Downtown Tulsa Venue Pushes For Congressional Funding To Save Struggling Stages

A downtown Tulsa concert venue has been struggling during the pandemic, as they are only able to operate at half capacity. 

The owner of The Vanguard, Simon Aleman, said the entertainment industry is a feast or famine business, but earlier in the year they were having record months. 

"We were doing well, shows were selling out, bands were clamoring to play the room," Aleman said. 

Now, the venue can now only operate at half-capacity which is about 250 people. Aleman said the most they have had at one show is 180 people. They also have hand sanitizing stations and require physical distancing. Aleman said they even added air scrubbers to their HVAC units. 

"I was not going to open unless I had something more than just hand sanitizer and masks in the room," Aleman said. 

Aleman said the venue has tried live-streaming events, but nothing can replace live music. He said they are surviving, but ready to be cleared to operate at full capacity. 

 "There's only so much streaming you can do, there's only so much bandwidth, and nothing can replace the experience of live music, there's just nothing, nothing that can compare," Aleman said. 

In the meantime, Aleman said The Vanguard is a member of NIVA, the National Independent Venue Association. 

He said the group is pushing Congress to pass the Save Our Stages Act. Aleman said it would provide grant funding for entertainment owners to get through the pandemic. 

"As we all know the arts are a very important part of society, I mean it gives us a balance to everything that's going on in the world and obviously right now that balance is gone," Aleman said.

If you would like to learn more information on NIVA, and how you can get involved, click here.