Austin Live Music Task Force Meeting

Don't talk to me about what I'm "ducking", Shooter. You're ducking the audacity of your bogus claim about how we in the industry make a lot of money. That's how this part of the thread started.

I don't have a beef with the State. I know what I have to do to keep doing what I'm doing, and I'm content with doing just that. Now, is it possible for other people to live on the poverty level, ride out Smoking Bans, deal with stings, and, of course, the anonymous internet posters who bemoan the lifestyle of the Local Rock 'n Roll Elite (Is that what I'm a part of?), only time will tell.

The truth is, if the 700 block of Red River is to be an example, you can turn a crack infested neighborhood into a haven for rock clubs-- thereby turning taxable income from roughly $50,000 per storefront to over $400,000 annually-- but you can not expect the people who do it to live on nothing.

And, Shooter: I notice that your Austinist stats have you at 3 posts overall, and they're all here in this thread. Did you actually register on Austinist in order to bash bar owners over this issue? That's pretty lame, dude.

The State of Texas has found it appropriate to tax the sale of alcohol at a higher level to try to address the ills it produces -- similar to cigarette taxes. Again, your beef is with the State -- and if you want to argue that there are not costs that we have to absorb in terms of public safety and health due to alcohol, be my guest. I think it's fair to say there's some consensus on this, but some still argue the earth is flat. Just my opinion, but I imagine you and your ilk find it easier to convince the City to give you tax breaks than approaching the Legislature and asking that the "incredibly high" and "double taxation" issued be addressed across the board.

You also completely ducked the issue of why the industry shouldn't organize to create a structure for more equitable income distribution. Again, I guess it's just easier to take our tax dollars instead of doing the heavy lifting that would have a much deeper impact in promoting your industry.

Oh, and when I say the property taxes on Red River have increased, I mean the value of 710 Red River in 1999, the year we began turning the crack infested Hurts Hunting Grounds site into a live music venue was less than $150,000. 8 years later, it is at over $540,000.

What makes it even greater are that the crackheads are still around.

Sounds like my money is going to the right place, eh, Shooter?

Shooter, I'm typing this slowly so hopefully you'll understand. The late night industry is used to SUBSIDIZE such interesting facets in society as education and public safety. The 14% tax rate is incredibly high, especially when considering that regular sales taxes are at 8.25%. Add to that is a double taxation, meaning our cost per unit is taxed, as is our sale of the unit (the 14%), and both of those are used when determining the audit.

Sounds a bit confusing, eh?

As to your example of the poor East Austin family barely scrimping by... You've described me, amigo. Struggling to make house payments. Struggling to put food on the table. I don't know what you expect the late nigh, live music industry to be like (you know, bars), but I have never snorted cocaine off of a flat ass.

Interesting, though, that your argument has me fucking myself over so that I can continue to maintain a business that, apprently, doesn't pay very well. I wonder why I do it, especially when I get to deal anonymous internet with bozos like you.

Cheers.

To both Asher and Chester, we're all subject to rising property taxes -- but you haven't made any argument as to why the rest of us should subsidize you. If your bitch is with the state take on alcoholic beverages, go to them and ask for some relief. Why should it be our burden to make up those taxes to the state for you -- again, what's your argument? If the folks at the top, Attal, etc., are doing well, why shouldn't your own industry work to create a more equitable structure.

Please explain to the family in East Austin that is scrimping to get by with increasing property taxes and other economic burdens that they need to pay more in pro rata taxes to support musicians. Sorry to lift a music term, but this is just a tone deaf proposal with what's going on in the economy now.

Conspiracy Theory: I also heard Louis Black is pushing to get a law passed against holding outdoor concerts in a public park during SXSW, unless it is an SXSW-affiliated event.

Seth

All respect due, shooter is dumb as a box of hammers. Asher is exactly right. The industry in Austin (minus Attal) is struggling. Musicians and venues and staffers are having a tough time. I'm in a band and its a constant battle. This town was built off of the fact that the music culture was unique and attractive. Its title is the 'live music capital of the world'. Yet, there is no music office, no venue support, no musician support, and a heavy focus on downtown residential growth. If nothing is done now, the scene that we love will get gobbled up by white leather couches, downtown views, granite countertops, and benzos. Every major city that we know has a music office. Why don't we? Think about it...

Shooter, it seems as if the glitter and glamor of the perceived rock and roll lifestyle has blinded you. The small clubs in this town are struggling to survive, and not because of personal recklessness, but because the cold hard fact is that there isn't much money to be made in this industry.

As for subsidization, we on Red River have had our property taxes increase substantially over the past 3 years, not to mention the 14% State cut of all drinks served in our establishments. Most of that money goes to public education and APD. And just about nobody in this industry has health care, so count us as part of the 60 million.

In a balanced society, what goes around should come around. What are you afraid of?

Damn Mike, are you just a little bitter about Morrison blowing Galindo away months ago? Move on . . . you lost -- resoundingly.

I find this troubling: The Task Force apparantly wants all of us to subsidize music and music venues (bars). People like Charles Attal and others are doing just fine, making a very comfortable living off the music scene here in Austin, as are some club owners. So why should tax dollars, public monies be expended for "reducing costs associated with operating live music venues; assisting with health care, housing, parking and business services for musicians;"? That's just problematic on many levels. Is this what we've become here in Austin, just a bunch of whiners -- when will the City start dictating cover charges, will they review set lists, lyrics for appropriateness? It's a slippery slope. Be careful what you ask for.

I WAS on ANCTALK for years. I bailed after getting tired of being held to a content/style standard they didn't bother to hold the granola mafia to. It was like fighting with one arm tied to one leg behind my back before an audience of retarded monkeys.

Join ANCTALK if you want to see what is beyond those links! I guarantee that it will be moderately awesome.

If anyone has other evidence of who wants to impose additional restrictions on live music (as opposed to speculation by the suburban media that it must be Californian condo-buyers), please email them to me or post them in a comment.

Ugh. You can really tell that the ANC nazis were all over this due to passages like this one:

"Recommend the City amend appropriate

ordinances to prohibit outdoor non-live music (i.e. pre-recorded music, radios, television, etc.)

from being audible to a single family residential property, including penalties for violation."

As if somehow somebody who could only afford a condo in a close-in neighborhood doesn't deserve the same protection from excessive noise(*) as does somebody living in a single-family house. What a load of crap.

(* - I think the protection is good enough now; I'm just pointing out how the ANC only cares about people rich enough to own single-family homes in the central city).

By the way, if you like live music and other parts of a vibrant city, you should have voted against Laura Morrison. This task force will be completely meaningless when it comes down to brass tacks - and she (and several others) will immediately dance to Jeff Jack's tune.

Those ANCTALK links won't work to people who aren't members of that group. And, yes, essentially all of the opposition is from Jeff Jack's brigade.