RIP half access

u were not gr8, but u were
(in praise of the messy internet)

this is a sad lil processing rant about name recognition, the fast-fading amateur internet, & not letting resources die, & (scroll down) a set of bookmarks to state pages on the half access database as i back all of it up to the wayback machine.

RIP to half access; i wish your founder had still been around when i tried to help you have a new life, & i rly wish you had handed off your name recognition instead of shutting down, but i get that your core energy source has moved on to powering other things.

*****

half access was a "nonprofit organization dedicated to making live music accessible" via a database aiming to "[provide] accessibility info on any and all venues"; it started in 2017 & was dissolved in february 2024. 

tbh, half access wasn't useful in most of the country (with the possible exception of portland, oregon, where it prolly should have limited its scope; half access could have been GREAT if they'd focused on 1 place!!) because it lacked adequate data, functional organization, & intuitive design. 

venues were organized by state, not city; there was no way to see a numerical breakdown without loading up an entire state's listings; information was poorly-organized, with no quick summaries or way to check for specific access features; & the vast majority of profiles were incomplete or inaccurate. it looked like a nationwide database, but only 8 states had 20+ venue listings, & only california, illinois, new york, & oregon made it over 30.

for perspective, there are, plural *hundreds* of venues in brooklyn alone; by the site's end, half access had 23 brooklyn spaces, several of which had already been closed for years.

(also, & i have no source for this but just sayin, if you count bars that host music events as "venues" –– which half access did, & i do too –– then i do not believe there is a single state in our fair nation with fewer than like, 300. states are mostly pretty big, or they're in new england!!! bars are 99% of american culture, & ppl play music in them!!! this is why regional resources are more likely to be accurate: there are MANY THINGS)

but half access was good at branding & getting people amped –– NO SMALL THING!! –– & became known as *the* venue accessibility database, with a board, donors, & a high profile; as recently as august 2023 the founder was interviewed by teen vogue (!!!)... even tho they still didn't have even a single venue listed in a dozen states!

in early '23, i (reasonably) assumed that half access would last longer than nyc noise, because the latter is 1 person & i was-slash-am barely making rent... so after months of sourcing minimal accessibility info for venues, i volunteered to help half access with Real Coverage of nyc venues.

i was very tired & broke & increasingly concerned about [this] site['s] sustainability, & i wanted to make sure the work i was doing would continue to exist *somewhere,* even if i couldn't keep maintaining nyc noise... so this felt like an exciting solution. i was sure they would love the idea, & felt v heartened: we would have a real venue accessibility source for nyc!! hurray!! it wouldn't be on my site, but still!!! i started sharing a spreadsheet with data & links; in our meeting, i said i could facilitate communication with nyc venue spaces & help half access solicit info beyond the minimal profiles i'd put together so far; & i offered to have every one of my thousands of event listings link to a corresponding half access venue profile. (this was before greg, so i planned to add all those links manually; it was A F*CKIN GESTURE.) (from greg territory, it's actually crazy to imagine what we could have done w/ their nonprofit status & name recognition???)

they were interested in the traffic possibilities until they found out how many spaces i had so far (i think ~400), after which their only offer was for me to also set up all the venue pages on their site myself. i considered it, even though it seemed weird given that they had People & i was offering to do all the other work; while debating, i kept sharing my data & links, but they never used the info to update their database. after seeing that they weren't even correcting errors, i decided it wouldn't make sense to tackle fully solo given my other reservations.

i think things would have gone differently if i'd hit them up when founder cassie wilson was still involved –– wilson appears to have been very scrappily doing sh*t solo for quite a while, & was on the board til dec 2022 –– bc wilson is i think like me a mildly-obsessive zealot who does sh*t... but that's not this timeline ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

so yeah i was disappointed that they didn't Do More the last year, & on hearing they were done, my first (admittedly unkind!) response was to think "about time tbh" (in my defense, this was a site that became known as a nationwide venue database but would not add the nation's venues!!)... but then i was weirdly sad.

all over the internet, for years, disabled music lovers in forums & social media have been told to check out half access –– & though it was never great [outside maybe portland], it was *SOMETHING*, which made many of us feel hopeful, or at least led to imagining possibilities. (this risks sounding bitchy, but if you've seen my ~design prowess~ you should know it's with love lol:) i think it was also meaningful that it wasn't hard to imagine how half access might be improved; randos like me felt excited & empowered to bring our feedback & offers of help. now half access will never get to be the better version of itself, a thing that could've paired with regional resources like nyc noise or do diy or any of the other sites like this to gain new audiences & comprehensive info & relevance.

