COVID-Proofing Your Venue

While a return to the packed concert halls of yore still appears to be some ways off, a lot of fans and artists alike have grown tired of live streaming shows, yearn for the face to face experience, and are looking for an alternative way to safely enjoy music in person. 


An overcrowded, poorly ventilated basement show might not fly, but with all the information we have gained about COVID-19 over the past year, there is more science available than ever on how to safely execute a live and in-person performance. 


Here, we offer some tips on how to make the experience as safe as possible for both artists and fans.
 

Small crowd, big venue. Sure, it might not be cost effective (welcome to the music industry) but keeping your audience size at a minimum, and your venue as capacious as possible (think warehouses and parking garages) is key to preventing any kind of virus spread


Proper ventilation. Particularly important when it comes to older buildings, ensuring you have an air exchange system that is up to code and is constantly filtering out and replacing the air your audience is breathing is key.


Gotta keep ‘em separated. We all miss the days when “pod” only made us think of audio entertainment and body snatchers, but no more. Properly delineating and separating out different pods before your audience shows up is vital. If more serious physical barriers are out of the question for logistical reasons, traffic cones, chalk, or spray paint can help clarify for audiences where their pods need to go (and stay!)


No alcohol. While some of us would give anything to pay $10 for a watery PBR, a raging pandemic means audiences are better off with their inhibitions un-lowered. If you have concessions, keep them dry.
Check with the state. With rules and regulations for events seemingly changing by the second, it’s vital that you double and triple check that any performance you put on doesn’t fly in the face of your state’s legal code of conduct when it comes to live events.