UNCLE GUS & THE RIMSHOTS PERFORM AT THE ROYAL OAK IN LAUNCESTON AND LEFT, SAN CISCO IN ACTION AT THE FORTH PUB. PICS: RICHARD JUPE. BELOW, THE ROYAL OAK
Insurance goes up every year, and we struggle with that, just costs for the pub and also costs for other people as well, a lot of people want to go out and see live acts and they can’t because they can’t afford it. You have seen that across Australia with festivals no longer going ahead. The arts are so important, and they need to be supported. It is more than just a job, these people, they are struggling to get through but they do it because they love it, it is their passion and it brings
people together, it connects people.”
Connecting people and communities – especially in the post pandemic world – is arguably the greatest role hospitality venues can play. And the role of live music in the recovery cannot be underestimated. Despite the challenges, all venues shared a common belief in the importance of live music. It’s not just entertainment, it’s a vital part of the hospitality ecosystem. Live performances attract a wider audience, encourage longer stays, and increase spending on food and drinks. For venues like the Forth Pub, the flow on affect spreads wider than just the four walls of the one establishment. “It’s not just people coming to the shows, it’s people working. On a big night we could have up to 40 people working here, whether that is security, bar staff, kitchen staff, people on the door, guys with the bands, there is a fairly good flow on affect,” says managing director Trent Allen. “It is not just what happens here in the venue, it is all around the councils and boosting the economy. The bands are staying in hotels down the road, they fly here, they hire cars, they are going to our cafes.
“Live music gets people moving from one region to
23 Tasmanian Hospitality Review Oct/Nov Edition
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