The Tote closure sparks concern for survival of live music

By Anya Trybala | Thu, 21/01/2010 - 11:28 |   No comments
It has been long rumoured of closure, but The Tote, on the corner of Johnston and Wellington Street in Collingwood has finally closed for business on Monday the 18th of January.
 
On the last Sunday of its existence, a demonstration was held complete with a large, mixed crowd with placards displaying slogans such as ‘Let there be Tote’, ‘We Tote and we vote’ and ‘Our way, our truth, our life, rock ‘n’ roll. We (heart) the Tote’.
 
 
Although petition’s, both online (On Facebook a group ‘1,000,000 Aussie’s to save The Tote’ has garnered over 7,000 supporters) and physical, seem to provide little hope for the re-opening of this iconic and well-loved music venue, it does show a passionate support of live music in an area that is renowned for its artistic diversity.
 
Lawyer from Liberty Victoria, Anne O’Rourke, was canvassing signatures for a petition. When asked if this will help re-open the Tote, she said:
 
“Probably not. But these will help show support to keep small live music venues operating in the area. Due to the increase in liquor licensing being imposed on these venues, they are at risk of being shut-down.”
 
As supporters crowded the streets, police looked calm:
 
“We haven’t had any troubles today and really don’t expect to” one officer said.

One of the supporters, Joshua Feggans, who has been organising events for over a decade and runs youth skateboarding programs through Insomnia Skateboarding, claimed that complaints from local resdients may have been a catalyst for the closure:

"People come and live in this area because of the rich culture, but then complain about noise levels. It's all a part of the area and residents should accept that."

He fears that this closure is the start of many local venues in the area and that it is a major blow for local musicians. Even though The Tote looks gritty around the edges and placed on a suspect corner in Collingwood, there have actually been only a small number of violent incidents in the venue’s history.

 
“I don’t believe the Tote is a “high risk” venue, in the same category as the nightclubs that make the news for all the wrong reasons.” stated Bruce Milne, owner of the Tote on the venue website.
 
According to Milne, the rising cost of liquor licensing is one of the main reasons for the venue’s closure.
 
“I can’t afford to keep fighting Liquor Licensing. The ’high risk’ conditions they have placed on the Tote’s license make it impossible to trade profitably. I can’t afford the new ’high risk’ fees they have imposed. I can’t afford to keep fighting them at VCAT. I can’t renegotiate a lease in this environment.” Milne stated.
 
These ‘high risk’ fees were imposed on January 1st, 2010 by the department of liquor licensing. It is in line with community feedback and stating that a venue that contributes the most alcohol-related harm pay higher license fees.
 
Due to the fact that The Tote operates until 3am, they are automatically charged a higher licensing fee, as research shows that the stand-out factor for predicting trouble in licensed venues are the late trading hours. However, Milne disputes this claim when it comes to The Tote,
 
“Despite being on a rough little corner of Collingwood, the Tote has had very, very few incidents. As a local police officer once said, ’The Tote’s the quietest pub in the area.’ (!).”
 
A few days on and The Tote is now an emptied building, a venue that gave local musicians a platform to perform shut down symbolising the threat to the existence of local live music.