Post Lockdown Gigs w/Poll

[Helix]

After the “Lockdown” ends in the states that are enforcing them, what immediate changes do you see happening to the venues that hosts live music?

Will there be temporary rule’s, such as wearing masks during shows or some sort of social distancing / cutting the number of people allowed in a venue?

Or will it be business as usual when they open back up?

Thoughts?

 

[garp]

I see two distinct things happening:

• A large number of smaller, local venues never opening their doors again. Sadly, despite the best intentions of some people in positions of power, the economic lifeline recently-crafted to keep many American small businesses afloat was thrown just a few yards too short, and a few seconds too late. In fact, three venues in my county have already thrown in the towel and are gone for good. Those small businesses that do reopen will struggle with cash flow for quite some time due to decreased traffic.
• A gradual, phased-in reopening of bigger, well-financed venues, accompanied by the temporary rules that you referenced: non-touch infrared temperature screening of patrons; strictly-enforced occupancy limits; etc. There's a huge potential liability issue here that insurance underwriters have never had to wrestle with previously, and some venues will decide that the premiums are prohibitively expensive.

 

[Spidey2112]

I'm hopeful venue's offering live music will rebound...

... and Corona bucket specials will be promoted at prices lower than the average cost of a gallon of gas.*

* The limes, on the other hand, will cost you dearly.

 

[Helix]

I'm getting a lot of comments of the urge to get these venues back open within my community. I really have a feeling, at least in my neck of the woods, attendance will be really good when the venues open back up.

But I think at first, there's going to be some restrictions / rule changes that are going to go with large attendance

Of course I could be wrong

 

[Spidey2112]

I think a lot of society has become used to 'instant gratification, and I want it yesterday'...

... this will definitely require a collective patience, but after that...

... the sky is the limit. The light at the end of the tunnel will be so bright, we will all have to wear shades. And Gilligan's Island will make a resurgence as one of the best shows ever made.

Ok, maybe not the first two... but, definitely the latter.

 

[GregC]

I find it really hard to say. If people try to go from lockdown to full steam ahead right away, it will be disastrous IMO and require another lockdown. Plus, there’s reason to believe that, barring some remarkable medical advances before October, this thing could come back in the fall. I hate saying that, because I want to get back to going to shows and gigging myself, and I want my favorite local venues to survive. But I think it’s going to be a really tough road for live music.until we truly have this virus under control.

 

[Helix]

I find it really hard to say. If people try to go from lockdown to full steam ahead right away, it will be disastrous IMO and require another lockdown. Plus, there’s reason to believe that, barring some remarkable medical advances before October, this thing could come back in the fall. I hate saying that, because I want to get back to going to shows and gigging myself, and I want my favorite local venues to survive. But I think it’s going to be a really tough road for live music.until we truly have this virus under control.

Agreed

 

[RickyRocknRoll]

I don't see myself gigging this year. I think it's going to be a gradual, long painful process. Some venues are going to close forever, bars will need a few weeks - if not months - to recover from this, I don't see them hiring and paying for bands the minute this lockdown is called off. Already, all this situation has me making drastic changes on how to live, to do things. Things are gonna get back to "normal" at some point, but it's going to be different, not like before.

 

[Carl Hillman]

After the “Lockdown” ends in the states that are enforcing them, what immediate changes do you see happening to the venues that hosts live music?

Will there be temporary rule’s, such as wearing masks during shows or some sort of social distancing / cutting the number of people allowed in a venue?

Or will it be business as usual when they open back up?

Thoughts?

It will not be business as usual until there is an effective vaccine

A Department of Health and Human Services report says this could last 18 months. The next year and a half could include multiple waves of illness.

Unfortunately, with an election coming up, this administration is champing at the bit to get the economy back up and running, and may try to do so by promoting the premature easing of social distancing measures.

I think we're going to be playing whack-a-mole with this virus well into the fall. In the mean time, barring more financial support from the government, the service/hospitality sector of the economy will be decimated.

Just spreading little rays of sunshine...

 

[arbiterusa]

After the “Lockdown” ends in the states that are enforcing them, what immediate changes do you see happening to the venues that hosts live music?

OP, you live in CA too. The lockdown is going to go on for far longer than most people want to admit (try 18 months for limited reopening, 2 years minimum for a return to "normal", which won't be - it sure won't be this summer, the first and only thing I see "reopening" in the fall is possibly the schools in September) and that at this point even if you lifted everything, without a vaccine (18 months out by the most wildly optimistic projections) consumers are going to vote with their feet...and stay home and locked down voluntarily if they can do so.

