LEIF publishes first COVID-Safe Guidelines for events sector
The Live Entertainment Industry Forum (LEIF), which represents Australia’s biggest concert promoters, has released its first COVID-Safe Guidelines.
Formed in June this year, LEIF’s said its mission is to support the COVID-Safe reactivation of events with live audiences across Australia as restrictions are eased.
The forum is working with governments, sporting bodies, venues and audiences to “build confidence” in the industry’s preparedness to operate safely after restrictions ease.
The LEIF COVID-Safe Guidelines have been prepared by a network of industry experts from more than 50 organisations and includes industry-wide measures to protect crew and punters.
The new guidelines cover cleaning and sanitisation, crowd management, physical distancing, health monitoring and the all-important contact tracing.
LEIF worked with government and health agencies, but warned the advice should be “viewed as a guide only” to assist the industry in their preparation for the return of live.
They also stressed that each venue and event organiser remains responsible for developing their own risk management plan relevant to their business and jurisdiction.
Australia’s biggest music, sport and entertainment promoters hired former Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland on June 6 to restart the $150 billion live events industry.
Sutherland said the collective is committed to ensuring the industry have the safest, staged and most considered route back to full employment, which can’t come soon enough.
“These Guidelines have been developed by LEIF to provide guidance, support and a point of reference to live entertainment venues, event promoters and service providers to reactivate live events in a COVID-Safe way,” Sutherland said in a statement.
LEIF recently applauded the Government in particular for its $75 million for live music, the $90 million pledged in loans, and its commitment to a roadmap to recovery for the sector.
But the newly-formed organisation also acknowledged that “there is still a long way to go” until the show can get back on the road and events become economically viable for the sector.
The guidelines are released today ahead of the Event Summit on October 14, where LEIF will unveil the first-ever study on the economic contribution of the live industry in Australia.
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