Publicado
Mon, Dec 27, 2021, 16:00
- As the Covid-19 variant Omicron surges worldwide, venues, artists, staff and promoters are facing fresh cancellations and yet more uncertainty.
Club scenes around the world are struggling with the upheaval caused by the Covid-19 variant Omicron and the subsequent lack of government guidance and support.
In the UK, where Omicron has caused record highs of Covid-19 cases, the situation varies from country to country. While venues are now closed in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, they remain open in England, as owners and promoters await instructions from the government ahead of New Year's Eve.
This state of "limbo" has "extremely damaging" implications, Michael Kill, head of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), told Resident Advisor. He said the "current open-close door policy cannot continue into the New Year" and any additional restrictions warrant government provisions like "extension of Business Rates Relief until the end of 2022, a freeze on bounce back loan repayments and reintroduction of furlough."
By keeping venues open, the government has once again shifted the onus of public safety onto the owners. At the same time, prime minister Boris Johnson has been advising people to limit their socialising at Christmas, deterring many ravers from going out. This left venues with the difficult decision of whether or not to cancel or postpone events.
London super club Printworks chose to postpone. Richie Hawtin was scheduled to debut his new From Our Minds project at the venue on December 18th. "We had a major blow when it was cancelled," he told RA. "The most depressing and sad thing was the let down for many of the younger artists." He is anticipating three NYE cancellations, "meaning thousands of disappointed clubbers and a lot of wasted hard work."
Palestinian DJ Sama' Abdulhadi was scheduled to play at Printworks alongside Hawtin. She told RA that her upcoming cancellations, including a show at Glasgow's Sub Club, will impact an estimated 13,000 ravers.
"It's just a question of if venues and artists can survive the economic hit," said Abdulhadi. "Ultimately, the only way we can overcome what's happening is to get everyone vaccinated and make large gatherings as safe as possible."
Acid techno pioneer Chris Liberator, who played a Boxing Day gig at London club FOLD, has had shows cancelled in France, Germany and Spain.
"At least in other countries you know the score because they're shutting down," he told RA. "But in the UK, this lack of clarity is costing livelihoods. When you promote a gig, it's not just DJs affected, there's also bar staff, cleaners, security. It's like the government's letting clubs fight a losing battle that will disintegrate into bankruptcy. You just can't work in that environment. It's better to do something to help them than pontificate."
It's uncertain whether a 24-hour NYE event at FOLD will go ahead. "We're in a constant state of not knowing what's going to happen next," general manager, Mihai Bumbu, told RA. "Staff are on standby, but we cannot guarantee work. Not knowing where your next pay cheque is coming from is daunting for everyone. We need strategic thinking from the government; a release of different scenarios they plan for would be great too, so we know what to prepare for."
Venues like Nottingham's The I Club are also making their own informed decisions about opening or closing. The Let There Be House event, scheduled for December 27th, was cancelled after a sold-out event the week before drew only 50 percent of ticket holders.
"We're really in limbo land," owner Tony told RA. "We're all waiting for Boris to make a decision. It's ridiculous he's leaving it so late because we can't buy stock or plan ahead. Any later than Monday means venues with brewery contracts won't be able to buy on time, and if they buy elsewhere, they'll get penalised. At least Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland know where they stand."
Tony added that ravers also want to know where to go for NYE, but the lack of information is making them "increasingly stressed," leading many to "give up on the idea." New Year's events have already been postponed by other venues, including London spots Space289, Village Underground and Porter And Sorter.
A survey by the Tourism Alliance for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport found revenue for British businesses dropped by 50 percent for 51 percent of businesses in December, up from 34 percent in November.
But the government's latest support package—£1 billion, equating to a £6k grant per venue—has been criticised by Manchester's nighttime economy advisor, Sacha Lord, who tweeted that it "won't even hit the sides."
RA reached out to the UK treasury, which replied with this comment. "Nightclubs and entertainment venues are still benefiting from a 75 percent cut in business rates over the year; reduced VAT, eviction protection, government-backed loans, Time To Pay and our reintroduced Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme."
RA also spoke with promoters, venue owners and artists in Naples, New York, Madrid and Ibiza, who all said that financial support from governments is lacking in the face of closures and cancellations.
In Italy, anticipation over NYE was finally quashed last Thursday when the government announced the closure of all clubs until January 31st, 2022. "I was meant to play two private parties in Rome and two events in Napoli at Boudoir and Itinera," said DJ Miz Kiara. "It's all very disappointing. We are following protocols, but still no government support to help us survive."
In fact, events in Naples were banned before the official announcement. Augusto Penna, founder of local party WOO!, told RA that the rest of the country will now endure what he and others have already experienced: "losses of almost 100 percent."
Techno DJ Gaetano Parisio said he understands the ban on parties, "but not the government's silence regarding financial help for venues."
Over in New York, venues have been constantly assessing the health risks and deciding whether or not to stay open. At Good Room, bookings director Josh Houtkin reluctantly postponed several events until NYE—including a fundraiser to help prevent eviction—"just to be sure and keep everyone safe."
Resident DJ Eli Escobar added: "It was a really difficult decision. At the same time, it's a case of 'do what you think is best but you're not going to get any financial support,' which is totally frustrating."
New York's Black Flamingo venue will also remain closed until NYE. "Not only do we lose revenue but staff will lose work," manager Bryce David told RA. "Most were relying on last weekend's shift for this week's holiday, but we had to close. I feel for them very much. More than losing cash revenue, that's been the most frustrating part."
In Spain, rules currently vary according to region, with venues like Madrid's Goya Social Club experiencing fewer restrictions compared to other parts of the country, owner Pablo Salazar told RA. He said Goya has had "great parties since reopening in October, but it seems restrictions may arrive in January due to increase in cases."
Some promoters, like Ibiza's Game Over, known for their popular parties with Carl Cox, have managed to keep things moving despite losing 80 percent of operational income this time last year.
"We've kept the flag flying with our LiFT residency but uncertainty is the biggest frustration," cofounder Eóin Smyth told RA. "The last thing we need is another four months of hard graft for it all to be whipped away from us again."
Photo: Markus Winkler