Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

NOTICE- to any members here that were going to attend any of the upcoming "LIGHTFOOT" celebration shows. THESE SHOWS have been cancelled due to HUGH'S ROOM filing bankruptcy. Call your credit card company/hotels for possible refunds. This info was just passed on to the producer of the shows today. I am heartbroken for him and all of the artists who have performed there....a much heralded LIVE music venue that will be missed...

Re: Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

Oh, that's such a shame! Very sad to see the end of a beloved musical venue. Is there any way the shows would eventually be rescheduled to take place in another venue?

Gail

Re: Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

http://www.blogto.com/music/2017/01/...o-music-venue/
There's a glimmer of hope for live music fans today, as word gets out that Hugh's Room might not be dead just yet. According to a press release distributed today, the venue hopes "to move forward under [a] proposed community-ownership structure and the will is strong to make that happen sooner than later."

While there's no concrete plan at present, a committee tasked with reestablishing the shuttered venue met yesterday to work toward a variety of goals. They include the following:

1) Re-opening the doors as soon as possible, 2) developing a business plan to ensure Hugh’s Room is successful going forward, and 3) making sure that the... staff, artists and audience members – who are the backbone of Hugh’s Room’s success over the past 16 years – are fairly treated.

This wouldn't be the first time the venue turned to a community model to help maintain its viability. A few years ago, owner Richard Carson used a crowdfunding campaign to help address the growing financial challenges Hugh's Room was facing.

This would be a far more involved community effort, but it certainly sounds like the passion is there to make a run at it. Luthier and fervent venue supporter William "Grit" Laskin has been named as the committee spokesperson.

Updates are promised, though no timeline has been set.

Re: Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

I would be very happy to offer my unconditional support to this community effort in any possible way.
Hugh's Room is too precious a Toronto treasure to lose.

Re: Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

"You have probably heard by now about Hugh’s Room’s financial difficulties, and that we have “closed”. And indeed, we have. But it now appears that this was a temporary closing.
We are planning to open our doors again on March 3.
Hugh’s has been open for 16 years and most of those years have been a financial struggle. That a venue which presents live music and runs a full-service restaurant is a risky venture, will not be news to anyone.
In early January, cash flow problems made closing the only option. However, since that time, a group of music lovers and music business people has come together to revive the club as soon as possible.
There are still some pretty high hurdles to jump, including fundraising, restructuring and re-thinking the whole business model. Personally, I think Hugh’s Room doesn’t need more than a few tweaks. Yes, it would be great to have a larger green room and a back-stage area, but that hasn’t prevented us from presenting excellent music for he last 16 years.
After holding off booking (and doing a little fire-fighting) for the last 3 weeks, I have been given the go-ahead to start booking shows again.
And though I talk of restructuring, most of our regular staff will be back. Anne and Dave and the rest of the tech crew are ready to go. Chef Rebecca is pondering menu revisions and Danka has threatened that she will be back pouring beer and abusing patrons.
Thanks for your patience with the recent uncertainty.
We will be putting regular updates on our website at hughsroom.com.
Colin Puffer
Hugh's Room Booker"

Re: Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

Very encouraging news!

If the Lightfoot Tribute shows are rescheduled, hope that info will be posted.

Brian

Re: Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

JORY NASH: ""As a member of the Let's Save Hugh's Room committee (FYI this is NOT our official name) I want to echo what Grit Laskin has stated: March 3rd is a GOAL to re-open, and should not yet be considered a sure thing. Some pretty substantial fundraising efforts stand in the way of achieving this goal. There will be a press release/announcement in a few days outlining details of specific fundraising efforts needed and how people can directly contribute/support our efforts. While March 3rd re-opening remains a goal I feel it is premature to consider it a foregone conclusion. We will need a lot of financial support from the community to make HR viable in the short and long term.""

Re: Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

https://www.thewholenote.com/index.p...oom-for-hugh-s

Is There Still Room for Hugh’s?
Written by Colin Puffer Category: Features Published: 25 January 2017

It was just over 16 years ago that Richard Carson contacted me and said, “Hey kids, we’re going to put on a show.” Richard called me because he knew I had a background in the production side of folk music (Mariposa, the Flying Cloud at the TRANZAC, the Oasis, etc.). When he described what he had in mind I started to get excited: the best musicians, the best sound gear, great food and drink. All I had to do was tell him what was the best sound equipment to buy and away we’d go.

