While a few have found a way to reopen with limited capacity or streaming concerts, most Chicago music venues remain closed to the public and are still in desperate need of federal assistance that has yet to make its way through congress. While politicians drag their feet, local music fans have stepped in to find ways to financially support venues and their out-of-work staff by selling beer or T-shirts and sharing the proceeds.
The latest local project raising money for local venues comes from Chicago marketing agency Someoddpilot and its Public Works gallery, which commissioned a series of posters that pay tribute to some of the city's most beloved rock clubs. Collectively called "The Fan Club," the posters have been pasted up near the venues they pay homage to—spots like the Empty Bottle, Hideout, Thalia Hall and the Promontory. You can find each location via a map on the Public Works website.
Featuring imagery created by local designers and artists such as Bill Connors, Alexa Viscius, Julio Ruiz-Santana and Ashley King, the posters are more than just a show of support. Someoddpilot and Public Works will donate $1 to the Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL) for every photo of the public exhibition posted to social media using the hashtag #thefanclubchicago. That's an easy way to show some financial love to the places that music lovers miss the most.
If you're feeling even more generous, you can also purchase limited-edition prints of the various posters and a T-shirt created for the project from the Someoddpilot webstore. All proceeds from sales of this merch will go to the venues they represent.
Take a look at some photos of an installation in Logan Square (on the side of the Hollander Building) below, keep an eye out for the posters throughout Chicago and snap a picture if you can!
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