The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated lives, destroyed economies and may have forever altered life as we know it. The entertainment industry, in particular, was brought to its knees.
I have been in the entertainment industry for over 13 years and when the pandemic hit, I was working as a comedian and entertainer onboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean. In just one announcement, we were shut down, stuck floating at sea and life as I knew it, ended. Entertainment has been a fundamental part of human life since the dawn of civilization. Humans by nature are social creatures, so whilst entertainment was halted for two years, we may not even begin to grasp the scale of the effects for many years to come. So how has the entertainment industry been affected by covid?
At the start of the pandemic, entertainment was shut down completely, now two years later and at the tail end of the pandemic, entertainment has returned but in what capacity? All four countries in the United Kingdom have had their own varying levels of restrictions. So, what can we expect from the entertainment industry now in the UK?
England – All restrictions lifted; however private hospitality venues can impose their own restrictions relating to mask-wearing.
Scotland – There are no attendance limits on indoor events. Face coverings, however, are still required for public indoor venues.
Wales – There are no attendance limits on indoor events however, covid passes will still be required for entry into cinemas, theatres, concert halls and to allow entry into indoor events if unseated and if seated attendance exceeds 10,000. You will also need covid passes for entry into outdoor events that are attended by more than 4,000 individuals. The wearing of face coverings is not legally required but may be enforced by venues.
Northern Ireland – There are no limitations on attendance at indoor events however, covid passes are still required in nightclubs and indoor unseated events. Face coverings are required at indoor venues.
As you can see, the difference in restrictions can be confusing and may have even discouraged you from venturing back out. I want to encourage you to take the steps and get back out there and support your local entertainers and entertainment venues. Be it musicians, comedians, theatre actors and even to your local cinema. All entertainment venues have experienced some of their darkest days over the past two years. They have had to jump through multiple hoops and I can tell you that they have done it. The cinemas, for example, introduced social distancing between bookings in the screens by locking off seats, implemented distancing markers throughout their venue, installed plastic screens and introduced one-way systems. Truth is that live entertainment venues are not even close to seeing pre-pandemic numbers yet. Why is that? Have we become creatures of homely comforts? Are we still afraid of the virus? Let me weigh in on what I think.
During the pandemic, entertainment streaming platforms boomed. To give you just one example, according to the BBC, Netflix gained a whopping 16 million new subscribers during lockdown. Does this mean the era of live entertainment is over? Will we continue to watch theatre stage productions and concerts from the comfort of our homes as we did during national lockdowns? To be honest, some people may choose this as a preference going forward. However, I think that most of us will get back out to live shows. As an entertainer myself, I thrive off a live audience. Performing in front of a camera isn’t quite the same. You definitely can appreciate the talent by watching a streamed performance, but you will never be able to experience the atmosphere. For the same reason you may want to enjoy a meal at a fine restaurant over getting the same meal takeaway, we crave being in the company of others and enjoying things together. Enjoying live entertainment is as much about creating lasting memories as it is enjoying the moment.
The entertainment industry has been completely shaken up by the covid pandemic, but it certainly hasn’t been defeated. Together as a community, as a nation and as the human race, we will see entertainment thrive again. I encourage all of you to check out what’s on in your local area and support our entertainers and entertainment venues that not so long ago had lost all hope. Entertainers are used to rejection, the covid-19 pandemic has been like a two-year prolonged rejection from society. Let’s welcome them back.
Check out more Entertainment Now lifestyle news, reviews and interviews here.
