Restrictions for live music venues are constantly shifting amid the COVID-19 pandemic. From one day to the next, rules have been rapidly changing with often little to no clarity around them.
The Australian Live Music Business Council (ALMBC) are working to provide some clarity around these restrictions with their newly launched National Gig-Ready Dashboard which features up to the minute information for each state's restrictions.
The information below has been provided courtesy of the group and is up to date as of 19 August.
New South Wales
Rules in place from: 24 July
How are live music venues affected?
"Yes, except for nightclubs & music festivals within the meaning of the Music Festivals Act 2019 incl. those with < 2000 people. Night clubs cannot operate primarily for dancing but may open for other activities."
How many people are allowed inside a venue?
Current restrictions see "No more than 20 people are allowed to gather outside in a public place" for outdoors, while hospitality venues are allowed "maximum of 300 people in the venue at any one time or one customer per 4 sqm, whichever is lesser" while venues with separate areas are allowed "max capacity is 300 people in each separate area at any one time or one customer per 4 sqm, whichever is lesser". Patrons will also have to sign in on a contact register when entering a venue.
What else should I know?
Currently, NSW venues are required to have a COVID-Safe Marshall to oversee cleaning, social distancing and hygiene. In large hotels, they must be present at all times, while smaller venues up to 250 capacity must have the marshall present during peak periods.
Patrons currently have to be seated at venues, and for concert halls/seated theatre events "seated groups or individuals should be separated by 1–2 empty seats on both sides".
Can we get footloose?
Sadly not yet, dancing is currently prohibited in NSW venues for patrons. Additionally, "performances with high energy dance, as well as singing and wind instruments, are considered high risk. Additional planning around these activities should be undertaken from a work health and safety perspective, including ensuring 3 metres distance from the audience. Group singing should be avoided".
What about a beer though?
As long as you're sitting down, you can be served alcohol in NSW venues.
What about tours?
At this stage, there's a closed border between New South Wales and Victoria so it's unlikely you'll be seeing Victorian artists live anytime soon.
Where can I find more info?
Head to the NSW State Government website here.
Queensland
Rules in place from: 3 July
How are live music venues affected?
The state is currently in its Recovery Stage 3 phase, meaning that live music venues are open! Organisers do need to have a COVID-Safe plan in place though.
How many people are allowed inside a venue?
Currently, concert venues, theatres and auditoriums are allowed to have "up to 50% capacity or 1 person per 4 sqm (whichever greater), with a COVID Safe Plan" while large scale buildings such as Queensland's Major Sports Facilities can operate with up to 25,000 people or 50% capacity (depending on which is less).
What else should I know?
Physical distancing of 1.5m needs to be in place between groups, while the COVID-Safe Checklist needs to be in place for seated drinking and dining. You will be required to sign in to a register, which venues need to keep for 56 days.
Can we get footloose?
Dancefloors aren't permitted under the current restrictions.
What about a beer though?
"From 24 July, Queensland Chief Health Officer's Direction has reinstated the restriction for all dining and drinking for seated patrons only...
"Under this direction these venues can only provide food and drink for seated patrons: pubs, licensed clubs, RSL clubs, function centres, bars, wineries, distilleries and microbreweries and licensed premises in hotels."
What about tours?
Queensland is currently considering Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT as COVID-19 hotspots meaning that anyone from these areas cannot enter the state.
Where can I find more info?
Head to the Queensland State Government website here.
Victoria
Rules in place from: 5 August
How are live music venues affected?
With Victoria under strict statewide restrictions, which sees Melbourne metro under stage 4 restrictions and the rest of the state under stage 3, so sadly there's no live music events currently operating.
What else should I know?
Currently Victorians are required to wear face coverings when leaving their home. This is mandatory unless you have a medical reason not to.
Where can I find more info?
Head here for stage 4 info and here for stage 3 via the Vic State Government website.
Northern Territory
Rules in place from: 5 June
How are live music venues affected?
Things are looking good for live music venues in the NT where the Recovery Stage 3 plan is currently in place.
How many people are allowed inside a venue?
Currently there are no restrictions in place but physical distancing of 1.5m between "groups not known to you" is in place. The current guidelines say that patrons can "attend any cinema or theatre, concert hall, music hall, dance hall, nightclub or any other similar entertainment venue in approved configuration". Events with over 500 people will require a separately approved COVID-19 safety plan.
Can we get footloose?
Dancing with physical distancing from others is allowed in the NT.
What about a beer though?
The current phase allows you to "attend a bar without food being consumed".
What about tours?
Anyone travelling from a declared hotspot is required to undergo a 14 day mandatory supervised quarantine when entering the Northern Territory. There's no restrictions on interstate arrivals from outside of the hotspot areas.
Where can I find more info?
Head here for more info.
Western Australia
Rules in place from: 27 June
How are live music venues affected?
