Transitioning from Outdoor Music to Indoor Music

As 2020 approaches its finish, the robust live music scene in New York City is a total upheaval from the more traditional model of only a year earlier. Following the closure of all the venerated music venues eight months ago, live music refused to die. Instead, the musical landscape adapted to a new reality. It then altered frequently and often radically. Additional modifications appear to be imminent.

In mid-March 2020, the hallowed live music industry suddenly shuttered due to COVID lockdowns and curfews. By mid-June, however, many adventurous musicians came out of hibernation and started performing for tips in parks and other public spaces. Numerous bars and restaurants then began hosting live music, often with musicians playing indoors through open windows to audiences seated at tables outdoors.

For the most part, the venues that hosted live music a year ago are no longer booking live entertainment. Most of the live music in New York City is being played in restaurants that never before hosted live music. This came about because musicians simply asked restaurant owners if they could play for tips.

Pictured above, from top to bottom, Christian Dryden and the Ritualists,
Karl Schwarz and Rob Mastrianni at Marshall Stack,
a venue where the musicians play indoors by a window
to an audience seated outdoors.

Governmental restrictions initially allowed solely for "incidental music" and prohibited establishments from advertising or charging for entertainment; while this restriction was overturned in court a few weeks later, most establishments continue this policy. Travel restrictions, where outsiders from many states and countries entering New York State must quarantine for 14 days, makes touring unreasonable. Hence, only local musicians are playing for live audiences, although the public often does not know where or when.

As of this writing, restaurants are allowed outdoor seating plus 25% indoor capacity. The speculated increase to 50% capacity has not yet happened, and is unlikely to happen for several more months. With outdoor dining more maintainable than indoor dining in smaller restaurants, many eateries have hired carpenters to construct contained seating areas both on sidewalks and in what were formerly parking spaces in the streets. Many establishments recently increased their investment by weatherproofing their outdoor spaces and purchasing outdoor heating fixtures. Despite these snowballing investments, recent spikes in certain communities threaten to close indoor dining again in the near future.

Gina Healy (above) and the Mad NoMad Trio (below) at Nomad,
where most performances are now indoors after a summer outdoors.

The current model of concert promotion is unlike anything seen before. Due to the threat of imminent indoor closure, inclement weather, shrinking clientele, and ever-changing government-imposed restrictions, most venues are booking shows only a week or two in advance. Since the venues are not advertising or selling tickets in advance, and non-touring musicians are generally available on short notice, restaurant owners find little reason to lock in shows for more than 10 days at a time.

Many other impacts have been more drastic. The current long-term state of affairs proves ominous for venues with outstanding leases, creating alliances among independent music club owners that are soliciting the federal government for across-the-board bail-out funds. Individual venues initiated fundraisers. Arlene's Grocery, which presented rock bands nightly for 25 years and was the local launching pad for Arcade Fire, Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga and the Strokes, among others, will close permanently on February 1 unless emergency aid is achieved. The Jazz Standard also cannot survive the pandemic and will close. Blackthorn 51 and Max Fish likewise surrendered and closed their doors, hoping to sign leases in new locations at a future time when bars and restaurants can operate at 100% capacity. Hermana NYC is temporarily closed because someone tested positive for the virus. The Bowery Electric has become a pay-per-view livestream-only venue. Two nights each week, City Winery requires patrons to pay for a mandatory COVID test on premises before entry. All of this is a context that even a clairvoyant could not have envisioned.

Above, the Typsy Gypsy Girls at the Anyway Café.
Below, the Benny Benack Band at Rue-B,
At both locations, performers play indoors
for audiences seated both indoors and outdoors

The newest changes are a result of colder weather. Many restaurants recently began closing on Mondays and Tuesdays, and those that remain open are seeing light attendance, as these are nights when lower numbers of diners eat out. The owners of sidewalk cafes that have attracted clientele with live music are strategizing how to transition from outdoor music to indoor music.

The Gil Schwartz Duo performed outdoors at Caravan of Dreams.

Dozens of bars and restaurants will continue presenting live musicians well into the winter, barring any new governmental restrictions. City Winery features live music indoors on Thursdays through Sundays, and the massive size of the venue allows for tables to be set far apart; many other safety protocols also are in place. Dröm and the Red Lion have discontinued the outdoor music in favor of indoor music only. Café Wha? has separate indoor concerts and outdoor concerts. Caravan of Dreams and Nomad are alternating between indoor and outdoor music, as the weather dictates where the bulk of the audience will sit. The Anyway Café, which in milder weather had its musicians perform in its window, has shifted the staging further indoors in order to accommodate both indoor and outdoor audiences. Rue-B similarly has its musicians play for both indoor and outdoor audiences. Marshall Stack and Groove continue featuring music acts in its window, so far playing to outdoor patrons exclusively. At Pinky's Space, musicians play in the covered outdoor dining area or on the sidewalk. Musicians at David's Café continue to perform on the sidewalk. The Terremoto Coffee Room, unable to move the music indoors, has paused its concert series until the spring. Numerous other café owners are strategizing how they might be able to continue presenting live music in colder weather.

Allen Gogarty at the Red Lion, where performers
played outdoors in the summer but now play indoors.

The good news is that dozens of local musicians are performing to live audiences every night. Knowing in advance who is performing and where is information that remains difficult to attain.

Above, Black Coffee Blues Band performed on pavement outside the Waterfront Ale House.
Below, Greg Lewis performed on the sidewalk outside the Terremoto Coffee Room.
Both photographs are courtesy of Seth Okrend.