I informed Richard that I had had almost no experience working with the “best gear,” as I worked in the folk business. So I talked to a couple of other folkie techs, Anne Keillor and Dave Lang, who knew way more about gear than me, and we put together some quotes for the club. Richard looked at the quotes and decided that maybe “the best” was a bit pricey and asked if it could be done for less. And we found a way.

We opened the club with a couple of 750-watt-powered speakers, no subwoofers, a 16-channel board and the ability to deliver two monitor mixes, in case we went all crazy and had more than one musician on stage during a show.

And since that opening day on April 13, 2001, the sound system has evolved like everything else in the room. I could go on about how great the PA is and will be more than happy to provide anyone interested with a gear list, but I am of the firm belief that the club hasn’t existed for 16 years because it has great microphones. Even the best microphone doesn’t sound very good if what is going into it is poor. There is a sound tech expression, “polishing turds.” In 16 years there has been very little polishing done in Hugh’s. Or rather it has been confined to the silverware and menus.

The Hugh’s Room Philosophy

What happened in 2001 was the inception of a team. The Hugh’s Room philosophy has always been that the club was based on three pillars: the staff, the audience and the artists.

Hugh’s Room wants its staff to not only enjoy working here, but to use Hugh’s as a stepping stone to other things. If you’d really rather be a painter than a dishwasher, then we will try and help. If you like washing dishes, then turn up on time for your shift and wash away.

We have applied the same approach to artists; i.e. we will be thrilled if it turns out you are doing your next show at Massey Hall. We are glad that we have helped advance your career. Can you put Richard on the guest list?

And of course, even with good music and a good staff it is all rather pointless without an audience.

Behind the Curtain

So, why is Hugh’s Room in its current predicament?

I am “the booker” at Hugh’s Room. (I have tried to convince people to refer to me as “supreme talent purchaser,” but to no avail). I follow in the footsteps of Holmes Hooke and Amy Mangan, my predecessors, and as the booker, my perspective is somewhat limited. But what I do know is that Hugh’s Room is engaged in two of the most difficult businesses in which to succeed: live music and restaurant.

On the restaurant side, we are running a full-service kitchen which, unlike other eateries, doesn’t get to turn its tables over. Ouch.

On the music side, Hugh’s has been able to create an illusion of success. I am sure that when people see a sold-out (Judy Collins) show at a $90 ticket, the assumption is that Hugh’s has had a wildly profitable evening. Well, Judy doesn’t stay in a cheap motel or stand on the corner and flag a cab to get to the gig and these are all costs borne by Hugh’s Room.

The Magic

Given the struggle it has been at Hugh’s, almost from day one, from time to time we all ask ourselves – staff, techs, musicians, and even Richard, the owner – “Why bother?” And it comes down to the wonderful shows we have all been a part of. Here are my own personal magic moments:

In 2001, Eric Andersen was playing a Hugh’s Room show. Just after the show got underway a friend of Eric’s showed up at the door (without any Canadian cash) and was eventually admitted. Hello Joni Mitchell. To everyone’s delight, Joni got up on stage and sang a few tunes with Eric. To my personal delight, for most of the set, Joni sat back at the bar and, as it was legal at the time, I got to light a cigarette for her. My life was complete. Cross another one off that bucket list.

And then there was the time the McGarrigles played the club and, as their sound tech was ill, I had to mix the show. When we got to the end of the show, Anna McGarrigle announced from the stage that it was the sound person who usually started off the final tune and would I mind initiating it? Not knowing what song she had in mind I demurred. “Perhaps tomorrow night’s show, when I am prepared.”

The next evening, after we had a quick rehearsal in Hugh’s luxuriant green room, for the finale, I sang Green, Green Rocky Road for the finale backed up by Anna and Kate. It can’t get much better than that. And they gave a generous tip to me, the sound guy. Nobody ever tips sound.

More Memorable and Moving Moments

How about when Chris Hadfield got up on stage with Gord for the finale of a Gordon Lightfoot tribute? Hugh’s hosting Odetta’s last performance. Paul Quarrington singing his lungs out on stage while on a respirator. The three incredible shows which Lhasa de Sela did at Hugh’s. Jane Siberry singing Love Is Everything. Pete Seeger, yes, the real Pete. Ray Wylie Hubbard crooning an evil rendition of Snake Farm (sure sounds nasty – pretty much is). Ian Tyson’s concerts.

