Provo Music Town Hall February 2026 Recap

Announcements

The biggest announcement to come out of this town hall is the change of date and time for the town hall meetings. Starting in March, Provo Music Town Hall will now be held on the last Tuesday of every month, still at 3hive, but it will now start at 8 PM. This is a very positive change as it will allow the meeting to be held upstairs on the main level of the record shop. This will provide greater ease of accessibility (no stairs required). The later time will also allow more people to attend, and it will be at a time when there is less foot traffic. Everyone, let’s give Sam of 3hive a collective “Thank you!”

Another big announcement is the establishment of a five-member town hall council. From the onset, the chairs have been filled with temporary members. The first election is taking place in June. John-Ross Boyce is the host, with Jennifer Udom as the secretary. The five seats are currently held by Chac Xol, Fern McKenzie, Quinn Peterson, 3Hive, and The Toaster Oven. 3hive is represented by Sam and Sarah, with The Toaster Oven’s representation being Bly Wallentine and Colin Foy. It should be noted that both 3hive and The Toaster Oven only hold one chair, and the reps are interchangeable between the two people listed per organization. The thought behind this first temporary council is to have representation from a wide range of the scene. From artist, to tech, to producer, to appreciator.

Topic 1

The first topic of discussion revolved around third spaces. The discussion centered on the importance of accessibility when organizing a show or festival at a non-traditional venue space. Next month’s town hall will also have a presentation on how to acquire permits from the city to host shows on city-owned property. There was a productive discussion centered on the great opportunity for inclusivity when organizing a show, as well as the ability to host mixed-genre lineups.

The conversation shifted to when to require pay, when not seek it, and how much to ask for. While the arts are, well, about the art, it is still important to know these things. This boils down to two different categories: when you are putting on/organizing your own show versus when a company/the city is asking you to perform.

The great thing about organizing your own DIY show is the ability to charge a DIY entry. Someone mentioned accepting canned goods that were then donated, as well as clothes for donations. Alternatively, if a company or organization is hosting/sponsoring an event, they should have a budget to pay the artists. There is an inherent awkwardness in trying to put a monetary value on a hobby/passion. Zach Collier’s recommendation for where to start the conversation on how much you should get paid for your first paying gig was, “The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour per band member. The billable hours should include band practice for the show, set up, sound check, the performance, and take down.” He went on to say, “In cases like these, bands shouldn’t accept ‘exposure’ as a valid form of payment.”

Topic 2

Following that, Provo City mayor Marsha Judkins took the floor. She will be the first to tell you that she isn’t very well versed in the local scene. When asked who her favorite local artist/group is, she let us know it is her children and grandchildren who perform at their school concerts. I am excited to see how that changes once I’m able to get her in an UltraVatic pit or a Sego 360 show.

Mayor Judkins expressed her gratitude for the gathering and is very excited to help take part where she can regarding the arts of the city. There was a great deal of conversation surrounding the revival of the Rooftop Concert Series, with hopes that it will return by Summer 2026. What seems to be the biggest holdup is funding from company sponsors, as those things naturally just take time. The mayor said that she doesn’t have much more info than that, as she doesn’t want to get ahead of herself with this. But she reassured us that “wheels are turning. I do not doubt that we will find the money. We, the city, will provide the money if we don’t.”

Additionally, there is an art council within Provo City. Mayor Judkins will try her best to get us more info on that and the potential of Provo Music Town Hall getting a seat on that council. There may be some red tape with the city council members, but Mayor Judkins should provide info for us.

Conclusion

I had the opportunity to speak with the mayor after the town hall wrapped up. I thanked her for her attendance and asked if she had anything she’d like to share. “It is great that there is so much organization. I am really looking forward to doing what I can to help art flourish in the city. We have so much talent here, and I want to see all of the arts have more room in the limelight.”

While I firmly believe no politician should ever be idealized, Mayor Judkins seems alright in my book. It is nice to see a public servant take an interest in all aspects of the public they serve. I am hopeful for the music scene as we step into this era of an organized community.

I hope to see you all there for next month’s town hall meeting, and keep an eye out for Mayor Judkins’ band, Mayoral Elect, at Velour 2026 Summer Battle of the Bands!

[Editor’s Note: Mayor Judkins does not have a band called Mayoral Elect. Yet.]