Help Dan's Jukebox Comedy Club Rise from the Rubble

I'm Dan Conlin. I eat, sleep and dream comedy as the owner of Jukebox Comedy Club in Peoria, Illinois. We are one of the 15 longest-running clubs in the country, approaching our 35th anniversary in November. I hope we make it to that milestone and far beyond! That quest, however, is in serious jeopardy.

I did not want to post this fundraiser. Comics, customers, employees and family who know my plight have prodded me to to tell my story and ask for help. Most of them know how hard I've tried to find alternative financing. At every step I have been rejected. Even my bank of 40 plus years won't float me a home equity loan for a mortgage I've been paying for 27 years. I have equity and good credit but very little income to show since 2020.

The fundraiser I posted in December of 2020, during the height of the pandemic, saved the club and I will forever be thankful for all those who helped. In 2020 and 2021 I closed for the 6 months recommended by state and local health officials PLUS an additional 6 months to allow for as many people as possible to get vaccinated. For that I risked everything I had, but it was the right decision for me since I had SO many high-risked loved ones in my life...employees and family and those who I may never know that I didn't want to put at risk. It was my choice. I pass no judgement on businesses that didn't follow my course.

I've always lived a modest life. I don't do drugs or gamble. I rarely drink. I don't wear fancy clothes. I have NO luxuries in my life. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't blow money on crap I don't need. I'm just an ordinary guy with cats, a goat and a dream that has lasted longer than I ever thought possible. I've been here for every show since buying the club.

After re-opening in July of 2021 we saw steady growth.

2022 was 10% more than 2021 and 2023 was 25% better than 2022. Then a freak accident in April of 2024 set us back.

A delivery driver accidental smashed his truck into our huge, lighted sign out front near the road. It took 7 months and 2 days for a new sign to be installed. The Department of Transportation says that over 10,000 vehicles pass by the club each day! I received countless calls from people asking if the club was still open. I'd say YES, why do you ask? Every time they'd say, "Well, I drove by the club and the sign was missing so I thought you might be closed!" How many others who never called thought the same thing?? That double-sided, lighted marquis has always been very important, though easily taken for granted. During those 7 months, over 2 million vehicles passed by the empty sign! Our growth from the last 3 years reversed.

Growth started to return after the new sign was installed, culminating in one of our best weekends ever when all-time great Louis CK sold out 3 shows on April 5th and 6th of this year!

He also generously praised the club at the end of his final show! He was a God-send in more ways than you know. We had money in the bank and a little pep in the step. Finally, there seemed to be some light ahead...BUT THEN, 9 days later on April 15th, my building directly adjacent to the comedy club, collapsed. We were extremely fortunate that the collapse didn't damage the club. This is the view standing on top of the comedy club looking down at the hole.

I was devastated.

In 2021 the insurance company stopped insuring the roof determining that the roof needed replacing. I didn't have $60,000 to immediately replace it but knew it was going to be a needed at some point. Never would I ever have thought that it would collapse. Turns out a structural flaw when it was built 65 years ago led to the truss failure.

The entire cleanup is at my expense and if you've ever priced a structural engineer, you know the good ones are not cheap.

Tens of thousands of dollars later, I am head over my heels in debt, behind on my home mortgage, which I've NEVER been behind on, Ameren tripled their billing in June, July and August (HOW is that even possible???), so the power might be shut off this week. To the point, it's been hell.

If not for local comics, friends and family working for free, I would be even more in debt. I owe them SO much gratitude.

I LOVE them all.

I realize many of you are struggling as well, living month to month or even day to day. I feel for each and every one of you.

All I ever wanted was to keep people laughing. I wanted to have a place that I loved and pay my bills. I never cared if there was much left over after paying the bills. I would happily retire with nothing in the bank if it meant that we could laugh together for the rest of my days.

If you can help, I humbly thank you. If not, I get it. I thank you for reading this far. :) Just know that money will be used to bounce back, re-start this journey and give the club the TLC that it so desperately needs. By the way, a local comic and artist are painting the front of the building starting with the door. :)

I will never forget their kindness or yours. I pray I see you on the other side of this mess. Take care until.

Dan

p.s.

I'm setting a modest goal. Sadly, the actual amount needed is much more. Let's see what we can do!