How to run Covid safe events.
29/01/2021
How to run Covid safe events – looking to the future with a solution from the past
We love live entertainment, and we want to get back to doing what we do best. So it’s time to learn how to run Covid safe events for the future. Even with vaccines, Covid will be with us in one form or another for a while. It has generally changed how audiences feel about safety and also about gatherings.
But, how to run Covid safe events that can still be exciting, unforgettable and uplifting? At Electric Cabaret Company we have been working on Covid safe events that keep customers feeling safe and comfortable whilst fulfilling that brief to the max.
How to run Covid safe events with safety in mind
When we looked at the problem we had a definite safety framework to work within. Working backwards starting with risk assessments to see what’s possible and what isn’t.
One-way systems make people feel comfortable and so does complimentary hand sanitiser and space between groups. Contactless tickets on your phone are popular and probably here to stay. Food and drink apps for ordering from your table stop the embarrassment of trying to get staff attention while everyone’s enjoying the show. We actually think the ease of this means more spend per head for venues. However, for less tech-savvy customers and food queries (e.g. allergies and special requests) staff should definitely still be on hand for the personal touch.
Making your audience safe and comfortable
Dancing may be out of the question for audiences for a while. We are usually used to a stage invasion and a dance party at the end of every one of our events. In fact, we used to actively encourage it! Very immersive, close contact fun and games and hosts roaming the audience is also not possible. All the things we love! But for now, we need people to feel safe and comfortable to come out to a show. Small groups, distanced, seated. It all started to remind us of something. It was then that we discovered we could look to the past for solutions.
The supper club era of the 1930s and 1940s was a seated but glamorous affair. What’s not to like about a stylish, vintage occasion with table service for food and drinks that you’d really want to dress up for? An intimate show that still works with distancing and without a large cast all on stage at once.
How to run Covid safe events that are still exciting
The retro glamour of Burlesque is always a big favourite for a traditional Supper Club show. Don’t forget the fellas with sexy Boylesque too. Beautiful circus acrobatic or contortion performers, vintage magicians, fire dancers. Unusual acts like the bed of nails, glass-walking and snake dancers always raise the excitement levels. All of this tied together neatly alongside singing hosts who engage with the audience and keep things flowing along seamlessly. Take a look at our cabaret performers page now for further ideas.
How to run Covid safe events with audience interaction
With clever writing, we can still bring in immersive elements and audience engagement. Utilising projections, texting and popular apps like WhatsApp. Sometimes out of adversary comes opportunity and most certainly creativity.
There doesn’t have to be any vintage element at all for things to work swimmingly though. Modern shows can still borrow from the format of the Supper Club. Our many existing shows can be programmed to work within the same similar Covid safe framework.
Our brand new unique Covid safe show
Our ‘Rockstars & Popstars TV Time Machine’ show is a great example. We invite your VIP audience to the secret ‘TV Studio’ for the ‘live’ broadcast and first-ever presentation of our TV Time Machine. With the use of special projection elements, we whizz back and forth through the decades with our time travel portal to witness iconic moments in music TV history.
This relaxed but fully seated show re-visits everything from high energy fire and spark routines for Punk Rock in the ’70s, pop princesses from the ’90s, epic stadium rock acts from the ’80s, super smooth Ratpack fellas from the ’50s, Disco bump and grind acrobatics and feather dancers from the golden age of Jazz. Have a look on our shows page to see more.
We’d be delighted to write a unique Covid safe show with full risk assessment especially for you, so get in touch for a chat!