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Live Music Society, the nonprofit foundation that has provided crucial grants to small venues and listening rooms across the United States since 2020, has announced the recipients of their Toolbox grant. The Toolbox grant, totaling $100,000 and distributed to 13 venues, is Live Music Society’s second grant to be issued this year, and is supporting small music venues with critical practical support, ensuring the sustained growth and prosperity of these cherished establishments. Live Music Society has awarded $3 million across four grant cycles, with this year's grants amounting to $600,000. Originally established to provide pandemic relief, the nonprofit has now implemented an annual program aimed at safeguarding and supporting small venues and listening rooms throughout the United States. 

Go to the Live Music Society website to learn more about each venue: https://www.livemusicsociety.org/toolbox

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Distinct from the “Music In Action” Grant, which was announced in June and was created to support program-based community development initiatives, the Toolbox grant is exclusively designed to provide funding for the practical needs of music venues. The grant will provide each selected venue with funding ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to support crucial areas such as ensuring compliance with regulations, enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities, and upgrading ticketing and point-of-sale systems. This financial support is geared towards empowering venues to prioritize audience experiences, foster a supportive environment for staff and talent, and unlock new avenues for revenue generation. You can read more about the “Music in Action” grant on Billboard. The nonprofit’s efforts have also been highlighted in publications including the New York Times, Variety, Brooklyn Vegan, Venues Now and more. 

"We wanted to be responsive to the needs of our community and not limit our support to just creative ideas as with our 'Music in Action' Grant," said Pete Muller, Founder of Live Music Society. "Many venues require practical assistance to overcome operational challenges and continue providing quality entertainment and we believe that with the addition of the Toolbox grant we can appeal to these two distinct grant opportunities, and better cater to the unique needs of each venue and community initiative." 

Notable examples of the funded venue projects are as follows. Warehouse in La Crosse, WI, will be upgrading older audio gear to enhance the concert experience for both artists and audiences. Grand Annex in San Pedro, CA, will be refreshing their brand and marketing strategy to attract a broader audience and strengthen its community presence. Skylark Cafe and Club in Seattle, WA, will be offering audio/video support to artists for their marketing and PR efforts, helping them reach a wider audience with multimedia content. Hungry Brain in Chicago, IL, will be creating a new revenue stream by opening a daytime coffee spot, providing a cozy and artistic ambiance for patrons during the day. The Falcon in Marlboro, NY, will be upgrading performance lighting to elevate production value and create captivating visual experiences for attendees. The legendary venue Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, LA, will be upgrading its infrastructure, and Hotel Cafe, another venue that has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many famous artists, will be incorporating technology to modernize its operations and maintain its status as a cutting-edge platform for emerging talents in Los Angeles, CA.

Live Music Society also made a significant impact at this year's National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) '23 conference and gala in Washington, D.C. last month. The nonprofit spearheaded multiple on-site activations, hosted a panel that delved into the unique challenges and triumphs of small music venues, and was presented with the NIVA Community Development Award at The Independent Awards Gala for “creating a program or initiative that improves the music, comedy, theater, and/or performing arts ecosystem in their neighborhood, community, or state.”

The 2023 Toolbox Grant Recipients are: 

Warehouse, La Crosse, WI

Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI

Grand Annex, San Pedro, CA

Skylark Cafe and Club, Seattle, WA

Perfect Note, Hoover, AL

Hungry Brain, Chicago, IL

The Falcon, Marlboro, NY

Rumba Cafe, Columbus, OH

Maple Leaf Bar, New Orleans, LA

The Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, CA

The Word Barn, Exeter, NH

The Footlight, Ridgewood, NY

The Foundry Concert Club, Lakewood, OH