Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar owners Shane Hilton and Leanne Chance have confirmed that the music community's campaign to buy the Tote has been successful.
“We are very happy and excited to hand The Tote over to Shane and Leanne, whom we know are so passionate about Live Music. It’s with great relief that we leave The Tote behind in full knowledge that it will continue to be Melbourne’s and Australia’s home of Rock’n’Roll, and that it will continue the venue’s 42 year history of live music culture. They will bring fresh energy and a new vision to the Tote, which is needed for it to continue to be the beacon of local rock’n’roll – the culture that we all love. We wish them all the very best,” said Jon Perring, current co-owner of The Tote.
The details of the sale have not been disclosed. However, all parties are comfortable with where the deal has landed. Importantly, the staff will transition, and the 3 PA Systems will remain at the venue, ensuring that the Tote’s reputation for delivering the best live sound for a venue of its size will continue.
The existing Tote owners and Last Chance are now working together to make the transition as smooth as possible. To celebrate, a last minute free Friday (8th) night gig at The Tote has been put together. The line includes: Persecution Blues, Hanny J plus others to be announced.
In April, Shane Hilton and Leanne Chance, the owners of the Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar, launched a campaign to save Melbourne’s beloved Tote. The legacy bandroom had been put up for sale, prompting distress from fans and fears that it would be converted into condos.
The couple started a fundraiser on Pozible and the stakes were high – in the all-or-nothing campaign, they needed to raise $3 million before the deadline. They had already contributed the same amount themselves by going into debt with banks and pulling from their own savings.
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Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar hits fundraising goal to save The Tote
On May 6, with 10 hours to go before the fundraiser closed, they managed to hit the target, giving them a whopping $6 million to offer in a bid to buy the Tote, with the campaign raising over $3 million.
The deal then hit a roadblock when the Tote owners took to social media to reiterate that their asking price was actually $6.65 million.
“The asking price allows for the mortgage, all liabilities and the current owners to be paid out fairly,” Tote owners Jon Perring and Sam Crupi’s statement read. “The reserve price was set to be fair but also realistic. The price is possibly even conservative by some measures.”
“As there is a shortfall between the community pledges, the Last Chance equity and the sale price, Governments and possibly private philanthropy would need to come on board to bridge the current gap. The other alternative is to go back to the music community again.”
Perring confirmed in a statement this morning that the deal has gone through with “great relief”.
Current staff will remain as will the three PA systems, while the keys are expected to be handed over in November.
A watershed moment for the Australian music community, the significant purchase follows a record-breaking Pozible crowdfunding campaign, which saw more than 12,000 members of the wider music community rally together to raise over 3 million dollars in funding to ensure the Tote would remain a live music venue forever.
The new owners of The Tote Hotel, Shane Hilton and Leanne Chance say:
“Thanks to the astronomical support of the wider music community – which lead to the world’s biggest music-based crowdfunding campaign – the Tote will survive as a live music venue forever.
“We’re in awe of what the Melbourne and Australian music community has achieved over the last six months. This huge undertaking would never have happened without the support of the tens of thousands of people who passionately got behind what seemed to be an impossible task. It’s thanks to you we’re able to keep the Tote doing exactly what it’s been doing for the last 42 years.
“We want to thank everyone who contributed to the campaign in any way. Whether it was financially through Pozible, with their time, their music, or their art. We can’t express the gratitude or esteem we have for the entire community who made this happen. It’s an historic achievement that would never have transpired without every person’s energy, enthusiasm, and commitment.
“Community is what music has always been about. This result is the most beautiful example of what music, our music community, can achieve.
“This cultural institution and beating heart of the Australian music space would not exist without the incredible work and endurance of Jon, Sam and Andy, and the owners who built the venue up before them. We’d like to thank Jon and Sam for entrusting us with the Tote, and for giving us the blessing to lead it into its future.
“The last three and a half years have been the toughest our industry has ever faced. To have kept the flame burning at the Tote over the last 11 years, particularly through COVID and the hard years that have followed, is no small feat.
“We wish Jon and Sam continued success at Bar Open and look forward to working with them to ensure a smooth transition into a new era at the Tote for all the staff, bands and punters.”
While the details of the sale will remain private, all parties are comfortable with where the deal has landed. Current staff members will transition along with the new purchase, and the three PAs will remain in the venue.
“There has been a lot of concern, fear and emotion swirling around The Tote sale. What is needed now is for the community to now get behind the venue and its staff to ensure The Tote’s ongoing success.
“The Last Chance To Save The Tote campaign wasn’t just about protecting the walls, but everything that happens within them. To be able to continue that means the absolute world to us.
“To every band, musician and artist who makes our world a better place, thank you. As the new custodians of the Tote, our sole aim is to facilitate a space in which all the amazing art that people create can be nurtured, supported and celebrated.
“We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone – whether it be the staff, punters, bands, record labels, promoters, bookers, community radio stations or venue management who have made the Tote such an incredible place over the last 42 years. We look forward to working with the present staff to make the Tote the best live music venue in the world while continuing to support all the amazing musicians who will continue to contribute to the amazing legacy of the Tote.
“As it’s unlikely we are ever going to have the platform and reach we have right now, we want to take a moment to encourage the wider community, the media, government, industry stakeholders and every other person in Australia to truly start listening to and supporting the world-class talent and culture that the independent music community in Australia continues to produce, in spite of all the difficulties we face. Go to the shows, buy the albums, wear the t-shirts and listen to C.O.F.F.I.N.”
Find out more info about the Tote here.
