I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7806 
To establish a grant program for small live venue operators and talent 
representatives. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 27, 2020 
Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. WILLIAMS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Small Business 
A BILL 
To establish a grant program for small live venue operators 
and talent representatives. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Save our Stages Act’’ 
or the ‘‘SOS Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVE VENUE OPERA-
TORS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Small Busi-
ness Administration. 
(2) ELIGIBLE
OPERATOR, PROMOTER, PRO-
DUCER, OR TALENT REPRESENTATIVE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘eligible op-
erator, promoter, producer, or talent represent-
ative’’ means a live venue operator or producer 
or promoter or a talent representative that 
meets the following requirements: 
(i) The live venue operator or pro-
ducer or promoter or the talent representa-
tive was fully operational as a live venue 
operator or producer or promoter or talent 
representative on February 29, 2020. 
(ii) As of the date of the grant under 
this section— 
(I) the live venue operator or 
producer or promoter is organizing, 
promoting, producing, managing, or 
hosting future events described in 
paragraph (4)(A)(i); or 
(II) the talent representative is 
representing or managing artists and 
entertainers. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(iii) The venues at which the live 
venue operator or producer or promoter 
promotes, produces, manages, or hosts 
events described in paragraph (4)(A)(i) or 
the artists and entertainers represented or 
managed by the talent representative per-
form have the following characteristics: 
(I) A defined performance and 
audience space. 
(II) A mixing desk, public ad-
dress system, and lighting rig. 
(III) Employs not less than 2 of 
the following: 
(aa) A sound engineer. 
(bb) A booker. 
(cc) A promoter. 
(dd) A stage manager. 
(ee) Security personnel. 
(ff) A box office manager. 
(IV) There is a paid ticket or 
cover charge to attend most perform-
ances and artists are paid fairly and 
do not play for free or solely for tips, 
except for legitimate fundraisers or 
similar charitable events. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(V) For a venue owned or oper-
ated by a nonprofit entity that pro-
duces free events, the events are pro-
duced and managed by paid employ-
ees, not by volunteers. 
(VI) Performances are marketed 
through listings in printed or elec-
tronic publications, on websites, by 
mass email, or on social media. 
(iv) The live venue operator or pro-
ducer or promoter or the talent representa-
tive does not have, or is not majority 
owned or controlled by an entity with, 
more than 1 of the following characteris-
tics: 
(I) Being an issuer, the securities 
of which are listed on a national secu-
rities exchange. 
(II) Owning or operating venues 
or talent agencies or talent manage-
ment companies with offices in more 
than 1 country. 
(III) Owning or operating venues 
in more than 10 States. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(IV) Employing more than 500 
employees, determined on a full-time 
equivalent basis in accordance with 
subparagraph (B). 
(V) Receiving more than 10 per-
cent of gross revenue from Federal 
funding. 
(B) CALCULATION OF FULL-TIME EMPLOY-
EES.—For purposes of determining the number 
of full-time equivalent employees under sub-
paragraph (A)(iv)(IV)— 
(i) any employee working not fewer 
than 30 hours per week shall be considered 
a full-time employee; and 
(ii) any employee working not fewer 
than 10 hours and fewer than 30 hours 
per week shall be counted as one-half of a 
full-time employee. 
(3) EXCHANGE; ISSUER; SECURITY.—The terms 
‘‘exchange’’, ‘‘issuer’’, and ‘‘security’’ have the 
meanings given such terms in section 3(a) of the Se-
curities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)). 
(4) LIVE VENUE OPERATOR OR PRODUCER OR 
PROMOTER.—The term ‘‘live venue operator or pro-
ducer or promoter’’— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(A) means an individual or entity that— 
(i) as not less than 70 percent of the 
operations of the person, organizes, pro-
motes, sells tickets produces, manages, or 
hosts live concerts, comedy shows, theat-
rical productions, or other events by per-
forming artists and applies cover charge 
through ticketing or front door entrance 
fee; or 
(ii) makes tickets to events described 
in clause (i) available for purchase by the 
public an average of not less than 60 days 
before the date of the event and pays per-
formers in an event described in clause (i) 
in an amount that is based on a percent-
age of sales, guarantee (in writing or 
standard contract), or another mutually 
beneficial formal agreement; and 
(B) includes an individual or entity de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) that— 
(i) operates for profit or as a non-
profit; 
(ii) is government-owned; or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(iii) is a corporation, limited liability 
company, or partnership or operated as a 
sole proprietorship. 
(5) NATIONAL
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE.—The 
term ‘‘national securities exchange’’ means an ex-
change registered as a national securities exchange 
under section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78f). 
(6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) a State; 
(B) the District of Columbia; 
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 
and 
(D) any other territory or possession of the 
United States. 
