![]() “We were declined grant money, we were not even told why,” Zink said. Small Business Association but was denied. The venue did apply for the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant (SVOG) through the U.S. That is really the only way we got through this.” “Fortunately, friends of The Machine Shop went online and purchased merchandise from our Machine Shop Gear Company. “We did not get really any help from outside the organization,” he said. Zink said his business hasn’t really received assistance to remain afloat. After reopening in August, The Machine Shop and many more independent music venues are far from ‘back to normal.’ With varying capacity restrictions and COVID-19 vaccination requirements from touring acts, there is much uncertainty with hosting live music that didn’t use to be there. The Machine Shop opened in March 2002 and has since become a main staple in Flint's rock music culture. The last year-and-a-half has been like nothing Zink has seen or experienced before within the music industry. ![]() Machine Shop owner Kevin Zink has been involved with the local venue since day one and is quick to handle many tasks of the business, including operations, general management, repairs, and more. On a statewide level, 80+ venues and promoters also rallied together to form Michigan Independent Venue & Promoter Association (MIVPA) to advocate for the future of these independent venues, impact change, and use their voices to garner support for local stages. The goal is to get funding for independent music venues and promoters, after a 90% revenue loss. After being closed from March 7, 2020, to August 27, 2021, the venue was unable to produce income, since, without warning, they weren’t allowed to host any concerts.Īfter joining the National Independent Venue Assocation (NIVA) to request a relief fund from the State of Michigan, the #SaveMIStages movement began. One of Flint’s most iconic rock venues, The Machine Shop, has brought nationally-touring acts in rock, and country music like Shinedown, Pop Evil, Anthrax, and Eric Church since opening in 2002. The impact of COVID-19 is still affecting the live entertainment business on a daily basis, even now, in October 2021. ![]() FLINT, Michigan - In some ways, the coverage we provided in October 2020 still seems eerily accurate and familiar for local music venue owners.
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