MUSIC MATTERS – And Brings Life Back To Panama City
Making Harrison Avenue in downtown Panama City a destination for people to go eat, shop, browse and relax while listening to some great local, live music – much like Broadway in Nashville, TN or 6th Street in Austin, TX – is the idea behind The Music Matters Initiative. Local resident and successful tour manager Crook Stewart III and his wife Vicki have been hosting music events at their residence in Springfield for several years now, with growing success. When Crook is home from a tour, they host jams in the basement of their house, a fully-equipped music studio with stage, lounge area and a huge array of instruments. The sheer number of attending local musicians who come to perform will blow away first-time visitors. There is a loose schedule and who comes first plays first. The number of visitors is ever- growing and among the visitors will be anyone from local politicians, business people and fellow artists. Crook and Vicki call their venue “The Ghetto Palace” as it is located on the outskirts of Panama City which some might refer to as, well, let’s say not the best part of town, which properly befits a movement with hip- factor. The growing success of The Ghetto Palace was undoubtedly a stepping stone for all the individuals who are now coming together to bring “Music Matters” downtown to Panama City – helping local artists and downtown businesses alike.
On January 22, The Ghetto Palace hosted an open discussion forum with public leaders, business owners, musicians and all interested parties to talk about the possibility of having live music in the Harrison Avenue restaurants. The initiative was named “Music Matters,” a heartfelt phrase that Crook Stewart III originally used for The Ghetto Palace. After Crook attended a Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) meeting and hosted another open discussion forum at the Ghetto Palace, Gilbert Hamati, owner of Trigo’s Deli spoke up and volunteered to be the first to host live music at his restaurant on Wednesday evening, March 5th. Jace Smith (a local musician) agreed to play at Trigo’s for tips only. Millies followed suit and featured live music with Gabrielle McCaghren. This was where it began, the building of Music City F-L-A. Every Wednesday night since then, local musicians have volunteered to play for tips only to help get Music Matters off the ground. The plan is to have musicians play for tips only in the beginning. Once the restaurant owners begin to realize an increase in revenue, they would then begin to pay the musicians. Of course, tipping is always encouraged whether a musician is getting paid or not. The vision is to walk downtown on a given evening and patronize any restaurant while enjoying live music. The Music Matters hosts have grown to five venues with many various musicians playing on Wednesday evening. It has also taken root on Thursday evenings in two venues. The vision was for organic growth. Just start offering live music to the public and see how many people come out. Without any paid advertisement, the word spread wide via Facebook, and it has become a success. The DIB offered their support, but Music Matters was not to be a local government run initiative. Once they understood this, they offered their approval of what was being proposed. Then the issue of ASCAP, BMI and SESAC fees came up. Realizing most of our Harrison Avenue restaurants are struggling to make it financially, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) offered grant money to assist in funding the fees for the restaurants for the first year. With Will Whitson at the CRA helm, the Initiative was blessed and grant money has become available to help these venues pay the steep licensing fees.
Music Matters to Downtown Panama City is like water to a dying plant. Just a sprinkling of music in restaurants has made Harrison Avenue THE place to be on Wednesday evenings. People are coming from all over (even the beach) to check out this new music scene. The response is all positive!
Imagine, if you will, a main street that is alive with thriving businesses. Visualize people strolling down the sidewalks, browsing, shopping, meeting and eating. The hustle bustle of everyday downtown, where people know they can find bargains or even one-of-a-kind treasures! A town that boasts a main street that offers everything from musical instruments to fishing lures. There are furniture and antique stores, consignment boutiques and jewelry, a theatre and a wine store, art gallery and beauty shops, sporting goods, a full service marina and a Civic Center. And restaurants! Lots of dining options to satiate every taste bud and quench all types of thirsts!
All this has been possible with the help of so many. Kim Griffin volunteering her artistic talent in developing the artwork for Music Matters, Jeff Carter offering his legal expertise as a pro-bono attorney, Will Whitson and the CRA for the grant funding, the downtown businesses, Panama City Commissioner, John Kady, for having the entertainment tax that was imposed on these businesses removed, Jim and Sabina Hayden (The Bagel Maker) for their support and brainstorming, Dave and Barbara Parmer (Millies Restaurant), Gilbert Hamati (Trigo’s), Mike Ferrucci (Ferrucci Ristorante), Robin Atamian (The Place), Jody Rhoda (The Colonial Restaurant) and Christine Stringer (Avenue Sea). Then there are the musicians who have been playing for only tips, Jace Smith, Gabrielle McCaghren, Kristen Barkuloo, Slim Fatz, Ben and Melana Heath (Redd Flagg), Joey and Jennye Shaling, Brandon Hawthorne, Gary Nichols, Jess Farren and Darrell Loden, Aerial and Drew Melvin and Stephen Whitfield (Aerial Melvin and The Boys), Amanda Matthews, Linda Chartier, and Tim Parrish and Robert Nieto (Tequila Mockingbird).
It isn’t just all these people alone who make something like Music Matters come to life. It is the community, the friends and the families who actually go downtown and patronize the venues and “Tip the Talent”! They are the ones who go back to their neighborhoods and talk about it, spreading the word and encouraging others to go downtown. To our community – Thank you. Each and every one of you!
Music does Matter and can make a difference. The proof is Harrison Avenue, downtown Panama City, Florida on a Wednesday night (and growing)!!
By Victoria Stewart, founding member ‘Music Matters’