Trials and Tribulations of being a live music venue owner..... Chapter 6

PLEASE READ IN ORDER to make the most sense - take your shoes off and kick back....

I've been saying the last month.... that I'm learning to steady my turmoil of emotions... I feel almost like a surreal entity watching from inside, like the eye of the storm..... has been really weird but really welcoming tbh.

On the home stretch guys! Thank you for having a read! If youve lasted or managed to get through this far..... We're super glad you now know the happenings and the reasons behind our decisions. We know and understand the confusion around it all, it's just taken me a while to be able to get it out. We thank every single one of you who still supported us through everything no matter what! And still do!! Standing with us for the things that matter the most.... All you need is love! Bam baananaaa naaaaaa, to show each other kindness and respect and to enjoy life!

Chapter 6

Where was I....... our liquor licence! Got reinstated with a little bit of controversy from head office tbh! Was all chats behind closed doors about us, I think they still didn't know what to do with us, we don't exactly fit in any boxes. And I do say again, the people in Cairns office, and even Brisbane over the phone, have been amazing to deal with. Straight up, honest and upfront with how it is, no bullshit from either of us, we all respect each other's work and roles.

The reinstatement was the start of our policy to must have food if wanting to purchase our alcohol. Most people have been amazing with responses and some not so much, if only they knew, tho they probably don't care, all they wanted was another drink! So not really our vibe anyway, as much as we want to get our musos out there and heard, those kind of people may not be in a state to fully appreciate anyway.

We also still allow byo for those who want to drink their swanky stuff or who don't want to buy food.

Come end Nov we introduced another policy of Pay It Forward as we did understand that people do come in later sometimes after their dinner, non locals and that the bottlo shuts before us. So, pay it forward gives an option to these guys to share the love to local peeps who aren't as fortunate and doing it tough. This will be another lil separate story, cause that's a happy, heart filling one!

November 2022

We heard back from council advising that as we advertise as a music venue and people don't come for our food and drinks even though it's the only way we make money, our live music aspect falls under Indoor Sport and Recreation. And that for every other activity we do or want to do falls under an array of 7 other separate usages. All of which need to be applied for under an MCU however can run concurrently.

We were given a deadline for about 2 weeks to either put in an application for them or CEASE ALL unlawful activities

I immediately requested an extension til early Jan, as we had just gone for a grant and felt that outcome would determine what we would go for. We had to weigh up if it was too hard, not worth the stress and cost and if we should just close the doors....

December 2022

Volde and the fam come up for hols again and this time none of us even acknowledge each other, even the kids now, which is quite sad. But I tell you, it was kind of a relief to be this way as Dad had just had his surgery ..... another story!

I contacted council again as we wanted to know the process and forms etc for starting the application as we can't afford a private town planner. I was told both people we'd been dealing with were no longer with Council. I found out who now had our case and was advised they would be in contact with me on their return from holidays at the end of Jan.

February 2023

I went to see my sis who was really not in a good way and I needed to be there for her like she has been for me so many, many times. On my return, literallly on my way to the airport, I received an alarming email from council saying were in breach and will be issued an enforcement notice!

Upon my return, writing back and receiving an ubrupt reply at 5pm on a Friday... with no way of dealing with it any more left me sick all weekend. It's no wonder I've been in hospital from vomiting blood .... am much better now, but was pretty scary there for a while....

I got to speak to someone who helped us out with getting a meeting to deal with only one person in planning and one in compliance. This was a God send!!

However...... I had got a 3rd casual job once a fortnight or weekend sometimes still needing to pay our debts. As I mentioned in a previous post, i hit burnout, which I knew was coming, just when was the question. I quit my full time job to do more casual hours and on my first time away, with no phone service, since.. for ever! An email came through the corner before service ran out ... I read it.... I felt sick...

Volde has taken us to the Body Corps Commission. There was an 80 something page document along with camera footage and photos of all our patrons gathering at the side of the building that had moved away to smoke and chat.... as they do! Our cars "blocking" his driveway so he can get his non existent boat in and out. A film of someone dancing on the carport roof, which is terrible!! And dad fixed this problem right away by using jimbos lattice to make the stair case rail higher among the rest.

I've now written an 8 page reply, with all the harassment that has happened, there's even more than what I've written here too. We're waiting on the response and outcome of this.

We found out a couple of nights ago that he'd even made a noise complaint from Brisbane!!!

With council, the meeting at the beginning of March went as well as can be expected, again the people we are talking with are amazing and as helpful as they're allowed to be! How's that, our own council aren't allowed to help us as it's seen as a conflict of interest.... we were advised that we could apply for all 8 or 9 MCUs under one application so won't cost us $6ishk x 8... this is why we wanted to see which ones to go for depending on costs, based on per square meter remember....

We approached a private town planner, who we sent the official Show Cause notice to along with the email advising all the usages. He came back with how complex it all was for even him to get his head around even being as experienced as he is! He also reiterated that the location has always been a live music venue for as long as he can remember! However once someone complains they have to act and won't let go.....

{Pics are that visit to stink n the kids... the things they get me roped into.... hahah}