A Gold Coast live music venue has released its monthly gig guide with a word to local media to get more ticket sales or there will be no more live music industry.

Mo’s Desert Clubhouse venue director Kimbo Slice made the heartfelt plea in her monthly email, saying times have been tough for the music industry, but now it’s time to act.

Kim says with festivals shutting down across the country, a flow-on effect meant a drop in ticket sales for live music venues, and a loss of jobs.

“In a post-Covid world, one third of small to medium-sized live music venues have closed their doors. 

“The Gold Coast is not exempt from this dramatic effect, with Burleigh Bazaar closing its doors last month. 

“The cost of living is high and the first thing to go is entertainment. 

“Thousands of people are affected by the downturn on ticket sales; venues being the first to bear the brunt of it.

“It will inevitably trickle down to the arts workers, professionals and artists that rely on the arts for their livelihoods.”

Mo’s gig guide boasts 14 live music shows this month, such as Psychedelic Porn Crumpets (main picture) on April 11.

That’s more than 37 acts.

Equivalent to a Splendour Ticket

Kim wants punters to consider the total of Mo’s monthly gig guide to being equivalent to a Splendour In The Grass ticket.

“$449 to be exact, averaging the ticket price on the shows at Mo’s in April at $32 per show. 

“Each show has approximately 3-4 acts performing, some more, some less. 

“It works out to be 84 hours of live entertainment over the month of April.”

Pay As You Go (PAYG) with a twist

Kim says if the cost of living means punters are ditching big-ticket gigs, a new attitude towards music could get people back into music halls.

She says music lovers should took at venues “like a PAYG” where people can actually afford live music and continue to support artists.

The glass-half-full attitude means concert-goers can see one show per week.

“We are encouraging punters to look at it this way, if the average show at Mo’s in April costs $32 per show, you average one show a week.

“Then you are getting more bang for your buck without breaking the bank.”

Time to change our perspective on music

Kim says venues have been continually adapting to industry changes and now it’s time for consumers to change their behaviour too.

“The mentality around purchasing tickets needs to shift,” Kim says.

“To give some context, Mo’s employs approximately 20, part-time and full-time contractors, arts workers, hospitality staff, admin staff, etc. And hosts thousands of artists every year. 

“You aren’t just paying to enter a venue, you are paying to see live performances, and have an experience.

“An epic one at that; experiencing artists from around the world, artists that have been playing all those big festivals that are now cancelled.”

She says low ticket sales will continue to have a huge impact on our local community unless something changes soon.

“You can still get to shows, you can still support artists, you can still see live music.”