There might be relief that restrictions will ease for regional Victorians from 11.59pm tonight, but for those who work in Ballarat's live music industry it still isn't enough.
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Small live music venues have been struggling to make ends meet for months now, even as things in other industries had started returning to a "COVID normal" prior to the current outbreak.
Matt and Chrissie Stone own Ballarat's much-loved The Eastern Hotel, a popular live music venue and one of the town's original hotels.
"We have been struggling for months, even before the current restrictions because it's just not viable for a small venue to have one person per two square feet," Mr Stone said.
Before last week's announcement of the circuit-breaker lockdown, The Eastern Hotel was still only able to have two thirds of their regular capacity in the building, subject to density limits. It was a struggle for the business to make any profit.
With the current restrictions, Mr Stone's business is now down to one third of their full capacity, with one person per four square metres and seated service only.
I feel mostly for the venue owners though, it's really an eco system
- Stanley Woodhouse AKA Skyscraper Stan
"We've been just keeping our head above water, not making any money but breaking even," Mr Stone said. "The Victorian Live Music Venues Program grant that we received last year kept us afloat and JobKeeper kept us going but that money is all dried up now.
"It's hard to stand on your own two feet when your legs keep getting cut off."
Mr Stone received the $3500 grant the state government offered to licensed venues this week, but he says it's a drop in the ocean compared to what they need to survive.
"We might not last more than a few weeks if this goes on."
The musicians who rely on venues like The Eastern Hotel for gigs to make their living also never recovered from 2020.
Ballarat musician Stanley Woodhouse, known by his stage moniker Skyscraper Stan, had to find work in an unrelated industry to make it through last year.
It's hard to stand on your own two feet when your legs keep getting cut off.
- Matt Stone, owner of live music venue The Eastern Hotel
"Like a lot of musicians, this experience made me realise I needed something more stable," Mr Woodhouse said. "Those of us who were lucky enough to get into essential positions also understand how lucky we were to do what we loved for so long. You take the bitter with the sweet."
Mr Woodhouse said this year most of his creative income is from house parties, many of which will now be cancelled as the current COVID restrictions don't allow visitors into homes.
"A lot of musos will be feeling the sting of losing house concerts."
Mr Woodhouse used to tour extensively around Australia, but COVID changed that too.
"I actually made the mistake of announcing three dates in a mini tour on the day this current lockdown was announced last week," said Mr Woodhouse.
"I feel mostly for the venue owners though, it's really an eco system."
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