‘This keeps the dream alive’: accommodation groups to create a travel service | Music

TOur economy has become very difficult for artists, due to issues such as the high cost of living and high oil prices. But a growing number of UK music venues are experimenting with a simple but revolutionary approach: giving bands somewhere to sleep.

This month, the charity Music Venue Trust announced new ways to fund the reconstruction of infrastructure for touring musicians, including a strategy aimed at artist accommodation: unused spaces in venues can be converted into rooms for touring musicians, in an attempt to reduce costs and make smaller tours possible. “Accommodation costs are reducing access to tourism and social services, especially in rural areas where there may not be enough accommodation options,” says Mark Davyd, head of the charity.

One of the first places to be affected is Voodoo Daddy’s in Norwich: the place is being refreshed throughout, with new bathrooms and triple beds installed for touring artists. Owner Ben Street says the project came from conversations with musicians who struggled to make the numbers work. “We often had artists from other countries negotiating fees and trying to get them to come here, and one of the biggest issues was trying to cover the cost of accommodation,” he says. With a party of six or seven guests, “the price was very difficult”. Instead of paying for rooms separately, Street says accommodation fees are being pooled in the best venues: artists can accept a lower fee in exchange for the venue, but avoid paying exorbitant hotel rates elsewhere in the city.

In the past, he said, artists often rush after the shows: “They stay at the Travelodge on the road, or the Premier Inn way out, because it’s cheap. This means that when they finish the show, they have to pack up quickly and just disappear. It wasn’t good for everyone.”

Now, they hope that artists will be able to stay on site, spend more time with the audience and reduce travel expenses at the same time. They can sign the deal, we can have a drink with them afterwards.

The idea is being enthusiastically received by artists. “Sleep is an amazing thing that helps international acts survive on the road,” says Jump Cuts, the indie band from Florida who are set to be at Voodoo Daddy later this year. “Everybody’s looking at the razor’s edge. This arrangement helps small groups keep visiting despite the high cost of everything.”

Street says the idea is also informed by his years spent touring in bands. He remembers visiting Europe “where small communities or independent places would have accommodations and have great food,” he says.

Are you worried about someone turning on the TV in the window in honor of the time? “Touring bands can cause chaos,” he admits. “But I believe that many artists will appreciate what we are doing and maintain our little music hotel.”

Some places see moving as a way to boost domestic activity and compete with travelers who are forced to streamline their routes to save money. The Cornish Bank in Falmouth has allowed artists to live in their homes create a new taskand in Leicester where Firebug is located, owner Matt Kirk believes that providing accommodation will help attract artists who may otherwise pass through the city. “If we have the infrastructure to go, ‘Don’t go to Nottingham, come to Leicester,’ that’s great,” he says.

Kirk also says that lowering the cost of space can benefit both audiences and advertisers. Because the cost of lodging does not match what is happening between venues, promoters and artists, “we can reduce the price of tickets to be cheaper. Twenty is a lot of money for people these days.”

As the ground floor continues to struggle with rising costs and shrinking margins, MVT hopes these projects can provide something more sustainable than short-term emergency relief. Davyd says the trust is already in talks with 27 properties about developing accommodation, and about half of MVT’s member properties have land that can be used. “Not everyone is going to have all the tour groups, and not everyone is going to be there all the time,” he says. “But if we can lower the cost of lodging as a means of transportation for the rural population, then more transportation is going to happen.”