we have LOTS of event-listing websites (i might have Feelings about the one you're on right now (if some "you" finds this, which... i guess i will make this public? maybe blog??), but i'm not gonna pretend it's the only thing out there); conversely, we have VERY FEW venue accessibility databases, especially run by Real Organizations, anchored by nonprofit status & actual humans who presumably like to go to shows. those of us who Really Care are often trash at getting funding, & i'm feeling pessimistic about the odds that i'll find the cash to launch a venue accessibility database for nyc; i worry that if something like that does get traction here, it'll be a sleek tech bro aggregation rather than (the dream) something unpretty & idiosyncratic –– like half access, or nyc noise –– that's maybe sure a little awkward, but also a lot more resistant to being folded into the google (etc.) machines, which are here not for culture & people but adspace & hegemony.

tl;dr: i was a little mad at u, half access, but i appreciated your work & am sad you're gone. & to the rest of us: if you've spent years building something people value, plz consider asking around for who else might care for it rather than walking away. (this holds true for pretty much anything i can think of, from the lease to a rent-stabilized home to a website!) (&& yeah i wrote out this long fuss as a reminder that i should do the same.)

––– HALF ACCESS's U.S. LISTINGS –––

...lol yes, i'm specifying U.S. bc they started including international locations before even hitting every state... no idk why, & it wasn't like a ~berlin / paris / london~ kinda thing: they did stuff like include 1 space in all of belgium or greece, & then started listing those countries in the drop-down??? bless u weirdos

Alabama (1): The Alabama Theater

Arizona (10): 191 Toole • Chandler Center for the Arts • Crescent Ballroom • Groundworks • The Rebel Lounge • The Rialto Theatre • The Rock • The Underground at the Nile Theater • The Van Buren • Valley Bar

California (34): 1720 • 2220 Arts • 924 Gilman Street • Ace of Spades • Bill Graham Civic Auditorium • Bottom of the Hill (San Francisco) • Cafe Du Nord • California Center for the Arts, Escondido • Center Stage Theater • City National Grove of Anaheim • El Rey Theatre • Fremont Theater • Lewis Family Playhouse at Victoria Gardens Cultural Center • Lodge Room • Observatory – Santa Ana • Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo • Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center • Regent Theatre • Rickshaw Stop • Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis • Sofi Stadium • SOMA San Diego • Sweetwater Music Hall • The Center for the Arts • The Depot • The Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse • The Glass House • The Observatory North Park • The Octopus Literary Salon • The Peppermint Club • The Regency Ballroom • The Roxy • Voodoo Room at House of Blues • Whisky a Go-Go

Colorado (14): 7th Circle Music Collective • Aggie Theatre • Community Concert Hall At Fort Lewis College • Copper Mountain • D3 Arts • Empower Field at Mile High • Gothic Theatre • Marquis Theater • Summit Music Hall • The Black Sheep • The Bluebird Theater • The Ogden Theater • Ute Theater

Connecticut (4): College Street Music Hall • Space Ballroom • The Cave • Webster Theater

Delaware (1): The Queen

Florida (27): Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts • Bo Diddley Plaza • Churchill’s Pub • Civic Media Center • Crowbar • Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts • Fox Lounge • Gramps Wynwood • Hardback Cafe • Heartwood Soundstage • House of Blues Orlando • Justice Pub • Loosey’s • Lucky You Tattoo • O’Malley’s Sports Bar and Venue • Orlando Amphitheater • Respectable Street • Revolution Live • SoundBar Orlando • Subculture Coffee • The Abbey • The Backyard at Boca Fiesta & Palomino • The Ritz Ybor • The Social • The Wooly • Underbelly • Will’s Pub

Georgia (9): 40 watt Club • Buckhead Theatre • Coca-Cola Roxy • Drunken Unicorn • The Bakery • The Eastern • The Masquerade (Heaven) • The Masquerade (Hell) • The Masquerade (Purgatory)

Hawaii (1): ProArts Playhouse Maui

Illinois (33): Aragon Ballroom • Beat Kitchen • Bottom Lounge • Burlington Bar • Chicago Theatre • Cobra Lounge • Concord Music Hall • Durty Nellies • Egyptian Theatre • Evolution Music Downers Grove • Gman Tavern • Harris Theater for Music and Dance • Hollywood Casino Amphitheater • House of Blues Chicago • Kitchen 17 • Lincoln Hall • Metro • Penny Road Pub • Radius • Reggies • Schubas Tavern • Sleeping Village • Subterranean • Thalia Hall • The Forge • The Riviera Theatre • The Vic Theatre • The Whistler • The Wire • Toyota Park • UIC Pavilion • United Center

