, a newcomer to town asked tonight if Exit/In was a cool place and I told him that it closes down and switches hands once every year and a half. I am the future!
Posted 07/09/2008 at 12:02:37 AMI'm sure the Exit/In would welcome any portion of their door take that bands would like to donate to the cause at anytime from here on out. Especially locals that don't travel in on fumes. Make your show a benefit to help the room, and I'll bet you put a few more folks in said room.
Posted 07/09/2008 at 10:42:58 AMHey, I need an HDCAM SR deck to keep me up to specs for MTV Networks... anyone want to chip in? Just saying.
Oh wait, yeah, that's A COST OF DOING BUSINESS!
Buy the sprinkler system and get to code or don't. It's not like this came out of nowhere.
Posted 07/09/2008 at 10:53:48 AMMaybe they should just put the bathroom attendant to good use and get him to install it. That'd take a little off of $40,000.
Posted 07/09/2008 at 10:54:30 AMPeacefrog, how much do you think, roughly, the exit/in pulls in over the course of a year?
Posted 07/09/2008 at 11:45:52 AMI wouldn't want to even venture a guess, but if 5 days of benefits is going to net the $40k they need, then they can't be hurting that bad.
If you can't go to the bank and get a loan on $40k as an established business, you need to seriously look at why you are in that business. They have had since October of last year to start this process. If their bank won't give them the $40k there are other places. Try a micro-loan website.
$40k should be very doable. People get car loans for that everyday. I have nothing against them doing benefits and what-not, hell have a bake sale for all I care. My point is they are crying poor on what is a very small investment to keep their private business running. The Exit/In isn't a non-profit. Get the financing in place and hold monthly "Keep the Roof From Burning Shows". The note on $40k would be south of $500 a month.
I wish them luck and I'll be there to support them no matter what. It would be a shame to see the Exit/In go by the wayside. The press release just smacked a bit "whoa is me".
Posted 07/09/2008 at 12:30:39 PMThe benefits won't net 40k. But Chad has a point here... and a good idea with just mentioning to all locals playing there between now and then that they could donate part of their door to the "sprinkler fund." I'm no expert on taxes, but since it's a cost of doing business, shouldn't they also be able to write it off on their taxes?
Posted 07/09/2008 at 01:41:25 PMmaybe robert altman could chip in.
Posted 07/09/2008 at 01:56:27 PMWhat about all the classic downtown venues ie
Posted 07/09/2008 at 03:03:00 PMTootsie's, Roberts, Laylas, etc. I seriously
doubt they have sprinkler systems
and you think Metro will close them?
it's for venues that have a 100+ capacity. the honytonks are probably below that. (or have installed sprinklers because they turn a profit)
is it an ill-informed dream to close to top part, lower the capacity, and wait till the 40K is borrowed/raised? (meaning do this after march '09
then maybe sell beer in bottles?
Posted 07/09/2008 at 03:49:28 PMObviously some people don't understand that with the entertainment/bar/music venue industry there are a lot of hard times. It isn't steady income just like most other things in the entertainment industry. Sure the money rolls in when Exit/In has a lot of good shows, but when during dead times (like the summer when a lot of students are gone from Belmont, Vandy, etc.) they have to pinch pennies just like anybody else does.
$40,000 is a lot to shell out if you have to use savings to pay for other things during the dead season. That's not the Exit/In's fault. That's just business. I'm sure you can ask anyone at the same size venue, and they will tell you the same.
You can't really blame them for ingenuity. Besides the Exit/In isn't some insurance company or gigantic venue. It has to be creative with what it's got at the time.
Posted 08/05/2008 at 11:44:02 PM