Comments on: Firefly Club Closed, Assets Seized

By: Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:53:01 +0000

I’m very sorry to hear about this. Agreed that our current economic climate makes it difficult for the arts to thrive, but the struggle is part of what makes the art so beautiful. I traveled from Cleveland every other month to hear this band and dance with friends. They really are a treasure – not many cities have this to boast about. Happy to make the trip back & continue my support if/when Firefly can reopen.

By: Louise

Louise — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:55:53 +0000

I agree with my two cents. The business was mismanaged and public officials involving themselves in this is ridiculous. I think we should support local businesses when they offer a compelling reason to do so. But then the same musicians are featured week after week, and the location continues to relocate, most lose interest. The Firefly should make a graceful exit and hopefully a more interesting jazz venue will take its place. A venue that acts responsibly and pays its taxes as I do.

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:56:47 +0000

I choose to support the Firefly Club and any effort to reopen it. It’s okay if you choose to not participate in the effort. I’ve been a steady customer of the club for the past two and a half years and would like the enjoyable experience to continue. The State of Michigan is not the bad guy in this. Many are struggling financially these days, including the Firefly and our state government.

By: my two cents

my two cents — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:16:02 +0000

I cannot believe that there will be a benefit to help a business that basically STOLE our money (the customers). The tax that was not paid was sales tax, a tax that is paid by the customer and supposed to be set aside to be paid to the state, not an income tax. The owner made a conscious decision to take the money and spend it elsewhere.

Isn’t this the exact same thing that the owners of Lashish did?

What I find even more surprising is that Mike Anglin (and possibly Rebekah Warren as mentioned above) think that this is ok. Mike Anglin announced the benefit at the council meeting last night inferring that the failure to pay the taxes was not the owners fault. It is 100% the owners fault!

Where is the integrity? Where is the sense of personal responsibility? I understand that loyal customers are upset, but having an elected official endorse the illegal actions of a business disturbs me to no end. Out of only one side of Anglin’s mouth he cries “integrity”, but that only applies when he can use it as political opportunity.

By: Jane doe

Jane doe — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:25:40 +0000

I hope someone that knows how to manage a club will open a jazz club downtown : ) The Firefly was mismanaged from the get-go & now the owner wants other to help save it when it was her fault it went under?? That’s crazy ! I’m surprised it didn’t happen years ago ..

By: NotAFan

NotAFan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:59:23 +0000

I’m down with JazzMusician. Frankly, over the years, the programming was beyond lackluster. Paul Keller & Susan were good, and the latin theme a steady diet, but oy, that’s more than boring after a few years of the same thing week in and out.

The new location was a total disaster, but the problems with the Firefly as a club and idea existed long long before.

For my money, I miss the Bird, Ron and acts that were booked there.

While its a shame Ann Arbor lost one more live music scene, lets spend our money elsewhere.

By: jazzmusician

jazzmusician — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:44:26 +0000

I am saddened to see this happen to The Firefly Club but am, unfortunately, not surprised. A combination of factors have led to the decline and demise of the Firefly. The move certainly didn’t help but I’ve felt for years that there was a wealth of jazz talent in the greater Ann Arbor area that for some reason was not being given performance opportunities. Everyone is talking about the “great educational opportunities” the Firefly offered but other than the occasional school big band and sitting in, it wasn’t much. Between musicians at UM, MSU, Wayne State, WMU and others there are plenty of high level student musicians practically begging for opportunities to be noticed. The programming was lackluster and included unnecessarily repetitious booking of the same great local musicians, but what about more of the great Detroit musicians? Cliff Bell’s, Baker’s, Cadieux Cafe anyone?

I think with a greater variety on the calendar the Firefly may have been able to make ends meet and the public who is so strongly lamenting the loss of a club they didn’t attend may have felt compelled to go!

I am aware that the business of operating a venue, much less a jazz club, is very difficult and requires a tremendous amount of hard work, dedication and love of the music. I just think instead of asking “why is nobody here? let’s book hip-hop, techno, and other music” the problem could have been solved with a little creativity and openness to the tremendous amount of talent in the area.

Hope I haven’t been too repetitive.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:43:49 +0000

Maybe I’m stupid… but, if sales tax was collected and not paid to the state, the owner was at fault, not anyone else. I understand the passion that went into the Firefly Club, but one can’t blame the state of Michigan here. If I don’t pay the taxes due on my house, guess what happens? If I sell merchandise and collect sales tax and then not give the sales tax to the state as required, then I’m at fault. While nobody likes to see a local business fail, and especially one that has generated so much love in the Jazz community, don’t blame the state of Michigan for seizing the assets. Hopefully, something can get worked out.

By: Carol Shepherd

Carol Shepherd — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:17:10 +0000

If any of the jazz lovers out there have any influence with their state representatives or the Governor’s office, now is the time to call in a favor. I highly doubt there is anything to be gained by selling the assets of an empty club — that’s a drop in the bucket, and you’d think it would be in the state’s interest to keep some kind of payments coming in.

By: Tom Brandt

Tom Brandt — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:05:13 +0000

“Buhs said now that the Ann Arbor News is no longer publishing, he’s not sure where they’ll be noticing the auction – possibly in the Detroit Free Press.”

Interesting use of the verb “noticing”!