SEPTEMBER | FEATURE
While there has been much
frustration in the UK events
industry at the sluggish
pace at which the Government has
inched toward providing a re-opening
timeline, event guidelines and
restrictions have varied considerably
around the world. However, a unifying
factor has been the inventiveness and
energy shown in almost every corner of
the Globe in an effort to get events up
and running.
The UK has seen major events series
such as Virgin Money Unity Arena
in Newcastle, Glyndebourne and
numerous drive-in events but overseas
some promoters have literally pushed
the boat out.
Among the more resourceful ways of
ensuring social distancing at concerts
has been the float-in music festival
Laiva, which took place on Lake Jugla in
Riga, Latvia on 8 August. The audience
at the show consisted of 1,500 people
watching a line-up of local talent from
kayaks and small boats floating on the
lake.
On the same day in Bangkok,
Thailand, the Amazing Thailand Tuk
Tuk Festival took place. As the name
Entertaining
against the odds
While governments around the World are creating different major
event guidelines to help minimise the spread of Covid-19, the
events industry has been typically dynamic and ingenious at finding
ways to entertain audiences despite the stifling restrictions.
suggests, it was a drive-in event with
the audience seated in three-wheeled
motorised vehicles.
In Italy, where 1,000-capacity
outdoor events with social distancing
have been allowed since June,
promoters Fresh Agency, Live Club, and
Shining Production have come up with
a rather more environmentally friendly
version for the drive-in format – the
Bike-In.
The Bike-In show concept sees
audience members provided with
socially distanced viewing areas
complete with bike racks. A series of
local artist shows are due to take place
in early September at Campo Canoa in
Mantova.
At a park in Mönchengladbach,
Germany, a 60-show event series, with
the audience members sat on socially
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