Things are looking good for live music in WA thanks to the state's hard border restrictions. Western Australia is currently in its Recovery Phase 4 stage which means that live music events, apart from music festivals, are permitted to take place.
How many people are allowed inside a venue?
There are still restrictions in place for venues, seeing the state working to the "reduced 2sqm rule in place". Additionally, "the 2sqm rule applies only to patrons, not staff except for venues that hold more than 500 patrons". Physical distancing is still at 1.5m where possible. Patrons are also not required to sign a contact register.
Can we get footloose?
You certainly can, with appropriate physical distancing from others.
What about a beer though?
You can also enjoy a beer without having to be seated.
What about tours?
The WA hard border remains in place so touring from artists outside of the state isn't likely anytime soon.
Where can I find more info?
Head to the WA State Government website here.
Tasmania
Rules in place from: 26 June
Additional restrictions: in place from 31 July
How are live music venues affected?
Tasmania's hard border closures means that live music is back on! Live music venues are currently allowed to operate with restrictions in place.
How many people are allowed inside a venue?
Right now venues must operate up to "250 people (incl. staff) in an undivided space indoors or 1 person per 2 sqm whichever is lesser" or "500 people (incl. staff) in an undivided space outdoors or 1 person per 2 sqm whichever is lesser". Patrons are required to be seated when at venues.
What else should I know?
Physical distancing should be in place where possible.
Can we get footloose?
Not yet, as patrons need to be seated.
What about a beer though?
Only if you're seated.
What about tours?
Tasmania's borders are set to remain shut until at least 1 December so you won't be seeing any mainland bands there for a while. Local acts are starting to tour though, with Luca Brasi announcing their tour last week.
Where can I find more info?
Head to the Tasmanian State Government website here.
South Australia
Rules in place from: 29 June
Additional restrictions: in place from 21 August
How are live music venues affected?
South Australia is currently in its Recovery Step 3 phase which sees live music venues permitted to operate.
How many people are allowed inside a venue?
This means that "the maximum number of members of the public in any single room or enclosed area must not exceed 1 person per 2 sqm" so it's a case-by-case basis. You'll need to sign in to a contact register too.
What else should I know?
You'll still need to be seated for events and venue operators "must take reasonable steps to ensure that facilities (meaning all aspects of the place/Venue where an event is being held) allow for 1.5m between people".
Can we get footloose?
Dancing is back on in SA! But there are still some restrictions in place...
"Any Venue intending to allow patrons to both consume alcohol and dance whilst at the event/within the Venue cannot do so without a COVID Management Plan approved by SA Health. From 27 July 2020, approval of certain activities and venues that require a COVID Management Plan by SA Health has been temporarily paused while the risks arising from the outbreaks in Victoria and NSW can be assessed.
"Applications on hold include those involving the consumption of alcohol and dancing in a licensed premises, or, the consumption of alcohol, playing loud amplified music and dancing in a licensed premises. This decision will impact nightclubs, function centres and some events which have already submitted plans for approval.
"Until further notice, patrons cannot dance and drink at the same venue."
What about a beer though?
You can, but you just have to be sitting down.
What about tours?
Currently Victorian residents are not permitted to enter South Australia, while anyone from ACT and NSW (other than essential travellers) will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days. All other states and territory residents are allowed to enter SA without restriction.
Where can I find more info?
Head to the SA State Government website here.
ACT
Rules in place from: 10 August
How are live music venues affected?
Just like WA, the ACT is allowing live music venues to operate - other than music festivals - as part of their Recovery Step 3.1 plan.
How many people are allowed inside a venue?
Current restrictions say that live Performance venues/theatres are allowed "100 people (including performers, patrons, and staff) per indoor or outdoor space, or one person per 4 sqm (whichever is lesser) with physical distancing".
What else should I know?
Patrons are required to be seated at events and there are strict rules in place around movement - "for live music performances, singers should try to stand at least 2m away from other band members as well as audience members.
"Where an audience is involved, individuals and groups should be seated at least 1.5m apart from each other, for example, if a person books to attend on their own, they should be seated at least 1.5m from a person who has made a separate booking.
"There is no restriction on how large a group booking can be (subject to restricted capacity of venue). If a group books together, they can sit together, however need to be at least 1.5 metres away from other groups/individuals."
Can we get footloose?
Sadly not yet. Patrons are required to remain seated.
What about a beer though?
As above, if you want an alcoholic beverage you'll need to be seated.
What about tours?
The ACT border remains open but with restrictions in place. Victorians will currently be denied entry to the ACT, unless they have an exemption, and NSW residents from hotspot areas may be required to quarantine.
Where can I find more info?
Head over to the ACT Recovery Plan here.
ALMBC, which represents the interest of 488 small to medium Australian live music businesses, is currently offering the dashboard to members. Head here for more information and to join.
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