The live events sector was one of the first to close, and will probably be among the last to completely reopen, the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $100 billion Canadian industry has largely stagnated for more than six months, affecting thousands of employees and threatening the long term of personal institutions.
SaskMusic, which represents Saskatchewan’s music and sound recording industries, said that while some others have returned to limited work, many others are falling behind.
“Many of our highly professional industry members, as we know now, probably wouldn’t be able to repaint for maybe a year in some cases,” said Lorena Kelly, Director of Communications and Operations at SaskMusic.
According to SaskMusic, the industry employs about 3,000 more people in Saskatchewan, without adding waiters or door-to-door staff.
Starting Tuesday, the organization expects an economic loss of up to $6 million for technicians only.
“Everyone needs to get back to work. Not because they need to make a living, yet they lose their jobs . . . that also affects his intellectual health,” Kelly said.
Karen Gwillim worked for a production company in Regina until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and said summer would have been an incredibly busy time, especially as a sound technician for musical events.
“We perceive that some facilities are essential for our survival, and we are not part of that. This is based on a recreational market, but it will be a long journey,” he said.
“Many of us don’t know what the long term will hold for us in terms of how long we can last and we expect some elements of the paintings to return and how much will be spent on other things. “
On Tuesday, the industry held a day of visibility as a show of solidarity for those affected by the prolonged closure.
Inspired by movements in Germany and the United Kingdom, the Light Up Live occasion asked the venues, artists and organizers of the occasion to take pictures of themselves or landmarks with red lighting as a percentage on social media.
We’re red tonight to showcase our industry and Canadian staff at live events that can’t get back to painting yet. More than one million Canadians paint directly in professional sports, entertainment and events. # WeMakeEvents pic. twitter. com / xsRVc7mlU0
– SaskTel Center (@SaskTelCtr) September 23, 2020
In Saskatchewan, the SaskTel Center and TCU Place took part in the event. Both sites were affected by the sudden cancellation of the Juno Awards festivities and their broadcast in March, one of the first major occasions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Regina, the Conexus Arts Center absolutely dressed in red.
“We are part of it, our staff is one of them. Entrepreneurs and everyone who paints with us suffers in this period. That’s why we’re really pleased with the cause,” said Neil Donnelly, CEO of Conexus Arts Center.
– Conexus Arts Center (@conexusartscntr) September 23, 2020
At Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Canada’s most giant screen featured “Light Up Live” in giant letters on a red background. The stadium and the surrounding site of Evraz Place were to host the now-cancelled 2020 CFL Grey Cup championship game.
“It’s several million dollars in the music industry alone, just for all the live occasions that happen. All the bars are full. There are cabarets and all kinds of occasions,” Kelly said.
She said SaskMusic continues to advocate for government investment while pandemic restrictions are in effect, noting that 30% capacity limits are a short-term solution.
“Really, it’s not viable for a personal company and the truth is that many exhibits simply can’t be mounted, whether it’s theatre, dance, music with such a small profit margin,” he said.
Black Cat Tavern in Saskatoon recently resumed live performances on a much smaller scale. Instead of 250 people, the place has a total of 50 people, adding part of the staff.
“We keep it very strong right now, and it’s not the best choice because of the limitations. But we don’t need to close absolutely either, because we can’t stay open for business,” said Vince Geiger, a Booker for the place that’s been down for transitory lately.
“I don’t get paid right now. Many other people in the industry are not paid and there are subsidy systems and many other things for others in the industry, but unfortunately not everyone is eligible.
Geiger said that due to the replacement in the visitor experience, almost all of Black Cat’s limited capacity exhibits are loose: the tavern relies primarily on sales of food and beverages afloat.
Black Cat is also one of dozens of small saskatchewan locations that have benefited from the SaskMusic Venue T-shirt project, which is on a momentary excursion in the coming weeks.
SaskMusic stated that there were positive signs, with live events resumed under the limits of pandemic restrictions. However, the organization argues that these opportunities are incredibly limited for production and artists.
Living to play for the Regina Symphony Orchestra
The Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) is a corporate functionality that does what it can to adapt to a new season within capacity limits.
Instead of acting as usual at the Conexus Arts Center, the RSO will hold its 2020-2021 season at the Cathedral of the Holy Rosary in Regina.
RSO music director Gordon Gerrard said the 150-seat venue has enough area for visitors and artists in the area according to Saskatchewan Health Authority guidelines.
“Now everything is going to be much smaller, more intimate,” Gerrard said, adding that orchestra teams will come with between 30 and 50 musicians at a time.
“We discovered that there is an incredible repertoire that fits this small organization of musicians and that we have never played before and that we will possibly never have the possibility to play again. “
To compensate for limited-capacity shows, Gerrard said the RSO program will be presented 4 times, rather than just one, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, with a Saturday morning.
The RSO has already organized in the cathedral some checkup occasions for a hundred people, all dressed in masks, Free concerts will continue every Saturday at 14. 00 hours. until the season starts on October 15.