Fire Code Issues
Posted: January 20th, 2006, 1:15 pm
Ladies and gentlemen of Austin Improv and general users of the Hideout Upstairs Theatre, we have dodged a gigantic bullet.
The fire department came by this week (because the coffeehouse is renewing its alcohol license) and, in addition to all the usual low-level stuff that we have to bring up to code, they declared the upstairs theatre ILLEGAL as a performance venue. The exact number of people allowed in the upstairs theatre was declared to be NINE.
I called the city and they were kind and supportive, but insistent that the safety of the general populace dictated that the upstairs theatre was completely unworkable as a theatre with more than nine people in it. They said they would pull up the original plans and help us figure out what our options were.
In the meantime I have considered, among other things, blowing out all the walls in the upstairs to create one gigantic space that would hopefully be within code, building a stairwell from the backstage of the upstairs theatre to the front of the coffeehouse, moving performances to the classroom, and trying to rent the downstairs full time. All of these options were less than ideal.
Fortunately the city just got back to us today and reported that upon further review of the plans we are OKAY performing in the upstairs theatre. Don't ask me why or how. I was too busy tripping over myself to express our appreciation to ask.
I encourage you all to meditate upon the disaster that nearly befell our precious venue, to consider all the homeless artists of the world, moving from space to space, renting where they can with no consistency or stability and say a small prayer of thanks:
There but for the grace of the City of Austin goes Austin Improv.
The fire department came by this week (because the coffeehouse is renewing its alcohol license) and, in addition to all the usual low-level stuff that we have to bring up to code, they declared the upstairs theatre ILLEGAL as a performance venue. The exact number of people allowed in the upstairs theatre was declared to be NINE.
I called the city and they were kind and supportive, but insistent that the safety of the general populace dictated that the upstairs theatre was completely unworkable as a theatre with more than nine people in it. They said they would pull up the original plans and help us figure out what our options were.
In the meantime I have considered, among other things, blowing out all the walls in the upstairs to create one gigantic space that would hopefully be within code, building a stairwell from the backstage of the upstairs theatre to the front of the coffeehouse, moving performances to the classroom, and trying to rent the downstairs full time. All of these options were less than ideal.
Fortunately the city just got back to us today and reported that upon further review of the plans we are OKAY performing in the upstairs theatre. Don't ask me why or how. I was too busy tripping over myself to express our appreciation to ask.
I encourage you all to meditate upon the disaster that nearly befell our precious venue, to consider all the homeless artists of the world, moving from space to space, renting where they can with no consistency or stability and say a small prayer of thanks:
There but for the grace of the City of Austin goes Austin Improv.