UK music venues plan to kickstart live music with digital health passport

Despite most of the UK still operating under stage 4 lockdown restrictions, a new app has been developed to help kickstart the live music economy.

London-based startup You Check has developed a software that aims to aid the re-opening of live music venues across the UK as the sector plans its recovery using track and trace software.

Dubbed “digital health passport” – the software offers door staff a means to verify a punters name, age, ticket and prior test result in one place. It also strives to provide a communication link between promoters and their audiences beyond the primary ticket buyer.

The system has developed a notification system to work alongside track and trace by connecting live music attendees to their accompanying test result data.

You Check developed the app alongside the Music Venue Trust (MVT), who released a study determining that over 400 grassroots music venues across the country are facing impending permanent closure.

“We’re working, not exclusively, with Innova in terms of testing – technology that looks for a viral load high enough to be contagious with 97 per cent plus accuracy,” Fred Krefting, founder and COO at You Check recently told Event Industry News. 

Future concert-attendees will be directed to coronavirus test facilities, and their results will be loaded onto the app.

“With Covid-19 the incubation period is two to five days. For the honeymoon phase after the test, it’s the shorter the better, which means you’re good to go to a show for 48 hours.” Krefting elaborated, “It’s important to work alongside government when running these pilots and we’re grateful to the DCMS for giving us the go-ahead.”

The trials will take place at 25% capacity shows at London’s 100 Club and Bristol’s 250 capacity venue Exchange in March.

“You Check’s identity first solution has a lot of potential to help venues and promoters manage risk,” adds Music Venue Trust CEO, Mark Davyd.

“It has a fast and thorough authentication process which enables health information to be stored against portable digital identity and Music Venue Trust is pleased to be working with You Check to explore how this technology might form part of a comprehensive process which enables us to reopen every venue safely.”

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.