Last month marked the 25th anniversary of Dan McMichael’s acquisition of the Rathskeller, but was in no mood to celebrate after Marion County’s new fitness ordinance gave the impression of curbing live music in his business.
Among instructions announced July 23, the health order states, “live entertainment at restaurants is prohibited” until at least Aug. 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
McMichael defines the Rathskeller, 401 E. Michigan St., either as a place to eat where food is served inside and as a concert runner where artists perform in the Biergarten. Believing that the fitness ordinance was implemented throughout his operation, McMichael began to eliminate calendar transfers.
“On a scale of one to 10, it’s a 10th relative to one of the terrible days of my life,” McMichael said.
For other Indianapolis corporations that offer music while serving alcoholic beverages, the fitness ordinance raised questions with its mandate to close bars and nightclubs until at least August 12. Elsewhere in the document, a 25% capacity restriction applies in “culture, entertainment and tourism”. sites.”
Josh Baker, owner of high-fidelity music broker and leader of the Indiana Independent Venue Alliance, didn’t know how to interpret the guidelines.
“We’re an entertainment position, we’re classified as a bar,” said Baker, whose hi-fi channel brought visitors to Fountain Square several times a week before the pandemic.
The Rathskeller and the Indiana Independent Venue Alliance separately asked for clarification rulings from Mayor Joe Hogsett’s office and the Marion County Public Health Department.
They were satisfied with the results, as the local concert halls were open while the bars remained closed.
An “entertainment” designation helps maintain the Rathskeller, hi-fi channel, mouse trap and other open spaces for business.
Baker stated that he had been told that companies that billed as concert halls were exempt from the category of bars and clubs. Casual concerts are not enough to turn a bar or nightclub into an “entertainment” site.
In the words of Mousetrap owner Mike Quarto, introducing a singer and guitarist in a corner of a room is the same as relying on music as the main profit generator.
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When contacted for this report, the mayor referred the questions to the Marion County Department of Public Health. Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Department of Health and medical director, signed the physical fitness ordinance.
Department of Health spokesman Curt Brantingham showed Baker the designation “entertainment.”
“Some sites might want to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis,” Brantingham said.
Rathskeller’s owner McMichael first canceled a July 24 feature at the Biergarten of country singer Levi Riggs after the July 23 fitness order, but postponed the morning date of the show.
Due to the restriction of the physical fitness order of no more than 250 participants, McMichael canceled an August 1 functionality through Clayton Anderson because the screen no longer made monetary sense.
“This is going to pay us for the long-term expenses,” McMichael said of creating high-level acts for a small audience.
On the plus side, music lovers can have new favorites in a socially remote environment. Instead of Anderson, the Rathskeller planned to introduce Ohio singer Kaitlyn Schmit on August 1.
“Music is our business card,” McMichael said. “That’s what other people think when they think of Rathskeller and fun.”
For Mousetrap owner Quarto, the July 23 health order arrived while he was preparing for a parking lot show the next night starring popular Grateful Dead tribute band Hyryder.
“I refunded 110 tickets immediately,” said Quarto, who credited Baker for the solution that allowed the exhibition to continue.
More than 180 people attended Hyryder’s functionality at Mousetrap, 5565 N. Keystone Ave. Temperatures were checked for everyone at the front of the motor park.
Quarto said the chimney and police monitored the protection of the event.
“It’s my duty to check to give everyone an environment where they can be comfortable,” Quarto said. “I hope you’ve completed this.”
Baker, who has been building a parking lot with high-fidelity staff in recent weeks, said he was sympathetic to public officials who make decisions about reopening the pandemic.
“It’s going to have to be a pretty difficult position,” Baker said. “At the same time, we will also have to fight for our business.”
The outdoor Hi-Fi program will feature the Indianapolis Forstory organization on August 7 and the Battle of the Bands champion, the Palace, on August 15.
Theatres are suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic, a crisis that ended with the concert industry in mid-March.
Indianapolis sites are eligible to apply for operational grants until August 7. The city contributed $125,000 to the program.
Meanwhile, concert halls are drawing attention to Congress. U.S. Senator Todd Young is a co-sponsor of the RESTART Act, which is designed to help concert halls and other small businesses. And a new bill called Save Our Stages proposes to the government for the sites.
In Indianapolis, the Slippery Noodle Inn will not reopen the “entertainment” designation until August 13. The former blues music runner has postponed plans to reopen from August 6-20. Owner Hal Yeagy said Gordon Bonham would perform in the on-site parking lot that night.
Broad Ripple’s Vogue online page was postponed several times after the July 23 fitness ordinance. In a July 30 Facebook post, Vogue’s control said the place “closed for public occasions until further notice.”
The Cabaret White Rabbit, a multi-format location in Fountain Square, dates its calendar due to the 23 July fitness order.
“The booking of artistic occasions requires complex plans and preparation times, but with this new information, we plan to explore all our options,” said Debra Silveus, owner of Cabaret White Rabbit.
Ron Miner, Casba’s owner of Broad Ripple, said his basement would reopen until August 13.
“We are more willing to dance and social intimacy,” he said.
Miner said Casba had had a successful year of reopening and that consumers had adapted to dress in masks. Masks have been mandatory in Marion County since July 9.
“I can’t say what to do with your business, yet I would put you cheating to escape quarantine by saying we were an “entertainment” position,” Miner said.
Rathskeller’s owner, McMichael, said his room had removed part of the Biergarten tables for the sake of social estrangement.
“We’re looking to make sure it’s a safe treat at the Rathskeller,” McMichael said. “I take it very seriously. But at the same time, I know that other people have to pass out and not be told to stay home.”
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Contact IndyStar journalist David Lindquist at [email protected] or 317-444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: 317Lindquist.