Manifesto
KEY POINTS:
1.#WeAreViable
is a collective and movement, working with ALL sides of the live
entertainment industry
2. The aim is to find a roadmap to reopening our industry, working alongside the local
authorities, MPs, Public Health England and the government utilising existing and
approved rapid testing.
3. The goal is to unite everyone from the organisers, pressure groups, to most
importantly, the audience who power it all to ensure the survival of our industry.
4. We will work with mental health organisations to ensure individuals affected are
looked after. In addition we will provide information on the organisations and
charities, who have set up emergency funding to assist the music, creative and
entertainment sectors.
Imagine a world without live entertainment.
We need to act now before it is too late.
#WeAreViable
#WeAreViable ‘A roadmap back to live entertainment’
“Entertainment & event industry professionals working alongside Public Health England,
local authorities, local MPs and the UK Government to reopen live events”
There are two potential methods to get the entertainment industry fully open again; a
working vaccine and accurate rapid testing. Vaccines are not likely to be widely accessible
and implemented across the country for the foreseeable future so for now, we will focus on
rapid testing as a practical solution to get the entertainment industry and all the connected
industries operating safely again.
There have been rapid testing products on the market since close to the beginning of the
pandemic with new and improved products being created constantly, so the technology and
ability exists to rapidly test for COVID-19. We will aim to use these existing and proven
testing methods and apply it to reopening the live entertainment industry.
Tests are available right away and are fully EU compliant (1). These are aptly named the “15
minute tests”. They are currently being used to screen travellers entering countries across
Europe. In addition and most relevantly, it is the same testing method that will be used for
the event taking place in Barcelona (2) for 1000 people this month without social distancing.
To move forward it is crucial we check the validity of the tests in a live entertainment and
events scenario.
As the first stage of a wider roadmap, we propose working with Public Health England, local
authorities, local MPs and the UK Government to allow us to put on a safe event at a small
scale. Here we will prove that quick tests in a sterilised venue is a valid option, to get live
entertainment up and running in a safe way.
Using our collective experience in producing entertainment and events of all sizes, from
festivals to public events, large scale sport to music events. We will work in conjunction with
leading industry experts from all corners of the wider industry, from health & safety officers,
scientists and medical professionals. We will design a COVID-19 specific Event Safety
Management Plan (ESMP). This will have specific Risk Assessment & Method Statements
(RAMS), incorporating relevant scientific guidance and advice on a local and national level.
We will apply existing event planning methods to test, revise and prove that our theory when
executed correctly, with rapid testing could be used as the primary vehicle to get venues
operating again.
This could be instrumental in saving the whole live entertainment business from collapse,
due to the stringent restrictions currently in place. Once we have created the ESMP and
relevant RAMS, we will run it through all the usual procedures and tabletop exercises with
Public Health England, the relevant local authorities, local MPs and Safety Advisory Group,
to perfect them in the pre-production period. This will ensure that they are watertight, safe
and ready to be tested in a live setting. All stakeholders will be party to a transparent way of
working.
Initially, we propose to hold a live music event for 100 people. Attendees, performers and
staff will be tested prior to admittance after arriving at the venue along with temperature
checks and sanitising procedures. Our proposed testing partner and supplier will produce
rapid tests. We will work with them in the longer term, to bring the price point down to a level
so that it is affordable to venues of any size.
Following the plan outlined in the ESMP, the aim would be for those that have tested
negative, can enter the venue and enjoy the show without the need for social distancing or
requiring masks.
We believe this will signal the beginning of a return to normality that is required for the
entertainment business.
For the avoidance of doubt, temperature checks will be provided on entry to the venue and
guests will have to use the track and trace app to ensure they are fully notified should
someone show symptoms post show.
Once we have completed a successful test event and the method has been proven to work,
the next stage of the roadmap is to scale it up to 1000 people using the same method and
open it up to other events such as comedy, theatre, opera etc. After that we will want to aim
for a 10,000 capacity event. Completing our roadmap when all venues of any size,
configuration and capacity can reopen as normal.
After we have standardised our method, our aim is to make this information and ESMP ‘open
source’ on our website along with the data collected. Anyone, anywhere will be able to
access it and apply it to their own event, venue, performance or anywhere that needs it.
The goal is to unite everyone from the organisers, pressure groups, to most importantly, the
audience who power it all. We will work transparently with all parties to ensure the survival of
our culture.
In the short term, we will work with creatives to assist them in transferring to a digital space.
We will support all corners of the industry and culture by partnering with renowned and
respected mental health charities. We will also continue to provide information on the
organisations and charities who have set up emergency funding to assist the music, creative
and entertainment sectors.
We’re all in this together and it should not be something that one group profits or solely
benefits from. We all need to be open again, work together, to preserve our incredible
culture for generations to come.
#WeAreViable - A practical solution for live entertainment by industry professionals.
REFERENCES
1. COVID-19 RAPID ANTIBODY TESTS APPROVED FOR USE IN UK
EUROPEAN PHARMACEUTICAL REVIEW
https://www.europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com/news/124898/covid-19-rapid-antibody-tests-
approved-for-use-in-uk/
2. FIRST EVENT TO TEST RAPID CORONAVIRUS TEST-ON-ENTRY SYSTEM TO HAPPEN
THIS MONTH
DJ MAG
https://djmag.com/news/first-event-test-rapid-coronavirus-test-entry-system-happen-month
SOURCES
MANAGING COVID-19 RISK IN THE UK ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
NIGHT TIME INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (NTIA)
https://www.ntia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Managing-COVID-19-Risk-in-the-UK-
Entertainment-Industry-Report-29-July-2020.pdf
NIGHTCLUBS & VENUES REOPENING STRATEGY
NTIA
https://www.ntia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Nightclubs-Venues-Strategy.pdf
THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF INFORMAL EVENTS 2030
ACCESS ALL AREAS/NTIA/THE FAIR
https://www.ntia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/WP-WEB_compressed.pdf
GOVERNMENT ENDORSE INDUSTRY-LED GUIDANCE FOR MUSIC PRODUCTION
MUSIC PRODUCERS GUILD
https://mpg.org.uk/news/government-endorse-industry-led-guidance-for-music-production/
FIRM BEHIND 15-MINUTE TEST SAYS IT IS A 'GAME-CHANGER'
SKY NEWS
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-company-behind-15-minute-antigen-test-says-its-
a-game-changer-12078934
A 'GAME-CHANGING' 15-MINUTE COVID-19 TEST WAS JUST CLEARED IN EUROPE
TIME MAGAZINE
https://time.com/5894722/15-minute-covid-19-test-europe/
A 15-MINUTE TEST FOR COVID-19 HAS JUST BEEN APPROVED
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/08/abbott-creates-rapid-covid-19-antigen-test/
ROLL-OUT OF 2 NEW RAPID CORONAVIRUS TESTS AHEAD OF WINTER
UK GOVERNMENT
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/roll-out-of-2-new-rapid-coronavirus-tests-
ahead-of-winter
Our Culture is at Risk
GOALS
