Canadian Live Music Association says live concerts in standing venues in Ontario can immediately return to full capacity
Ontario is lifting capacity restrictions on all live concerts as well as organized outdoor events.
On Thursday, the Canadian Live Music Association tweeted, “Effective immediately, live concerts are no longer subject to standing or seated restrictions. At the moment, shows can be standing or seated at full capacity. “
The association thanked Heritage, Sport and Tourism Minister Lisa MacLeod for her “continued support to our vibrant sector”.
The move comes after the province has approved regulatory changes Wednesday evening, which lifts the capacity limits for all public events held outdoors, such as Santa Claus parades and Remembrance Day ceremonies, provided that participants wear masks when physical distancing is not is not possible.
Limits are also lifted on other outdoor spaces, such as recreational facilities such as ski slopes, festivals, fairs, rural exhibitions, as well as outdoor spaces for museums, aquariums, zoos and centers. scientists.
Outdoor social gatherings are still limited to 100, and proof of vaccination is required at organized outdoor events of 20,000 people or more.
BREAKING NEWS (ON): Effective immediately, live concerts are no longer subject to standing or seated restrictions. At the moment, shows can be standing or seated at full capacity.
thank’s for @MacLeodLisa for your continued support to our dynamic industry. #ForTheLoveOfLIVE
– Canadian Live Music Association (@Canadian_Live) October 27, 2021
The Ford government on Monday lifted capacity limits in most places where proof of vaccination is required, including restaurants, bars and gyms, as part of a phased plan to end all restrictions pandemics by March.
The province previously lifted restrictions on venues for seated live events – including concert halls, arenas, cinemas and theaters – on October 9, then announced capacity limits would end for concerts general admission, nightclubs, strip clubs and other businesses with dance floors on November 15th.
Many promoters and venue owners in the live music business remained furious when the province allowed only large arenas and other performance venues to return to 100% capacity on October 19, while the general admission, standing clubs that host live music have remained restricted.
Benjamin says NOW that the only thing that’s changing is that the capacity limits for live concerts are lifted today instead of November 15th. Vaccine certificates are required to enter concert halls and masks should always be worn.
And dancing is not allowed among full capacity crowds in concert halls. Under current Ontario regulations, if dancing is allowed at an event, the 25 percent capacity (up to a maximum of 250) still applies, Benjamin says.
“However, we hope that November 15 will bring increased limits.”
She says it didn’t make sense to bundle live music with nightclubs and strip clubs under capacity regulations.
“The act of standing and listening to music was already happening in many different contexts. “
In one an open letter to Premier Doug Ford on October 14, the Canadian Live Music Association said there was a “lack of clarity around [the October 9] regulatory change, which treats some sectors differently from others.
“The science behind why some sectors can now open at full capacity and others not is still unclear, as no explanation has been given for this decision making,” the letter added.
As COVID-19 restrictions have gradually eased, live tours have returned across North America, but many large groups have jumped into Toronto due to the pandemic restrictions.
Local promoters sold tickets at 100% capacity for shows starting in September, although Ontario only allows these venues to operate at reduced capacity. As a result, many shows have been canceled or postponed, leaving ticket holders in an uncertain situation.
The province had indicated to the industry that live music could return in the fall of 2021, says Benjamin, but no firm date was given until recently.
“This is a 100% capacity business model,” she says. “Dollars and cents don’t work in some coins without 100%. “
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Kevin ritchie
