The rift between World Cafe Live (WCL) and Philadelphia’s music community remains unresolved, over a month after nearly a dozen workers were fired for their participation in a walk-out aimed at protesting actions by the venue’s new leadership.
Joe Callahan, the entrepreneur appointed to oversee the cherished nonprofit music hall earlier this year, has begun efforts to mend ties. Recently, he and his team agreed to voluntarily recognize two newly-formed labor unions representing WCL’s production and front-of-house staff. In addition, despite previous threats, Callahan’s group has committed to refraining from legal action against those involved in the walk-out.
In a recent town hall meeting held at the University City venue, artists—many of whom have graced the stage at WCL—stressed that further measures are necessary to restore relationships with the community.
“You lost the respect of the collective Philadelphia music community. It’s not too late to try to reverse course and make things right,” said Speedy Ortiz guitarist Andy Molholt, addressing WCL’s leadership team.
“I’m hopeful that you’ll do the right thing, but our trust is going to have to be earned back again.”
The impact of the walk-out is manifesting as bands and other acts are moving their shows in solidarity with the terminated employees. Yet, some, like the Tisburys, continue to perform at the venue while still supporting the workers.
“The music community is networked, not just in Philadelphia, but across the entire country,” remarked songwriter Carsie Blanton.
“If you’ve lost my trust, and I say I’m never playing here, and I tell the musicians I know not to play here, that has a significant financial impact on you as a business.”
Callahan’s journey with WCL began when he received a call from Martha Snider, a philanthropist and ex-wife of the late Ed Snider, head of the Philadelphia Flyers. Snider had been approached by singer Lauren Hart, a member of WCL’s board, concerning the venue’s dire situation.
With WCL facing immense debt and the threat of closure, Callahan stepped in after being informed that the nonprofit was on a precarious financial precipice, losing between $500,000 to $700,000 annually.
In a June interview, Callahan stated that WCL was just days away from potentially shutting down multiple times. Having made significant donations to help keep the music hall open, he became the CEO in the spring, taking over from founder Hal Real.
“I’m a philanthropist, so I lean in and help where people need to be helped,” Callahan expressed.
The employee walk-out transpired during a live performance on June 11. Following the incident, a letter detailing demands for on-time pay, respect, transparency, job security, and a commitment to local artists was issued.
Eleven workers were terminated for what Callahan termed “job abandonment,” while the fired employees assert that they were participating in a legally-protected labor activity.
“I just couldn’t take it anymore,” stated Arely Peña, WCL’s former front-of-house manager and one of the staff members let go.
She described the working conditions as having become “very, very hostile” leading up to the walk-out, citing an incident involving the mishandling of an accident where a kitchen employee severed a finger.
When she confronted leadership about this incident, she felt disrespected.
“It’s hard to explain how much they don’t know what they’re doing and how much they refuse to learn from us,” Peña added.
In his defense, Callahan attributed the turmoil to misleading communication from the previous management, claiming that some staff members attempted to sabotage the transition with “ill intent.”
However, Peña and others contend that they were not “brainwashed” by previous leaders.
Callahan mentioned that the positions vacated during the walk-out were promptly filled, with an influx of 20,000 applications following the incident.
“I wish them nothing but goodwill,” he conveyed to Metro, calling the former employees “a bunch of young kids, to be honest. They’re just kids who are passionate about music and the arts. Hopefully, they will find gainful employment in another facility.”
In a previous article from WHYY, Callahan’s mention of utilizing a metaverse platform was, in his view, distorted, leading the protesting employees to fear for their jobs due to the introduction of technology.
He plans to incorporate artificial intelligence and the metaverse into WCL’s operations while expanding programming to seven days a week, introducing themed events like country and Irish weeks, as well as college ‘battle of the bands.’
“We’re truly living in a renaissance period,” he stated, asserting that technology could help artists express themselves more effectively.
“AI, on its own, is not out there creating art and music. It’s being leveraged by artists and professionals working alongside machines to create something new and of interest.”
The former WCL staff and their supporters continue to voice concerns via the @saveworldcafelive Instagram account, worried about the influence Callahan’s other ventures, including his tech company Ciright and virtual reality platform Sansar, might exert over the nonprofit.
“What’s happening now, it’s so much sadder than if the doors had closed,” Peña lamented.
On Thursday evening, the town hall represented the first time both parties convened since the walk-out, creating an unusual atmosphere.
Attendees were required to sign a lengthy list of terms and conditions before the meeting kicked off with an invocation. A technical glitch prevented the livestream from broadcasting the meeting, causing tension in the venue as audience members expressed skepticism.
As emotions ran high, some guests were visibly unsettled. After the meeting, a confrontation occurred outside the venue between two men that escalated nearly into a physical altercation.
Earlier, university professor Patricia Renee’ Thomas requested an apology for comments made by Grover Washington III, who referred to some individuals as “smart-asses” and used profane language regarding their inquiries.
Thomas expressed her discontent at being addressed in such a manner by a professional.
Washington, listed as WCL’s vice president of production, did not respond positively to her request for an apology.
He announced the launch of a new music education program for youth in Philadelphia during the session.
An employee recently hired shared that 3,600 emails and documents had been deleted during the transition, including artist contracts.
“Every day I come in here, it’s a new nightmare,” he recounted.
Chad Fain, the venue’s new program director, commented on his outreach to approximately 600 agents, managers, artists, and others to clarify WCL’s calendar.
Cortez Dessus, a facilities manager with 10 years of experience at WCL, approached the microphone urging for better communication from the leadership team.
“For the love of God, please give us information so we can do our job,” Dessus pleaded.
While public radio station WXPN and WCL operate from the same building on Walnut Street, they are distinct entities. Roger LaMay, WXPN’s general manager, emphasized the significance of WCL as a partner.
“What’s happened over the last month or so breaks our hearts,” he stated.
“It’s clear that all of us in this room want the same thing. We want a strong, vibrant, well-run World Cafe Live to serve this community and music fans.”
He recognized the necessity for considerable investments to achieve this, acknowledging that revitalizing the business model is essential for sustainability.
“Let’s face it, change is hard,” he concluded.
As the gathering came to an end, Callahan addressed the audience, expressing his deep appreciation for live music.
“There is no one in this room that appreciates live music more than I do. I have heard every word spoken here by everyone,” he said.
“We know we’re going to find a path, and we know that the strength is inside the people,” Callahan emphasized, reinforcing the value of the staff to the organization.
image source from：metrophiladelphia
