Papers please: Bands now have a rehearsal document to show police in lockdown

As venues in several states prepare to re-open their doors for post-COVID concerts (sorry, not you Victoria), bands need to stay lean, mean and keen for the road ahead.

Practice makes perfect.

Now, artists have the document to prove it.

Adrian McGruther and Uda Widanapathirana of Sydney-based artist management company su:ku:ya have teamed up with Brett Oaten Solicitors to prepare a draft letter for bands to use should police come to shut down band rehearsals.

In it, the document assures the reader that the musicians are in a place of work and respecting the health and safety rules that are in place.

The musicians “are self employed. An essential part of their operation is rehearsals as a group,” the draft reads.

“The band are very closely aware of the current social distancing requirements and other new laws and regulations around gatherings and leaving a place of residence only for essential purposes.”

Live music is coming back

The letter, which is pasted in full below, can be signed by any representative of the band, or their lawyer.

The timing is sweet. From tomorrow night (July 11), Brisbane’s The Zoo will open its doors to 100 punters, twice each night, for its Anti-Social series of shows.

The Zoo’s scaled-back shows come as Australia’s live community forms an alliance with the sports sector on the Live Entertainment Industry Forum, which will develop industry standard guidelines around the reactivation of concerts, from cleaning and sanitisation, to crowd management, social distancing, health monitoring and contact tracing.

And later this year, New South Wales will host 1,000 gigs under the “Great Southern Nights” program.

Australia’s music community has been savaged by the health crisis, which has contributed to more than $340 million in lost income, according to the I Lost My Gig platform.

Su:ku:ya has a lot riding on the long-awaited return of live music. Its roster includes singer-songwriter Gordi, rising producer Willaris. K, garage punk band Pleasure Coma, psych rock band Micra, producer / songwriter James Christowski, producer and songwriter Tasker, and Melbourne via Iceland producer Paradise Estrange.

Download the band rehearsal draft letter here and see below.

Band Rehearsal Letter COVID-19

DATE

To Whom It May Concern

*insert band name*  – MUSICAL GROUP REHEARSAL FOR WORK AND EMPLOYMENT

I represent the *enter city name* performing group by the name of *enter band name*

They trade under the name *enter trading name*, with ABN *****

They are self employed. An essential part of their operation is rehearsals as a group. The band are very closely aware of the current social distancing requirements and other new laws and regulations around gatherings and leaving a place of residence only for essential purposes.

I have discussed their rehearsal plans with the band and they have assured me they will adhere to social distancing requirements when in rehearsals and will act with the highest caution while travelling to and from rehearsal. 

Outside of rehearsal, the group conduct all their activities remotely (e.g. by phone or video conference).

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Kind Regards,

*name of representative*

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