We aren’t part of the “good ole boys club” or the “Citadel mafia.” We don’t have deep pockets and lawyers on retainer. We are citizen of South Carolina who believe it is time for a change. After all, doing things “the way they have always been done…” is part of the reason we’re this situation.
Let’s do something about that.
LETTER TEMPLATES
Bar Owner Letter to SC Legislators or Governor McMaster
Business Owner Letter to Alcohol Distributors
SC Citizen to Legislators
Amend these letters by adding your personal information.
Some have asked about a “master list” of the state legislators. This is where you will find it.
scstatehouse.gov
- Once there, select Find Your Legislators and enter your address. This will provide a list of for your district.
- They need to hear from BUSINESS OWNERS who operate in their district.
- They need to hear from citizens living in their district who are affected by (or will be affected by) the rising insurance rates.
- They want PERSONAL STORIES. We have been told that form letters have very little impact.
- You could use SMA CEO Roger Netwon’s letter (below) as an EXAMPLE. It shares specific details of his business’ struggle to find affordable insurance.
PLEASE…
💥 Consider sending a RESPECTFUL letter that includes the following…
💥 Your name, name of your business, location of your business, and how long it’s been open…
💥 Briefly describe your business. What makes it special?
💥 2017 insurance rate vs. 2022-2023 rate (or increase percentage)
💥 Who was/is your insurance carrier? Have you recently received a cancellation notice? How long did you have to find a new policy? How many companies have you talked to? How long has it taken to find affordable insurance?
💥 Tell them that we need more balanced lawsuit reform.
💥 Tell them what you think about your business being held liable for other people’s actions.
💥 How do you believe our state leader can help? Ask them to support the SC Justice Act and the SC Save Our Venues Act.
Our economy depends on it.
For those who would rather just fill in a few blanks, here is a template. Copy and paste into the body of an email and revise it for your needs. THANKS!
From: Roger Newton <rnewton@crowdpleaser.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 9:31 AM
Subject: SPARTANBURG MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM ALCOHOL SALES
To recap:
Aug 4-we received cancellation notice from our liquor insurance company.
Oct 6-cancellation date
Oct 10-Received the Notice of Intent to Cancel from state of SC.
I spoke with the state this morning. This notice is not a revocation or suspension of our license. We have until Jan 2 to secure insurance or face a suspension or possible loss of our license. From now until then or until we get insurance, we cannot sell alcohol.
We have been trying to get insurance since Aug 4. Because we are a public assembly venue and not a bar or restaurant, I am being told that the pool of possible insurers is even more limited. I guess they view us as a higher risk. I would argue that we are actually a lower risk. We charge more for beverages, our fans don’t sit at a table or bar and drink one right after another. We shut sales off when the main act goes on stage. Etc. You get the point. Yet, I am told there are only 3-5 available companies willing to give us quotes.
I have surveyed other theaters and arenas in the state and they all have some type of arrangement with a third party contractor. That party holds the liquor license and secures the insurance. To my knowledge, we are the unique publicly owned public assembly venue in the state who does our own f/b. I have tried explaining that to Columbia to no avail.
All I have so far after over two months of searching are a couple of verbal quotes. I have yet to have anything in writing. One is for $100k in premium. One is for $50k in premium. Last year we had a RECORD YEAR SELLING ALCOHOL. WE DID $202K IN ALCOHOL SALES. Our liquor premium last year was $1,200 dollars. It doesn’t take a genius long to figure out that paying $100k for a policy and doing $200k in sales makes no business sense. Yet, if we don’t sell alcohol to events, the promoters bringing us events have no incentive to bring us shows and the public expecting to enjoy an adult beverage will be less likely to buy tickets.
To be blunt, and not a slight to our other events that we value greatly, but we will again be the home of dance competitions in the Spring, the occasional home and garden show, the occasional banquet, etc. Our Broadway shows, our concerts, will probably go away.
Ironically, our momentum over the past year has been headed in the right direction. People in the community are excited to come to events. We have had several sellouts this past year. Just yesterday, a major Spartanburg economic development person told me that what we are doing is helping Spartanburg attract industries and businesses to the county.
Our next alcohol event is a Broadway show on Nov 3. I remain hopeful that some company will write us a policy by then.
I have contacted and talked to everyone I know except my elected officials. They are next on my call list.
My apologies for the ranting but you can get a sense of my frustration.”
F. Roger Newton
CEO
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
SC Venue Crisis 
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