Aussie live sector puts forward COVID-safe options

The latest edition of Deloitte Australia’s Media Consumer Survey, released this week, sent out a warning to the live sector.

Of the 2,000 quizzed on their behaviour specific to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions between March and May, 53% expect to attend more live events post restrictions than before.

“The good news is Australians love to be entertained and we want to go back to the same levels, if not greater, than post COVID restriction,” says Leora Nevezie, Deloitte’s media sector leader.

However there were some conditions, one of them being that these events should be safe, putting the onus on the live sector to deliver.

The sector has already put in motion events that show it can be responsible for following health and safety policies.

Sydney’s Night Time Industries Association this week launched a new campaign called Check. Check. Check aimed particularly at the most social of patrons, aged 18—35, to do their part.

It stresses that the routine of going out gigging and clubbing has changed, and the importance that patrons take responsibility to keep things safe by following the hygiene and safety rules that venues have imposed.

The triple CHECK message is:

• CHECK in with your correct details at the door
• CHECK their hands by regularly washing and sanitising
• Keep themselves and their friends safe by keeping their physical distancing ‘in CHECK’

“Check. Check. Check. was created to be easy to remember and create an association with the words for patrons,” association chair Michael Rodrigues explains.

“Similar to Slip, Slop, Slap, but for indoors, the same way venues are prepping for customers before they arrive, punters need to establish new rituals before they leave the house.

“In addition to the usual ‘wallet, keys, phone’ moment most of us have before going out, we now need to also make sure we’ve got sanitiser and mask.”

Promoter XR Events has a concept called Remix Hotel in Brisbane which it plugs as the world’s first COVID-safe music festival.

Held at designer hotel Ovolo The Valley in Fortitude Valley over the October 9 – 11 weekend, punters book two-to-a-room and livestream 16 international acts as Groove Armada, Marshall Jefferson and Jason Bye and locals including Rachel May, Groove Terminator and Mark James.

The mini bar will be completely stocked so there’s minimal contact with the outside world.

Those who want tow wander through the hotel, like the restaurant or poolside will have to adhere to strict rules and will be under the watchful eyes of safety marshals.

“Remix Hotel has been a vision ever since our first lockdown back in March,” says XR Events’ Michael Watt.

“(It) is a new concept that works within COVID-19 guidelines, it’s an entire weekend lifestyle experience like nothing that’s ever been done before.”

Among the City of Newcastle’s safety plans for its new music & arts festival New Annual (February 12 –21) is that events are held at a variety of locations to help keep crowd numbers dispersed.

These will be in City of Newcastle facilities, public spaces, private venues, community hubs and performance spaces.

Over in South Australia, where Music SA’s winter Umbrella Festival of a myriad gigs was scrapped because of coronavirus restrictions, the association came up with the GO LIVE marketing campaign.

The idea to get people out to see SA live music between from September 18 to December 31 is promoted across radio, print, online, and traditional advertising channels, with an online weekly gig guide as the centrepiece.

Music SA had a raft of COVID-safe measures in place, from COVID management plans and COVID marshals for each venue, and a series of outdoor shows and socially distanced picnic-in-parklands shows.

Music SA general manager Kim Roberts emphasises the importance of cities, especially an UNESCO City Of Music like Adelaide, to actively champion its music.

“It’s an important step towards rebuilding what has been lost over the last few months. 

“GO LIVE will also highlight regional events across the state, supporting intrastate travel during what has been a difficult time. 

“It will be an inclusive and exciting period of live music for existing and new music lovers alike.”