26/08/2020
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT PLEASE READ & SHARE
Hello Everyone,
It's Marade here, with some important news about our KEEPING IT LIVE! shows.
It is with deep regret that the November 2020 and January 2021 shows will not be going ahead.
This may not come as a surprise to the majority of you that have supported us since the showcase's inception back in 2008.
But obviously, the devastation that the Coronavirus Pandemic has caused everyone globally, our lives have changed dramatically and our beloved entertainment has been hit severely.
Acts, and agents , venues and bookers have been struggling to survive since the March lock down and it's only as I write these words that entertainment has been allowed ' inside' but with strict rules regarding social distancing and covid complant rules.
I've given this matter a lot of thought and been 'Hanging On ' to see if things drastically improved.
But sadly , the Coronavirus is still with us.
It has decimated the cruise industry, fly back work and foreign holidays can now come with a surprise 2 week quarantine period on your return to the UK.
Hotels, pubs and venues have closed. Coach companies gone into liquidation, some holiday centres are running without live entertainment and a streamlined number of resident team members.
To cap it all , our national institution that is PANTOMIME has stopped across the UK for the first time since it's creative genius filtered over here from France and Italy in the late 1600's.
Everything seems to be against us and we appear to have been some what forgotten !
So, when thinking about our chances , I've had to be professional, sensible and human in my decision.
The restrictions we would face if our showcases went ahead would be immense. For example , solo use of dressing rooms, no sharing, fully sanitised after each act has changed and left , how to sanitise the microphones after each act, social distancing in the main rooms for the audiences. Back stage would have to have a socially distanced waiting area, props sanitised , clear corridors, sound check times would be significantly longer , as would main shows.
Our audience numbers would have to be severely condensed, we would have to rely on table service only and the bar areas would be out of bounds, for our safety and the staff.
We have the best live band in the business, along with a stage crew that is hard to beat, their safety would be paramount and strict rules would hinder their jobs.
We have built up a good reputation of offering a slick, polished and professional showcase.
We could not offer this during this pandemic.
The variables against us are endless.
Some acts I know of are working during the days just to make ends meet and some agents I know are driving for delivery companies, working in supermarkets and waiting on tables in public houses, some even picking fruit and veg. I doubt if many of us could afford the few days that the shows usually enjoy . Acts or bookers.
So to protect our ' Entertainment Family ' we will all strive to remain positive though these difficult days and be guided by health and safety.
And common sense
Take no chances, be safe, be focused and God willing we will all meet together in November 2021 for 'Keeping it Live! '
KEEPING IT LIVE! .............................. Those three words mean more now than they ever have done.
We won't let anyone put out our light !
Go Safe,
Keep Well ,
Stay Focused
Myself and the whole Keeping it Live! Team look forward to seeing you all soon