Indiana (7): Buskirk-Chumley Theater • Clyde Theatre • Hoosier Dome • Old National Centre • Piere’s Entertainment Center • TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park • The Citadel Music Hall

Iowa (5): Lefty’s • Seven Flags Event Center • The Englert Theatre • The Ox (House Venue) • Wooly’s

Kansas (4): Cotillion Ballroom • The Bottleneck • The Granada • Wichita Oasis

Kentucky (8): Diamonds Pub & Billiards Concert Hall • Iroquois Amphitheatre • KFC Yum Center • Mercury Ballroom • Old Forester’s Paristown Hall • Renfro Valley Entertainment Center • The Louisville Palace • The Warehouse at Mt. Victor

Louisiana (3): Gasa Gasa • Nic’s Bar • Orpheum Theatre

Maine (1): St. Lawrence Arts

Maryland (8): Arch Social Club • Baltimore Soundstage • Grateful Acres (House Venue) • Metro Gallery • Ottobar • Rams Head Live! • The Fillmore Silver Spring • The Undercroft

Massachusetts (15): Big Night Live • Brighton Music Hall • City Winery • Faces Brewing • Great Scott • House of Blues – Boston • Indian Ranch • Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center • Paradise Rock Club • Roadrunner Boston • Royale Boston • Sounds and Tones Records – Design Lab • The Palladium • The Red Room at Cafe 939 • The Sinclair

Michigan (20): 20 Monroe Live • Blind Pig • Calvin University Van Noord Arena • Division Avenue Arts Collective • Fox Theatre • Mac’s Bar • Masonic Temple • Royal Oak Music Theatre • Small’s Bar • St. Andrew’s Hall • The Crofoot Ballroom • The Fillmore – Detroit • The Intersection • The Loft • The Loving Touch • The Magic Bag • The Pyramid Scheme • The Sanctuary • Wharton Center for Performing Arts • Ypsilanti Performance Space

Minnesota (11): 7th St Entry • Fine Line • First Avenue Mainroom • Fitzgerald Theater • Palace Theatre • Skyway Theatre • The Fillmore – Minneapolis • The Garage • Turf Club • Varsity Theater • Verizon Center

Mississippi (1): The Lyric Oxford

Missouri (14): Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland • Atkins Auditorium at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art • Ballpark Village St. Louis • Cafe Berlin • Fubar • Ready Room • Red Flag • Sk8Bar • The Blue Note • The Lyric Oxford • The Pageant & Delmar Hall • The Rino • The Truman • Uptown Theater 

Montana (3): KettleHouse Amphitheater • The ELM • The Wilma

Nebraska (4): Duffy’s Tavern • Sokol Underground & Auditorium • The Bourbon • The Waiting Room

Nevada (3): Eagle Aerie Hall • Fremont Country Club • The Holland Project

New Jersey (15): Anchor Rock Club • Asbury Lanes • Asbury Park Brewery • Bergen Performing Arts Center • Boontunes • Flemington DIY • Hopewell Theater • House of Independents • Metlife Stadium • Starland Ballroom • The Clubhouse of Toms River • The Meatlocker • The Stone Pony – Summer Stage • The Wellmont Theater • White Eagle Hall

New Mexico (2): Launchpad • Taos Community Auditorium

New York (62): Amityville Music Hall • Anthology • Babeville / Asbury Arts Center • Bar Frida • Beacon Theater • Berlin • Blue Note • Bowery Ballroom • Brooklyn Academy of Music Fisher Building • Brooklyn Bazaar • Brooklyn Steel • Buffalo Riverworks • Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts • Citi Field • David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for Performing Arts • Elsewhere (Zone One) • Empire Live/Empire Underground • Gramercy Theatre • Great South Bay Music Festival • Hart Bar • Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden • Irving Plaza • Jones Beach Theater • Kings Theatre • Kingsland • Knitting Factory – Brooklyn • Liberty Belle Rocks Off Concert Cruise • Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom • Map Room at The Bowery Electric • Market Hotel • Mercury Lounge • Metropolitan • Montage Music Hall • Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall • Music Hall of Williamsburg • My Father’s Place (at the Roslyn Hotel) • Our Wicked Lady • Pier 17 • Playstation Theater • Project Reach • Purgatory • Rec Room • Revolution Bar & Music Hall • Rough Trade NYC/Brooklyn • Saint Vitus Bar • Sharkey’s Bar and Grill • Sleepwalk • SOB’s • Spark Contemporary Art Space • SummerStage in Central Park • Terminal 5 • The Iridium • The Paramount • The Song and Dance • Town Ballroom • Town Hall • Trans-Pecos • TV Eye • UPSTATE CONCERT HALL • Warsaw • Webster Hall • Wet Spot

