The Bank Holiday blues must have been felt throughout the UK’s outdoor event industry on August Bank Holiday Monday this year.
As one of the busiest weekends in the outdoor events season goes by unannounced and unnoticed, take notice that the event Industry is on red alert –
No Shows, no performances, and no events. No music from live bands.
No mooing cows and sheep to be ogled at during the local agriculture, county, and farming shows.
No fetes, carnivals, galas, or corporate events, as we would previously expect, as per our culture’s penchent for county shows and weekend community events.
All is quiet. Too quiet.
Bank Holiday Monday usually has roaring crowds cheering on the stunt riders in the main arena as they flip and manipulate their machines through the air for the claps and cheers they would normally have been taking as I wrote this.
Not just the acts, artistes, performers and comperes.
Let’s not forget the stalls holders, lighting, sound, special effects, fencing providers, food wagons and contractors of all necessary trades that are needed to making these outdoor shows work for everyone’s enjoyment.
Those affected may have to seek new employment – whatever that may be. Taking their valuable resource away from the events table, probably never to be seen again? A depleted workforce?
There will be annual shows, event companies, and show promoters that may face bankruptcy unless they have deep pockets.
New talent will be less, as what is the point in training if you can’t use your skills as you intended?
The UK’s outdoor event industry terrain is changing. Nottinghill Carnival for instance: “For the first time in its 54-year history, the celebrations are set to be held online after the usual live event in west London was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.”
And this is just one side of the entertainment industry. All events sectors have suffered at the hands of the Covid-19 virus, and IMHO, it will take a lot to bring the events industry back to a position that it was once in… If that is at all possible?
It seems that any light at the end of the tunnel, for now, is shining from the digital online portals that we all have become so used to through our Covid staycations.
If we are to see our festivals, carnivals and outdoor shows be performed online how do we smell the roar of the crowd and witness death defying stunts by manic motorcyclists?
Will the Bank holiday blues be replaced with online optimism – Virtually?
What are you thoughts?