Downtown Dripping Springs music venue and bar Hudson’s on Mercer hit five years in business in 2020, and co-owner Natasha Hudson said it was poised to celebrate that milestone with its largest crowds before the coronavirus swept through Texas.
“We were actually having the best year ever before this hit. Up until about March 15, we were hitting record numbers,” Hudson said.
Hays County issued its first stay-at-home order due to COVID-19 on March 26, following Travis County’s March 25 order, requiring nonessential businesses, including bars and other venues, to close. The months since have held twists and turns for the local music community. Texas allowed bars to open and host music acts again in late May, only to shutter them June 26 as local and state case counts shot back up. Meanwhile, large arenas have put on shows where masked concertgoers sit 6 feet apart.
A survey conducted in April by the National Independent Venue Association showed 90% of independent venues nationwide could close by fall if conditions persist. Challenges local venues face vary, but industry professionals agree creative approaches are needed for their survival.
“We’re not ever going to give up, but it is very hard to know at this time if it is ever going to fully recover,” Hudson said, “We are not going to go down easy; that’s for sure.”
From virtual to in-person
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