Monday nights are going to be a little bit quieter behind Marks Tower next semester.
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Ground Zero, a performance cafe connected to the abandoned Trojan Floor, is getting torn down before next semester. Overtime it had become a place where students from any background or any level of experience could come together to create and appreciate art. This venue housed some big names such as Alec Benjamin and 24K Goldn, and holds a special place in these students’ hearts.
Ground Zero regular Lyra Steiner reflects on Open-Mic Night’s significance to her freshman experience.
LYRA STEINER: I think it was a really great space like coming to USC at first. I wanted to get involved with music and everything, but because there wasn’t a music major, I didn’t really know how. And so it was just a great space to sort of meet people and perform in a way that wasn’t exclusive or wasn’t like you didn’t have to have connections to get into already. And it was just a really great community space.
Freshman Nina Lu emphasizes what makes Ground Zero different from other creative spaces and why it will be missed.
NINA LU: It’s one of the very few spaces on campus where where a lot of students of color can put their creative work out there and be seen. And there is such a strong community of like half of us there. And it’s really frustrating to see that one community that we have that’s really strong and really centered around art be taken away from us.
Open-mic night could still possibly continue at Tommy’s Place, but students feel Ground Zero holds more significance.
STEINER: I think it can still be special if it’s moved to another place, but the venue is it’s just really unique and interesting. And another big part of the music community at USC and everyone who comes just absolutely adores the venues, so I don’t think it should be moved. [00:00:49][13.5]
After much encouragement from her fellow creators, Lu decided it was time to take action.
LU: I mean, my initial initial reaction was shock because I didn’t think they would actually bulldoze it down. But I guess it’s really happening. Yeah, because a lot of people were like, or that my friends that were near me, they were saying, ‘If we want something if we want to prevent this, we should start a petition.’
Grace Grover, audio technician for both Tommy’s Place and Ground Zero, compares the two.
GRACE GROVER: Well, I work shows at ground zero and Tommy’s Place. Tommy’s Place is definitely a great venue. But Ground Zero feels a little bit more like cozy. It feels like a safer place, I think, for a lot of performers when they do open my stuff. Because it feels more secluded, it feels more private, and I think that gives people confidence.
However, Grover also sees benefits in upgrading the venue.
GROVER: For stuff like first Friday, that’s going to be way better at Tommy’s place. Like, it’s a way bigger stage, they’re going to get better lighting, they can have a bigger crowd.
So while Ground Zero might be gone, its spirit will continue to live on through the music... the words... the laughs...