There has been crazy comedy. A somewhat refreshed performer who changed his guitar strings then realized he’d put them on upside down and had to ask a sound tech to re-string the instrument. The poorly trained guide dog which snatched a pork chop off a patron’s plate. Mickey Rooney banging his cane and shouting, “Who the fuck is running this show?” Even Wendell Ferguson’s jokes about throwing fiddles on the fire. (There is a general agreement that this is a good plan).

And there have been some very sad things at Hugh’s too. Mostly revolving around artists who were not only acts who appeared on the Hugh’s stage but friends of the club. We have lost the aforementioned Odetta, Paul Quarrington, Kate McGarrigle and Lhasa. Also Jesse Winchester, John Mays, Jeff Healey, Rita McNeil, Jackie Washington, Brian Cober, Long John Baldry, Willie P. Bennett and on and on.

Not to be left out of this list is Hugh, himself. The Room is, after all, named after him. Hugh, Richard Carson’s brother, did not live long enough to see the club open. Hugh was a real music lover and he and Richard had always dreamed of opening a music venue in Toronto. When Hugh died, Richard took up the torch and managed through a sheer act of will to make their vision a reality.

What everyone is asking now is, has that dream come to an end?

As a part of the Hugh’s Room community, I certainly hope not.

When I was asked to write this story, things looked bleak. The rumour was that Hugh’s had closed permanently. I am happy to report that this is not necessarily the case. A committee comprised of musicians, promoters, audience members and other interested parties has come together to attempt to open the club’s doors as soon as possible. The goal of the committee is to reopen in March.

Yes, things still hang in the balance, but I am pretty optimistic.

The sound man suggests you stay tuned!

Re: Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

What a fantastic article!

Thanks for posting and thanks to Colin for sharing these great memories.

Brian

Re: Hugh's room shows cancelled
 

GO FUND ME -https://www.gofundme.com/hughsroom
What’s the plan?
A new community based not-for-profit organization is being incorporated to purchase the assets of Hugh's Room.
We plan to open on March 15 with a kick-off fundraising concert, then begin regular club shows the very next day, March 16, with the legendary Lennie Gallant.

How will we pull this off?

Here are the fund raising goals and time-line.


Fundraising goal is $150,000 with the first $30,000 required by February 20, and another
$30,000 by March 5.

The final amount of $90,000 is required by July 2017.

*** Raising the first $30,000 by February 20 is critical for this plan to proceed. If that amount is not reached, and we find no other option to enable the club to open, 100% of all donations given to that point will be returned to the donors.

Please show your support and make your donation as early as possible to ensure Hugh's Room can re-open.

Members of the volunteer working commitee:

Jeremy Darby, owner Canterbury Music Co (recording studio)


Howard Gladstone, businessman, musician, co-founder Toronto City Roots Festival 2004-2010
Jane Harbury, freelance publicist, has worked for Hugh's Room for many years


Brian Iler, lawyer, chair Northwinds Folk Festival , engaged with many community initiatives


Grit Laskin, musician, luthier, member Order of Canada, spokesperson for the Hugh's Room working committee


Judith Laskin, retired educator, founding board member CFMA, director The Woods Music & Dance Camp, past board member Mariposa Folk Festival under Estelle Klein

Brian Litvin, accountant and musician

Bill McKetrick, member of music community on many levels

Colin Putter, Hugh's Room booker

Ross Robinson, promotor of blues music events, frequent Hugh's Room patron

Franks Saunders, businessman, involved with Mariposa Folk Festival

Rob Young, advertising executive and musician

Is Richard Carson still involved?

Richard Carson was the founder of Hugh's Room, named in honour of his late brother, Hugh Carson. Richard is part of the working group, and will remain as a valued member of the new not for profit HUGH’S ROOM PERFORMING ARTS INC. Richard’s original company will disappear and this new company will purchase the assets (sound equipment, etc,).
What about people who bought tickets to cancelled shows?

The working group is acutely aware of the financial fallout from the cancelled shows, for both audience and artists alike. Our hope is that ultimate fundraising efforts are successful enough to enable the new club to offer some form of compensation. This is an ongoing concern but we do ask for everyone’s patience as we sort through all the details of the changeover. Rest assured this aspect will not be forgotten.