The Homeless Living Room

And this is new news?
Everyone who is anyone knows that with the selling of booze and or drugs (legal or not), means non-cash income in any public music venue. This is a non-profit move but if your going to lease a property in Santa Barbara, your better be strapped with cash cause the cost will shut you down in a matter of months. MTD, wants its cut of profits to run an operation like music, shows or anyother cash cow, out of their property.
Go Figure!

We can't explain how thankful and appreciative we are of Marborg Industries, DesignArc and Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck, the SB Bowl Foundation Ed Outreach and the community at large. Together they helped NNMF put together an amazing proposal/presentation. Literally months of planning and years of searching for a suitable space were lost yesterday, but we are confident with the support of the community, local foundations and individual grants, we will find another spot and re-open the Living Room in a way that can be sustained.

The new Living Room will be not only a space to see amazing local/touring live music, but also a vocational workshop space where we will offer classes to those in the community who want to learn about recording, live production and how to run a show.

Sign up for our e mail list at www.thelivingroomclub.org and stay tuned. If you'd like to donate, there is a button there too. We won't give up until we see this resource alive and sustainable again.

BUT- we need your help both financially (tax deductible) and by calling your local government official and letting them know you support and want them to assist the Living Room project. Once we identify a new potential space, we will also be asking for your physical strength, positivity and expertise.

It will be fun. It will be worth it. It will be a long lasting community benefit that will change the lives of THOUSANDS of young people, musicians and music lovers. I know that it changed mine and Allan's.

VIVA LA MUSIC.

Jeff Theimer, Allan Viscarra & the New Noise Music Foundation Team

You are totally correct Dou4now... That is what made this particular space rad. It was offerred rent free by Marborg. That said, even if we have to raise the money and lease something, we will do our best. We are new to the non profit world and not as well endowed as the big boys/girls, but we think it's too good a plan & we truly hope those with the ability to assist financially will do so. We are ready to execute. We shall see. Thanks for the comment.

First I’d like to share an appreciation for the effort that Allan Viscarra, Jeff Theimer, and New Noise has put forth into re-opening the Living Room, the generous donation of space from Marburg who does so much for the community, and the donors supporting the re-open.

Personally, The Living Room was a formidable part of my teenage years for many reasons. Not only did it provide a quality alternative activity to the movies or ice cream, but it was a safe space for kids to have fun without pressure of drugs and alcohol. I remember anticipation for the weekend, getting ready with my girlfriends, sharing the music experience with kids my age, meeting people that didn’t go to my school, and socializing without pressure. I remember the variety of music, releasing energy, and now when I hear music it moves me. I remember feeling connected to a community, something each person needs, especially as a teenager. I am appreciative for the thoughts that have gone into teaching classes at the Living Room about related skills in music.

I feel disappointed and confused by the recent denial of the space for the Living Room for two reasons. First, the justifications for denial by the MTD board were not in solidarity or even discussed. Second, regarding liability, any organization including The New Noise Foundation, takes responsibility for their facility and occupants through required insurance. In the future we can only hope that MTD gives more consideration and thoughtfulness into the agreed upon process of presentation, discussion, and reason. Considering each aspect The Living Room had in place, I believe that MTD made a mistake in not granting approval to present to the City Council. If you think so too please call our city council member. We have a strong voice in support for the good these guys are trying do in the re-open of The Living Room so let’s show them.

When one door closes, another opens. Stick with it –we believe in you and want The Living Room for our youth and community.

An unfortunate example of a board of directors preferring to keep a building empty and unused rather than supporting the community.

Thanks Ashley! We will continue to look for a space and soon hold bi-monthly public meetings to update, get ideas and make it happen using the passion and resources of the MANY supporters like yourself.

The most important bit is finding the location that is suitable for the Living Room needs. As we all know too well, SB is very expensive (per sq ft & otherwise) and since we won't be "selling" anything to make up the cost (booze), it's imperative we find a subsidized space so the club can be financially sustainable for years to come. It will happen. I'm sure we could find a Steve Jobs quote for inspiration, but we learned a lot from this process and we ain't going anywhere. We will be respectful but persistent to ensure the SB regional youth have something rad to do on the weekends + our local artists have a cool, safe and (affordable) place to perform live music. Much love and thank you again for the support.

We really want to make this a permanent SB/Goleta venue and not hop around from place to place. A true hub for music and the community. Stay tuned and sign up at www.thelivingroomclub.org for updates and for meeting times.

I prefer drugs and alcohol at my music shows because it makes the music sound better, but that said it was a great venue. Hope they are successful. I'd really like to see the Hard to Find come back, myself, although I don't really know how strong the hardcore scene is in SB anymore.

Too bad. The Living Room was a great place. I hope there will be success with this endeavor. I see so many empty building that are empty for YEARS and think, "why don't they turn that into a rec center?" I look at the deserted auto sales lot(s) on Hitchcock and see them as a perfect place for a recreation center. Why do landlords want empty buildings (= eyesores) instead of rent? Is it all a tax write off?
Hey, maybe in an ironic twist The Living Room could take over the soon-to-be-closing Dons John.