Independent venues in the US are reporting no show rates as high as 50%

Independent music venues in the US are facing ticket no shows of up to 50%, according to the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).

This statistic was revealed by the organisation as part of a recent hearing titled The Power, Peril, and Promise of The Creative Economy, which is available to watch on YouTube.

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The hearing also addressed and reiterated how independent music venues have suffered harshly due to the ongoing and unpredictable large-gathering bans and leisure restrictions due to the pandemic.

“Today, the rollercoaster ride of the pandemic continues,” said Reanne Presley, a representative of the NIVA.

“Traditionally, about 5% of ticket buyers don’t attend performances. But now, sagging consumer confidence is causing national no-show rates as high as 50%.

“This is devastating because most of our venues rely on in-house sales to pay core bills. We are also now confronted with increased costs due to inflation. Just in the past month, I’ve received notices of impending price increases from our trash hauler to our concession suppliers to our janitorial service.

“And like many other businesses, we face the difficult challenge of finding workers in a competitive environment. Remote work is not an option for our business."

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Presley's opening statement lasted five minutes, it detailed the future of what many independent music venues could expect if there is this continued trend.

She added that the only way in which independent venues that are severely struggling could stay open is to pass on the cost to the ticketholder or to reduce the customer experience; either way, the customer experience is left deflated.

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As Consequence reports, The NIVA is asking US Congress for an extension on when Shuttered Venue Operator Grants (SVOG) can be used; as it stands $14 billion of the allotted $16 billion has already been allocated.

This news follows a recent Wall Street Journal report which found that between 17% and 20%of ticketholders did not show up to shows in 2021; some large names in music such as Billy Joel saw 20% of ticketholders not showing up to their concert.

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The NIVA was formed in March 2020 as a way for independent venue owners to represent their industry.

National Independent Venue Foundation, which is part of the NIVA, has announced the reopening of an emergency release fund to help independent venues that are struggling with the pandemic - as reported by NME.

Last year it was reported that independent music venues in the US were struggling to receive financial aid from their government.

Read this next: Independent venues in the US have still not received government support

Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter