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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

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