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PROVO — After spending more than a decade at the same location, Provo-based Muse Music announced a change in venue.
Provo resident Debby Phillips and friend Darcie Roy bought a majority share of Muse Music in June 2012. While the original owners retained a 20 percent share, Phillips and Roy managed the music venue and began making plans for its future.
But, after struggling to make a profit after converting the recording studio into a rehearsal space, Muse Music launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign in August 2014. They raised $2,500 which helped them pay utilities and rent, saving them from possible eviction and closure.
However, Roy said they had an unexpected loss in studio revenue and were concerned about signing a year lease at their venue at 151 N. University Ave.
"Half of (the space) is a cafe and it did not generate half of the revenue," Roy said. "It really wasn't making the money that it should have to support it. It's kind of surprising that it stayed open as a venue as long as it did in that location."
As a result, they changed the venue name from Muse Music Cafe to Muse Music and moved to a new building at 247 W. Center Street.
"We wanted to find a place that was more affordable and the new place is within our budget which is wonderful. … I am so excited about this location. It's got pretty much everything that was on my list of wants and needs, especially when it comes to the band side of things."
Darcie Roy/Muse Music
The building had previously been an arcade, and with a capacity of 300 people, will be a much larger venue than the previous Muse Music location, Roy said. She also said because the new venue is located so close to the UTA FrontRunner Station and the I-15 entrance, it will make it more convenient for bands and fans from Salt Lake City and other areas of Utah to come to Muse Music.
Despite the location change, Roy said she and Phillips still plan to make Muse Music a space for fostering artistic talent and helping beginning bands to make their start. Although they are located near Velour, Roy said they have never viewed them as competition because the two venues have such different functions and business models.
"(Their) goal seems to be to pinpoint that existing star talent that's on the verge and work with that," Roy said. "Whereas, we are more of… an opportunity for growth and a little bit broader of a range in genres. We also do comedies, storytelling, open mics, jams, poetry slams, things like that too."
Roy said they will begin the building renovations in August and plan to hold a soft opening on Sept. 11. The re-opening concert will be headlined by VanLadyLove and opened by Salt Lake City-based band MiNX. The event will be open to the public and Roy said they plan to hold a big concert Sept. 12, as well.
