Entertainment companies like Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators, and RWS Entertainment Group, the multi-award-winning live entertainment production company, are taking extensive measures to welcome people back to an environment where safety is the highest priority.
Last month we caught up with Clayton Lawrence of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and Ryan Stana and Jake McCoy of RWS Entertainment Group to learn more about the new protocols keeping front of house and backstage operations safe.
Here are just a few of the recommendations they shared with us:
Ensuring Audience Safety:
- Encourage guests to use an online reservation system to manage capacity in queue lines and seating areas.
- Consider turnover & time between performances for appropriate sanitation.
- Look into commercial-grade sanitation treatments, which can be quickly applied between performances using high volume electrostatic spraying techniques.
- Utilize enhanced filtration systems for large venues with minimal noise impact.
- Schedule deep clean sanitation procedures with a focus on high touch surfaces during overnight shifts.
Crew & Performer Experience:
- Assign a maximum capacity for each rehearsal based on available performance space and social distancing parameters.
- Establish a checklist to ensure each space is thoroughly prepared for rehearsal.
- If possible, consider holding shows in an outdoor venue.
- Reduce performer/guest interaction (no meet-and-greets, close-up photos, etc.)
- Partition rehearsal spaces into individual zones to ensure performers maintain at a safe social distance (minimum 6 ft).
- Sanitize all performance paraphernalia before sharing it with others (no sharing of mics, props).
- Enforce facial coverings in settings where performers cannot maintain 6 feet of distance from each other and guests.
- Shorten show run times to prevent guests from crowding performance areas.
Creating the Illusion of Touch:
- The illusion of touch keeps performers at a safe distance while providing a false sense of space when viewing from the audience.
- Things like talent wristbands, masks present on stage, and visible hygiene crews allow guests to see the measures being taken firsthand.
- Feeling connected to each other is a basic human need. As industry leaders in entertainment operations and safety, it is our responsibility to rekindle this connection.
