The pandemic has brought the live music industry to an unprecedented standstill. While many musicians continue to raise money through virtual tip jars connected to livestreams and perform select smaller-scale shows in backyards and drive-ins, venues around the world are seeking new ways to bring in revenue while stages remain empty.

Z2 Entertainment, a Colorado-based music company, has spearheaded a fundraising campaign to help its venues the Fox Theatre, the Boulder Theater and the Aggie Theatre, in Fort Collins, persevere during closures.

“We don’t have a set goal for donations,” said Cheryl Liguori, CEO of Z2 Entertainment. “We would be happy with any level of support from our community. Everyone we know is feeling the pinch in some way, so we wanted to make sure there are all levels of offerings from $25 and up. Even at a reduced level, paying expenses like rent, payroll, insurance, utilities for three buildings all adds up.”

The “Thank You” packages that coincide with different contribution levels range from cocktails, tacos and pizzas that can be enjoyed at future shows to an annual pass that allows folks to attend as many shows as they want throughout the year, once the venues reopen.

“We’re excited to include entrance to shows at all three of Z2 Entertainment’s venues to contributors at our $10,000 level,” Liguori said. “It is a big ask for most music fans, but this package can also be purchased by companies as a benefit to offer their employees as a reward or incentive, or a set of four friends.”

Music fans also have the option of having their names on placards and plaques within venue lobbies or on theater seats. They can also simply donate funds and bring home a beer koozie or other merchandise.

When the theaters — that have been unable to hold concerts for four months — will welcome guests back remains unknown.

“With bars and clubs still being closed through July and maybe longer, we have been hesitant to plan for an official reopening,” Liguori said. “The allowed capacity is fewer than 40 people for The Fox and Aggie and 100 for the Boulder Theater. This is not a workable model for concerts with the exception of limited-audience livestreams. Artists are not going to get back on the road until they can tour the country safely and we have no clarity there. Indoor venues are at a significant disadvantage.”

While marquees now display messages of hope and unity instead of the names of appearing bands, the memories of previous concerts remain vivid.

“I’ve seen some incredible shows at The Fox — a front-row Wood Brothers concert comes to mind,” said  Front Range-based musician Kyle Donovan. “We arrived a few minutes early. Because they weren’t mega-famous yet, we were able to stroll right up to the front row. I still remember Chris Wood’s goofy dancing and incredible bass solos setting the room on fire with laughter and applause.”

Pre-pandemic, Donovan relied heavily on in-person gigs to make ends meet. While he has offered up some virtual lessons, the closures of barrooms and coffee shops where he normally would play have taken a toll on his finances.

“I’ve dipped into savings, taken up hobbies like computer repair and started selling some of my old music gear,” Donovan said. “Staying grounded has been important to my peace of mind, so I’ve spent a lot of time gardening and walking around the neighborhood with my family.”

Donovan has performed at Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Rocky Mountain Folks Fest in Lyons in previous years. He also started his own music series, The Songwriter Hour, at Longmont’s Still Cellars. But with festivals canceled and restrictions on gatherings, he has not been able to tour like he used to.

“It’s hard to know what’s in store for live music, but I can make a few predictions,” Donovan said. “Distanced outdoor shows will be the safest, simplest solution — though it won’t be warm forever. When next winter rolls around, smaller shows and venues, especially house concerts, will probably emerge as the safest option. Masks will be a huge piece of the puzzle. People have an appetite for music right now, since it’s so scarce — but I also think everyone is extra vigilant.”

In May, Live @ Jack’s — a 22-year-old music venue in downtown Denver — officially closed due to the pandemic.

“Many venues won’t make it through this strange, unprecedented time,” Donovan said. “Rebuilding the music scene from the ground up will be a challenge, but the amount of pure talent and love for music in Boulder gives me hope.”

AEG and Live Nation have suspended tours and other music companies continue to make cutbacks in order to navigate the new circumstances.

“We are as operationally stripped down as possible right now,” Liguori said. “We have six managers for three venues working part-time, but certain overhead expenses remain whether we are open for business or not. Our landlords have been generous, but given the length of time that we may need to be closed, which could be into 2021, combined with continuously processing refunds for canceled and postponed shows, we become more financially challenged each month we are closed.”

According to Liguori, longtime patrons who have visited the Fox, the Boulder Theater and the Aggie since the ‘90s have reached out asking for ways in which they could offer support while the venues remain shuttered. Rather than simply ask for donations, Z2 crafted a curated list of options that donors could look forward to once business resumes.

“As Colorado independent music venues, we’ve been honored to help launch the careers of some of our state’s musical heroes like Leftover Salmon, The Lumineers and Nathaniel Rateliff,” said Christian Hee, senior marketing manager at Z2 Entertainment. “We want to ensure that we have the funds necessary to be able to safely reopen and to host the next Colorado superstars. If we’re unable to reopen, not only will our local music scene suffer, but musicians and venues all over the country will as well.”

Hee encourages those who aren’t in a financial place to donate to the three venues, to log onto SaveOurStages.com to ask congress to support the Restart Act — a bill that will help thousands of music venues throughout the country gain access to federal funding.

“With rent and various other lofty overhead costs to keep paying, in addition to continuously processing refunds for canceled and postponed shows, we get further and further away from being able to comfortably open back up,” Hee said. “Personally, as a music lover who’s lived in Boulder and has been going to shows at the Fox and Boulder Theater since 2009, I would be devastated to lose these venues.”