Live performance groups fear falling foul of vague SOPs
PETALING JAYA: Although live performances are now allowed, arts and culture groups and venue operators are taking a cautious approach because, they say, the SOPs are vague.
Jon Teo, whose cafe and event space Jao Tim hosted live music shows in Petaling Street before Covid-19 hit, said his outfit had no immediate plans to allow live audiences back in.
According to him, other venue operators around Petaling Street are also wary, especially since authorities carry out routine checks in the area.
“The guidelines are unclear,” he said. “If we get fined for failing to comply with the rules, it would be a heavy burden on us.”
Teo also said Jao Tim was restricted by the two-metre physical distancing rule for audience shows because there is not enough space on stage for the 10-member bands that often perform there.
He added that the requirement for food and drinks to be served in disposable packages meant that operators would have to spend money on plastic packaging.
Sutra Dance Theatre founder Ramli Ibrahim complained of “hazy instructions”, particularly the two-metre physical distancing rule for stage performers.
“If people are allowed to sit one metre apart at restaurants, why must we maintain a two-metre distance on stage?” he said. “It will definitely affect dance performances.”
However, Ramli welcomed the freedom for artistes to perform again, saying they had “suffered long enough”.
His group is wasting no time in getting back on stage, with its production of “Triple Frontiers” finally set for March 26 and 27 after being postponed twice.
Ian Chow, group general manager of the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), said the 50% capacity limit posed a challenge in making profits, even with a full house.
“We also face higher running costs on the venue side, especially with the extra sanitisation and extra manpower to ensure the SOPs are adhered to and all the extra hygiene items,” he said.
He said the poor state of the economy prevented klpac from increasing its ticket prices or venue rental rates.
Chow added that the team behind Bollywood Dreams, klpac’s first live show for an audience since last October, had to adapt and plan around the SOP in preparation for the re-opening on March 24.
Klpac’s marketing communications head, Ang Yue May, said the company had lost nearly RM2 million to date and its staff had had to take deep pay cuts.
“We were fortunate to receive some funding from Cendana and MyCreative Ventures towards the end of 2020, but all plans came to a halt again when the MCO was brought back,” she said.
Singer Bihzhu said she was especially cautious of coming in contact with large crowds out of concern over the possibility of infecting her elderly family members.
She said she and her bandmates, though glad that live performances were allowed again, were not keen on holding shows anytime soon with the government’s “inconsistent” public health policies.
“In terms of SOPs, we know the public has always been quite careful, but there is still the risk of infection despite the vaccine,” she said. - FMT
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