Stage AE debuts sober space for non-imbibing concertgoers

By: Alexis Papalia
Thursday, July 25, 2024 | 8:00 AM

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A new opportunity is available for live music lovers who want to stay sober.

Stage AE recently became the first Pittsburgh concert venue to provide a permanent “sober space” at all of its events. The North Shore entertainment site partnered with local sponsors to make the resource available at its indoor and outdoor shows.

“Stage AE is always striving to be inclusive to all of our attendees, and evolving to fit their needs,” said Scot Steinecker, president of PromoWest and Stage AE. “We are proud to offer the Sober Sanctuary to ensure everyone enjoying a concert continues to feel included and fully enjoy their time here.”

“We wanted to have an inclusive space and offer resources to concertgoers,” said Dan Garrighan, board member and co-founder of John’s Echo, a nonprofit and co-sponsor of the sober space.

The space debuted earlier this month.

The sectioned-off area will be available to all event attendees, and no special ticket is required to use it.

“This is a safe environment if you’re a concertgoer and you want to connect with like-minded attendees for a substance-free experience or just need a break or a reprieve,” Garrighan said.

John’s Echo is a nonprofit named for Garrighan’s late brother, who passed away as the result of an overdose. They were interested in pursuing a space like the one at Stage AE as a fitting tribute to their namesake.

“He was a tremendous guy, larger than life and very involved in the Pittsburgh music scene through the ’90s and early 2000s,” Garrighan said. “A lot of people were impacted so positively by him. We really wanted to be involved in music, and in live music especially.”

The organization concentrates on serving the unmet needs of those suffering from substance use disorders and going through recovery. That includes clothing, housing, transportation, toiletries and a lot of smaller things that aren’t normally considered by the general public, like providing a sense of inclusion that is often missing for those dealing with addiction.

Garrighan added that live music shows can be a major trigger for those in recovery from substance use disorders.

“Coming up in my own recovery in the early 2000s, there was nothing like this — it was more than difficult. You spend a lot of time in church basements for meetings, but as time goes on, you continue to participate in the things you love and enjoy. That can be really difficult in early recovery. A lot of time is spent just avoiding those places. Some of those are high-risk places that you really do enjoy otherwise.”

Carmen Capozzi, founder and executive director of Irwin-based Sage’s Army, another nonprofit that sponsors the sober space, agreed.

“People who are early in recovery, they’re getting their lives back. They’d like to get back to living. They might not be ready to be sitting around a bunch of people drinking because it can be a trigger. This gives them a safe space.”

The sober space includes mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages for purchase, as well as resources and information on recovery programs for anyone interested in learning more. Representatives from John’s Echo and Sage’s Army will be present at a series of upcoming shows.

“We’ve had a great response from everybody. A lot of people coming up to the tables, some were donating to our cause. The beautiful thing is that conversation, and everybody who comes to our table has a story about how substance use has affected their lives,” Capozzi said.

Capozzi founded Sage’s Army in 2012 after the death of his son, Sage, from an overdose. The organization concentrates on helping those with substance abuse issues and their families “design their recovery” and advocating for those who can’t advocate for themselves.

Garrighan said the venue was highly receptive when presented with the idea of a substance-free haven for shows. “Stage AE was the first place we reached out to and they just ran with it,” he said. He added that they reacted with enthusiasm and added a lot of their own ideas to the conversation.

Capozzi agreed. Sage’s Army reached out to Stage AE about the possibility of a sober space as part of harm reduction initiatives. “(They said) we have some bands who are asking if we have a sober section because they’re in recovery and it’s important to them to provide a recovery section,” he said. “It’s pretty amazing. You don’t see that a lot at other events.”

“We aim to get in on the nonprofit side and see what we can do to make the foundation a little more stable for those in recovery,” Garrighan said.