Musicians Welcome Signs installed at Live Music Venues with Loading Zones

HAMILTON, ON – Recently, four of Hamilton’s live music venues received additional signage outside their venues welcoming musicians. These signs signify one of the steps in building and visually demonstrating a city that is supportive of our vibrant music scene and its artists.

The idea for this project was brought forward as a recommendation by the Music Industry Working Committee (MIWC) and Hamilton Live Music Venue Alliance earlier this year. In response to this advice, city staff in Tourism and Culture and Parking & By-law Services worked together to identify solutions that addressed the MIWC’s suggestions and concerns.

Now, when musicians and their teams need to park in the loading zones the owner of the venue will lend them a sign to place in the windshield of their vehicle, which signals to by-law enforcement staff that there’s a musician who requires this space to unload. The intention of the welcome signs is to do just that - welcome musicians to use these areas when they are loading/unloading, basically letting musicians/bands know they can use this space and what the rules are to avoid getting a ticket. It also reminds others that musicians need these spots for their work.

The list of live music venues who had existing loading zones and received these new signs include:

• The Casbah
• Mills Hardware
• This Ain’t Hollywood
• First Ontario Place

“These small steps are important. I’m appreciative of the tenacity of the MIWC and city staff who kept at this one to create a solution and turn it into action. The City is committed to the Music Strategy and working with the MIWC and industry to help maintain this type of positive momentum.” - Jason Thorne, GM of Planning & Economic Development

"A small (but important) achievement such as this is a building piece to the overall goal of supporting our talented music community." - Brodie Schwendiman, Casbah, MIWC, Live Music Alliance

"It's exciting to see that this is the first domino chip and potentially many others will connect City Hall with our Hamilton Music Infrastructure. May the next chip fall…" - Lou Molinaro, This Ain't Hollywood, MIWC, Live Music Alliance

“By installing these signs, the City of Hamilton is actively demonstrating that it recognizes the importance of one of the most important facets of the its creative industry - the local music community. It may seem like a small gesture, but little victories often result in big change.” - Mark Furukawa (MWIC Chair; owner of Dr. Disc)

Additional resources

• Hamilton is well positioned to be recognized as a city of music and to grow opportunities for musicians in the community
• Hamilton has led the way in Ontario by not only developing a music strategy, but also by engaging the industry and maintaining a positive dialogue between the music community and city hall
• More information on the Hamilton Music Strategy