Victorian live music industry group Save Our Scene say they're "relieved and shattered" with the Victorian government winding up density limits and indoor dancefloor bans this evening.
Save Our Scene has been the pinnacle of Victorian campaigning for the local live music industry throughout the pandemic. Since their formation, the representative lobbying group – a volunteer effort, run by the city’s venues – has been the voice of live music as the city suffered the world’s longest series of lockdowns. It was forced into overdrive when the state imposed further industry-decimating restrictions, targeted at small live music venues specifically, when Victoria passed its original vaccinated-rate thresholds.
After Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announced yesterday that Melbourne hospitality businesses including bars and clubs will no longer face the one-person-per-two-square-metre density limits, and indoor dancefloor bans will be removed, from 6pm Friday 18 February, Save Our Scene took to Instagram to release their response.
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“They are lifting all capacity restrictions in Victoria again, from 6pm tomorrow. We are both relieved and shattered,” the statement said.
“These density limits and ban on dance floors – six weeks with no financial support and no communication from Government – was the worst yet for our sector. Gigs were cancelled, audiences simply did not turn up to shows, ticket sales for future shows stopped dead. But the rent and the bills didn’t stop – not for venues, not for our staff, not for musicians. Watching major events like the tennis and Live at The Bowl go ahead when a 150 capacity Bandroom or a 500 capacity club couldn’t trade was a huge kick in the teeth.”
As we reported yesterday, there were fears throughout the hospitality industry that the Victorian government’s pandemic order, which stipulated the previous level of restrictions, could have lasted until April 12 before a mandatory review.
However the state government has faced significant public and industry backlash over what many deemed an inconsistent approach towards regulating smaller live music venues, and large sports and other outdoor venues, many of which are government owned.
Save Our Scene say that not only were the regulations blatantly unfair, but they will likely be reimposed again, with the state government admitting COVID cases will rise again when Melbourne returns to winter, leaving the door open for further restrictions on the sector.
“How did they expect us to survive? And how do we recover, knowing it will happen again?” Save Our Scene’s statement continued.
“This pandemic is not over. With every new wave or surge, our sector is hit hardest. The first to close and the last to reopen, now impacted by long-term industry confidence and resilience problems.
“Save Our Scene has previously engaged in constructive consultation with the Government, but has not had a formal consultation since October 2021. Our industry is being forgotten. We need a regular music industry forum with the Government – including the Health Department, that holds our fate in their hands – to navigate this ongoing pandemic. We are calling on the Victorian Government to establish a Live Music Forum now, so that Victoria’s vibrant music scenes does not die a death of a thousand cuts.
“It’s a rough road ahead. Let’s keep the music alive.”
You can get involved with Save Our Scene by following them on social media and visiting their website here.