(7) TALENT REPRESENTATIVE.—The term ‘‘tal-
ent representative’’— 
(A) means an agent or manager that— 
(i) as not less than 70 percent of the 
operations of the agent or manager, is en-
gaged in representing or managing artists 
and entertainers; 
(ii) books musicians, comedians, ac-
tors, or similar performing artists pri-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
marily in independent venues or at fes-
tivals; and 
(iii) represents performers described 
in clause (ii) that are paid in an amount 
that is based on the number of tickets sold, 
or a similar basis; and 
(B) includes an agent or manager de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) that— 
(i) operates for profit or as a non-
profit; 
(ii) is government-owned; or 
(iii) is a corporation, limited liability 
company, or partnership or operated as a 
sole proprietorship. 
(b) AUTHORITY.— 
(1) INITIAL GRANTS.—The Administrator may 
make initial grants to eligible operators, promoters, 
and talent representatives in accordance with this 
section. 
(2) SUPPLEMENTAL
GRANTS.—The Adminis-
trator may make a supplemental grant in accordance 
with this section to an eligible operator, promoter, 
producer, or talent representative that receives a 
grant under paragraph (1) if, as of December 1, 
2020, the revenues of the eligible operator, pro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
moter, producer, or talent representative for the 
most recent calendar quarter are not more than 20 
percent of the revenues of the eligible operator, pro-
moter, producer, or talent representative for the cor-
responding calendar quarter during 2019 due to the 
COVID–19 pandemic. 
(c) AMOUNT.— 
(1) INITIAL
GRANTS.—A grant under sub-
section (b)(1) shall be in the amount equal to the 
lesser of— 
(A) the amount equal to 45 percent of the 
gross revenue of the eligible operator, promoter, 
producer, or talent representative during 2019; 
(B) for an eligible operator, promoter, pro-
ducer, or talent representative that began oper-
ations after January 1, 2019, the amount equal 
to the product obtained by multiplying— 
(i) the average monthly gross revenue 
for each full month during which the entity 
was in operation during 2019; by 
(ii) 6; or 
(C) $12,000,000. 
(2) SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS.—A grant under 
subsection (b)(2) shall be in the amount equal to 50 
percent of the grant received by the eligible operator, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
promoter, producer, or talent representative under 
subsection (b)(1). 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) TIMING.— 
(A) EXPENSES INCURRED.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), amounts received under a 
grant under this section may be used for 
costs incurred during the period beginning 
on March 1, 2020, and ending on Decem-
ber 31, 2020. 
(ii) EXTENSION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL 
GRANTS.—If an eligible operator, pro-
moter, producer, or talent representative 
receives a grant under subsection (b)(2), 
amounts received under either grant under 
this section may be used for costs incurred 
during the period beginning on March 1, 
2020, and ending on June 30, 2021. 
(B) EXPENDITURE.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), an eligible operator, pro-
moter, producer, or talent representative 
shall return to the Administrator any 
amounts received under a grant under this 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
section that are not expended on or before 
the date that is 1 year after the date of 
disbursement of the grant. 
(ii) EXTENSION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL 
GRANTS.—If an eligible operator, pro-
moter, producer, or talent representative 
receives a grant under subsection (b)(2), 
the eligible operator, promoter, producer, 
or talent representative shall return to the 
Administrator any amounts received under 
either grant under this section that are not 
expended on or before the date that is 18 
months after the date of disbursement to 
the eligible operator, promoter, producer, 
or talent representative of the grant under 
subsection (b)(1). 
(2) ALLOWABLE EXPENSES.—An eligible oper-
ator, promoter, producer, or talent representative 
may use amounts received under a grant under this 
section for— 
(A) payroll costs for employees and fur-
loughed employees, including— 
(i) costs for continuation coverage 
provided pursuant to part 6 of subtitle B 
of title I of the Employee Retirement In-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
come Security Act of 1974 (other than 
under section 609), title XXII of the Pub-
lic Health Service Act, section 4980B of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other 
than subsection (f)(1) of such section inso-
far as it relates to pediatric vaccines), or 
section 8905a of title 5, United States 
Code, or under a State program that pro-
vides comparable continuation coverage, 
other than coverage under a health flexible 
spending arrangement under a cafeteria 
plan within the meaning of section 125 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or 
(ii) any other non-cash benefit; 
(B) rent; 
(C) utilities; 
(D) mortgage interest payments on exist-
ing mortgages as of February 15, 2020; 
(E) scheduled interest payments on other 
scheduled debt as of February 15, 2020; 
(F) costs related to personal protective 
equipment; 
(G) payments of principal on outstanding 
loans; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(D) for contributions or expenditures to, or 
on behalf of, any political party, party com-
mittee, or candidate for elective office; or 
(E) for any other use as may be prohibited 
by the Administrator. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000,000 to carry 
out this section. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:47 Aug 22, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H7806.IH
H7806
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS