Performers, venues navigating return of live musicDate: 3/22/2021 WESTERN MASS. - Just over a year ago, in many respects, was the day the music died in Western Massachusetts.
As the state instituted restrictions in March 2020 aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus, live entertainment throughout the state was halted, leaving businesses and performers alike to contemplate when the acts would return and how they would survive in the meantime.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Feb. 25 that as part of the state’s continued reopening, live music could return to establishments such as restaurants, and indoor performance spaces would be able to allow 50 percent capacity up to 500 people. On March 22, the state officially took an additional step, entering into Phase IV of the plan.
Since then, local venues and performers have been working to navigate state and local guidance and restrictions related to bringing live entertainment back to the area while also keeping in mind their own physical, economic and health concerns.
Peter Rosskothen, owner of the Log Cabin and The Delaney House restaurant, said he had been hosting live music for two weekends when he spoke to Reminder Publishing on March 15. He emphasized that he’d been following all directives from the Board of Health, including not allowing performers to sing while performing indoors.
Rosskothen said while this presented a challenge for some groups, bands and performers had been creative while coming up with solutions. “They’re pre-recording their singing and playing live instruments. If you’re not paying attention, you don’t even think about it,” he said. “We all have to find the angle to push through.”
While not explicitly not allowed, the Holyoke Board of Health also discouraged the use of brass and/or wind instruments for live performances. Outdoor performances would allow for singing and didn’t discourage the use of wind and/or brass instruments, however, there would need to be at least 10 feet between performers and at least 25 feet of distance between performers and audience members.
He said while he didn’t feel as though performers would be able to sing indoors for “a little while,” he was waiting for the weather to be consistently warm before adding live entertainment to outdoor dining. “We’re actually getting ready for outdoor dining this week, not that I expect the weather to be collaborating. We need to be ready because people want it, [but] outdoor entertainment, I don’t see it happening until April, maybe May,” he said. Rosskothen said he would begin outdoor dining first without live entertainment and then allow performances.
“With the outdoor entertainment, with the precautions you can do the singing,” he said.
Rosskothen said he felt as though the allowance for live entertainment had an impact on his business as he felt “customers have grown used to or accustomed to live entertainment.”
He said, “It draws somebody to us that would otherwise go to a place that wouldn’t have entertainment. It’s a competitive advantage.”
Ultimately, Rosskothen said the allowing of live entertainment once again was a step forward and would hopefully help put customers’ minds at ease when choosing to eat out. “All of these things do is they’re relaxing our guests a little bit. They say okay maybe we can go out, or we’ve had the vaccine so let’s go,” he said. “The optimism and the energy that comes with that is there.”
He, again, emphasized that he and his staff would be following all guidelines with regards to COVID-19 safety. “I am not breaking the rules. The rules are there, we’re following them to the dog. As the rules get more relaxed, we’ll get more relaxed,” he said.
He said the live entertainment schedule, which is typically booked months in advance, can be found online at delaneyhouse.com.
Marco Carreira, general manager of The Yard Tavern on 3 Hadley St. in South Hadley said he had also been hosting live music for a couple of weeks prior to speaking to Reminder Publishing on March 15. He said prior to the COVID-19 restrictions the restaurant used to host live entertainment every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening.
He, too, felt that live music helped people relax and forget their worries even for a short time. “Everyone loves to go out to eat, enjoy some live, local music. It’s a way for them to come grab a bit to eat and relax, that was the key thing,” he said. “They come to my restaurant, relax, forget about everything for a couple hours.”
While the restaurant used to host live music four days a week pre-COVID, they were only hosting their house band, Moose and Michael, for just one day a week on Thursdays. Carreira said the calling the band was a great feeling as they had been playing regularly at the restaurant since about 2015 or 2016. “They’ve become family, as soon as we were given permission they were my first call,” he said.
He said since the return of live music he’s noticed business has gone up. “It’s been great, people are kind of coming out a little more knowing they’re back on Thursday. I’ve noticed there’s been a good 10 to 15 tables more sitting around listening,” he said. “They understand there’s still a 90 minute table time. A lot of people come in at 7:30, they try to catch their last set.”
Carreira said that he plans to bring live entertainment to outdoor dining at some point during the month of May and will have a small platform set up outside. “The Tavern plans to put a little platform, I have this grassy area out front that way I don’t have to use a table. That way people feel more comfortable, they’re outside,” he said. “There’s still some people scared to dine indoors, once it’s 70 degrees everyone wants to be outside.”
Musician Alex Rohan said he has already booked up through September.
Rohan, who has performed with the band Feel Good Drift as well as in smaller groups and as a solo artist, said he spent time during the pandemic developing a solo album and he planned to promote that through his live shows this year as well as his social media handle @AlexRohanMusic. He admitted, though, that there is still a high level of uncertainty as venues attempt to assess and implement the safety measures required by the state and he is trying to be as accommodating as he can.
“When it got released that live music could begin happening again, I immediately started getting phone calls and instant messages,” he said. “Everyone was pretty clear that this wasn’t going to be something where we’re going to be 100 percent back, so I’ve just been working with different locations to see what can work for both of us. For me, this is a passion. I have a full-time job, so I play music for the passion of it and I’m just happy to come and play again. I wasnt to work with them as much as possible because for these places, they’ve been struggling for a year just like everyone else.”
Rohan admitted there are asterisks next to some of the gigs in his calendar due to potentially shifting circumstances.
“Everyone has to make sure they are on the same page so everything can be safe,” he said. “It’s a little easier for places that have outdoor availability like patios, but even then, we’re in New England – the weather doesn’t always cooperate.”
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