Personally, until someone comes up with a vaccine for this disease, I'm not playing, or going out to bars, or eating in restaurants. Or going anywhere save the grocery store when I absolutely must. Period. It's not worth my life and it's especially not worth the life of my spouse (asthmatic) and it's not our duty to die for the economy.

As far as the live venues I was playing at weekly before everything shut down, at this point half of them are closed and not reopening. I expect by summer 90% will be closed and not reopening, and the only ones who will be able to hang in there are the few that own their own buildings. Will gigs come back? Yeah, I believe in that so much I just bought two more basses today. And I expect to be playing them in front of people sometime around 2023-2025.

 

[lokikallas]

1. Half the bars are going to be out of business.
2. People will be hesitant to gather in groups (I know I will be apprehensive)

 

[mark roberts]

I see two distinct things happening:

• A large number of smaller, local venues never opening their doors again. Sadly, despite the best intentions of some people in positions of power, the economic lifeline recently-crafted to keep many American small businesses afloat was thrown just a few yards too short, and a few seconds too late. In fact, three venues in my county have already thrown in the towel and are gone for good. Those small businesses that do reopen will struggle with cash flow for quite some time due to decreased traffic.
• A gradual, phased-in reopening of bigger, well-financed venues, accompanied by the temporary rules that you referenced: non-touch infrared temperature screening of patrons; strictly-enforced occupancy limits; etc. There's a huge potential liability issue here that insurance underwriters have never had to wrestle with previously, and some venues will decide that the premiums are prohibitively expensive.

I have to agree with this. Whereas, there will be people very interested in gathering, socializing, etc., these two points sum up the possible challenges that venues and performers may face. If costs rise, prices rise.

The “L-word”, liability could be a major game-changer for everyone, everywhere.

 

[Clark W]

After the “Lockdown” ends in the states that are enforcing them, what immediate changes do you see happening to the venues that hosts live music?

Will there be temporary rule’s, such as wearing masks during shows or some sort of social distancing / cutting the number of people allowed in a venue?

Or will it be business as usual when they open back up?

Thoughts?

There will be a business explosion. Where I live we can hardly get people to stay home now. What do you think will happen when you tell them that they can go to bars, restaurants and movie theatres again?

I'm not saying that's the smart thing to do, but then people aren't being very smart now. I doubt in a few weeks or so that they will have wised up any.

 

[Gearhead17]

All it takes is one bar to host a large gathering and everyone comes down with Covid-19. That's my worry right now. I don't know if this will ever return to "normal"

 

[lowphatbass]

I’m in CA. I feel lucky in a sense that this state took aggressive measures early...my County actually imposed shelter in place before it was State wide. My initial thought was that CA will be more aggressively cautious on the back end in terms of opening things up. I’m now considering the possibility that once this thing runs it’s course the mindset will be more universal across the country...but who knows.
I’m fortunate that the majority of my good paying gigs are weddings, private parties, fundraisers for non-profits and corporate events. I’m sure the corporate events will be slow to come back...much like 2008. The club gigs we do are fun and keep the band tight. The venues are typically under 200 people...we’ll just have to see when/if they come back.

 

[DavC]

normal = when we've all had a vaccine ..!??!

we have some normal summer gigs where there's a banquet type setup ... that doesn't sound very smart ..!!??

then having folks crowded around tables .. ??

even handling / putting up / tearing down gear could be an issue for spreading whatever ..?? as we all grab stuff to wind up and move about .. as if our own mics aren't already enough of a 'petri dish' ..!!

having 100% access to some kind of Instant test would help , along with a good amount of Herd immunity ... that way folks that are sick will/should stay home ...

getting out and about to fast will start this crap all over again ..!! making a bit of noise for a few bucks doesn't justify killing friends/fans ..!??

 

[Ggaa]

Yes, in the venues that actually reopen.

 

[Renaissance]

We do mainly festivals, summer concert series, etc. Until there is a vaccine I don't see too many cities being willing to promote large gatherings of people. IMHO anything that tries to "restart" too soon will be making a huge mistake.

 

[pbassnut]

I don't see myself gigging this year. I think it's going to be a gradual, long painful process. Some venues are going to close forever, bars will need a few weeks - if not months - to recover from this, I don't see them hiring and paying for bands the minute this lockdown is called off. Already, all this situation has me making drastic changes on how to live, to do things. Things are gonna get back to "normal" at some point, but it's going to be different, not like before.

I'm planning to be down until there is either a vaccine or a REALLY effective treatment and will be very pleasantly surprised otherwise.

 

[Michedelic]

Another way of viewing things, although this concerns the short run situation...
https://www.cbc.ca/music/i-am-menta...t-s-like-to-be-a-musician-right-now-1.5524202