‘What a Stupid Law’: Readers Outraged After Venues Forced to Drop Covers

Earlier this week, we ran a story on The Free Man Lounge and Revelers Hall, making separate statements about their removal of cover charges to pay for live music.

The demand was from the City of Dallas. The department is within the Code Compliance Services, which is called the Nighttime Enforcement Team. They stated that The Free Man and Revelers were not permitted as Commercial Amusement (Inside) use, so they aren’t allowed to collect any fee for live entertainment.

John Jay Myers, the owner of the Deep Ellum establishment, explained how the Free Man had to work through the changes and what that meant for the musicians getting a reasonable, living wage. The same went for Jason Roberts and Amy Wallace Cowan, the co-owners of the Bishop Arts establishment, who had to go through similar headaches, but ultimately had to remove their cover charge.

All of their Facebook posts opened up a discussion among our readers. Personally, I think it’s a bogus rule considering the cover charge goes directly towards the musicians they book. Removing such a dedicated income stream is a blow to any working musician, especially in times like these. They aren’t being treated fairly, and we lose the spontaneity of dining in and enjoying live music. 

You can read some of our reader comments below. Afterward, plan a night out in Deep Ellum or Bishop Arts and tip our musicians. This city needs our culture and live music.

Amy, Revelers Hall co-owner, on Facebook:

Can someone please tell me how “maintaining public safety and neighborhood livability” is impacted by a cover charge?

In response to Elizabeth’s question about adding a table fee, the Free Man owner wrote on Facebook:

John on Facebook:

Which would be fine, and we are considering that on weekends, you have to be careful, because like Footloose where dancing is forbidden, saying anything with the words “band, music, musicians, pay, help, donation, keep music alive” is illegal, you have to do a lot of winking, while you do the same thing, but just don’t say or print the words.   Which is funny, they told us we can do that, just don’t say or advertise the words, because…. that’s what the paper they have in front of them says.   It’s clown town.

Alicia on Facebook:

Really what a stupid law. Businesses should be allowed to host live music and charge a ticket price or door fee to pay the musicians at any time and any place, as long as there is egress for fire safety and the noise level isn’t disturbing a neighborhood (which should never be a problem in an “arts” district). So many of the recent problems/general climate we’ve been having in Deep Ellum would resolve with MORE live music going on, not less!

Mike on Facebook:

Should just let the market sort this out.  If people don’t want to pay a cover they will go somewhere else

Sarah on Facebook:

This place is such a gem. I can’t even comprehend the pea brain that would look at this establishment and think “yeah let’s give them a hard time”. I hope this all gets sorted out. Email city council reps and let them know Dallas needs and appreciates these type of businesses.

John, the Free Man owner, on Facebook:

I am not sure if I commented here already, but when the City of Dallas came into the restaurant with 4 representatives and had an hour long meeting with us they literally said “You can not charge a cover, but you can put a music fee on their tabs…. like Revelers Hall does”. 

So that’s why this is so wild. We decided not to for now, because we already do a mandatory 20% gratuity. And we didn’t want like a long list of sh*t on the end of everyone’s tabs.

Glen on Facebook:

Isn’t this how these venues stay afloat while ensuring the musicians get paid? I’m confused as to why the city would do this.

JP on Facebook:

I like free cover as much as the next cheap bastard. But who in the hell does the city think they are limiting the venues’ revenues? The city is not losing any revenues with all their permitting and special use permit bullshit. But, they lose revenue when these venues go out of business. But, alas, they’ll make some more when the next venue opens in the same place and suffers the same fate.

Dougal on Facebook:

More proof that Dallas doesn’t care about any sort of organic culture. Everything has to be curated corporate drivel that old white men in suits can feel good about.