North Carolina (10): Fillmore Charlotte • Local 506 • Motorco Music Hall • QCS • Skylark Social Club • The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub • The Orange Peel • The Pour House Music Hall • The Ritz • World 

North Dakota (1): Fargo Brewing Company

Ohio (15): Agora Theater and Ballroom • Bogart’s • EXPRESS LIVE! • Grog Shop • Happy Dog • House of Blues Cleveland • Jilly’s Music Room • Mahall’s • Memorial Hall OTR • Newport Music Hall • Rumba Cafe • The Basement • The Bluestone • The Rose Music Center • The Summit Shack

Oklahoma (2): 89th Street OKC • The Auditorium at The Douglass

Oregon (43): 45 East • ADX Portland • Al’s Den • Aladdin Theater • Alberta Rose Theater • Alberta Street Pub • American Legion Post 134 • Anarres Infoshop & Community Space • Black Water Bar • Bossanova Ballroom • Cottage Theatre • Cruzroom Annex • Crystal Ballroom & Lola’s Room • Disjecta • Doug Fir Lounge • Eaden Ballroom • Hawthorne Hideaway • Hawthorne Theatre • Holocene • Mano Oculta • McDonald Theater • McMenamins Edgefield • McMenamins Mission Theater • Mississippi Studios • Moda Center • Paris Theatre • Pioneer Courthouse Square • Polaris Hall • Roseland Theater • Sessions Music Hall • Star Theater • Tardis Room • The Big Legrowlski • The Old Church • The Pikey • The Shedd (The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts) • The Vault Theater • The Waypost • Veterans Memorial Coliseum • VFW Post 1383 • Watershed PDX • Wonder Ballroom • WOW Hall

Pennsylvania (27): Black Forge Coffee House • Foundry • Fowler Blast Furnace Room • Franklin Music Hall • JB Lovedrafts • Keybank Pavilion • Kung Fu Necktie • Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks • Luigi’s Mansion • Mann Center for the Performing Arts • Musikfest Cafe Presented by Yuengling • PACA • Puck Live • Rex Theater • Roxian Theatre • Ruba Club • Sherman Theater • Spirit • Stage AE • Station One Center for the Arts • The Colonial Theatre • The Crafthouse Stage & Grill • The Fillmore – Philadelphia • The Ukie Club • Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA) • Trocadero Theater • Union Transfer

Rhode Island (1): Fete Music Hall

South Carolina (4): House Of Blues – Myrtle Beach • Music Farm • New Brookland Tavern • The Royal American

Tennessee (10): Bridgestone Arena • Brooklyn Bowl • Cannery Ballroom • Folk All Y’all Listening Room Series • Marathon Music Works • Mercy Lounge • Paramount Center for the Arts • Ryman Auditorium • The Basement East • The Signal

Texas (25): Alamo City Music Hall • AT&T Stadium • Barracuda Austin • Cactus House • Canton Hall • Cine El Rey • Club Dada • Emo’s • Empire Control Room and Garage • Gas Monkey Live! • House Of Blues Houston • Paper Tiger • Princess Pass • Reno’s Chop Shop • Rise Rooftop • Ruins • Southside Music Hall • State Farm Arena • Stubbs BBQ • The Factory in Deep Ellum • The Parish • Vibes Event Center • Warehouse Live • White Oak Music Hall • YOUR HOUSE (house venue)

Utah (3): Kilby Court • The Complex Salt Lake City • Urban Lounge

Vermont (1): Higher Ground

Virginia (9): Banditos Burrito Lounge • Harvester Performance Center • Jammin Java • The Camel • The Canal Club • The Golden Pony • The National • The State Theatre • Waterside District

Washington (17): 415 Westlake • Barboza • Chop Suey • El Corazon • Lake Meridian Park • Lincoln Theatre • Make.Shift Art Space • Neptune • Neumos • Old Skool’s Records • Paramount Theater • Real Art Tacoma • Showbox SoDo • Tacoma Dome • The Moore Theatre • The Shakedown • Tractor Tavern

Washington, D.C. (10): 9:30 Club • Comet Ping Pong • DC9 Nightclub • Echostage • Pie Shop • Rock & Roll Hotel • Slash Run • Songbyrd Music House • The Anthem • Union Stage

West Virginia (1): The Bakery

Wisconsin (13): Bradley Symphony Center • Crucible • Gibson Community Music Hall • Marcus Performing Arts Center • Pabst Theater • Quadracci Powerhouse • Riverside Theater • Stackner Cabaret • Stiemke Studio • The Bur Oak • The Rigby • The Sylvee • Turner Hall Ballroom