Benefit for musicians' insurance is Oct. 2

published September 6, 2007

originally published at: news8austin.com

Mayor Will Wynn announced the second annual HAAM Benefit Day is Tuesday, Oct. 2.

More than 150 businesses have already signed up to take part. They will donate five percent of their sales to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, which provides primary healthcare for some 800 working musicians in Austin. Most of them are under 35.

There are more than 8,000 musicians in Austin that contribute more than $1 billion to the local economy each year. That produces $25 million in local tax revenue, Wynn said.

"When I arrived here, I had a problem. I had a problem with not being able to afford healthcare, let alone dental. And some of you musicians know how we play all night long and give joy but at the end of the night you know the money we got to even buy food with sometimes is not always easy," singer LZ Love said.

Last year's HAAM Benefit Day raised $107,000, including matching grants.

Participating businesses include:
Continental Club
Sweetish Hill Bakery
Book People
Therapy
Antone's
Spark's Cards and Gifts
Ruby's BBQ
Austin Visitors Center
Longhorn Collision Center
Strait Music Company
Guero's Taco Bar
Threadgill's World Headquarters
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe
Hotel San Jose
Jo's Coffee Shop
By George
Zanzibar
Mecca Gym and Spa
Blue Star Cafeteria
Mariposas Spanish for Kids
Artz Rib House
Sam's Town Point
Allandale Painter's Supply
Birds Barbershop
Iguana Grill
Room 710
Wyndham Garden Hotel
Flipnotics Coffeespace Cafe
El Interior
Gallery Lombardi
Las Manitas
Ranch 616
Bess
Cafe Josie
Cheapo Disc
Eclectic
El Sol Y La Luna
Mars
Stubb's BBQ
Shoal Creek Saloon
Irie Bean Coffee Bar
BD Riley's
Evangeline Cafe
Lost in Austin Productions
The Melting Pot Restaurant
The Belmont
Red Fez
Antone's Record Shop
Hill's Cafe
The Side Bar
Panera Bread