We’re finally seeing light at the end of the (pandemic) tunnel — and it seems to be clear skies ahead. In the past month or so, there have been a number of large weekend festivals and one-off events, with some tours — ranging from Styx to Chris Stapleton — kicking off this month, plus a whole lot more planned for July, August and September. The ISE tradeshow returns, with in-person events in Barcelona and London this month. And country superstar Toby Keith launched his “Country Comes to Town” tour last month (pictured above, on our cover, and featured in the Production Profile on page 12) and that runs through October 2021 and beyond.
There is still a way to go, but at press time, more than 60% of American adults had received at least one dose of Covid vaccine, and that number is rising, due to the now-widespread availability of the vaccines and ongoing education campaigns from a variety of sources. In fact, California announced a promotion offering $116 million in lottery prizes, with winners picked from the pool of vaccinated residents. Hey, whatever works, but the key to full, safe reopening hinges largely on a Covid-resistant population and any efforts towards that goal is a plus for the live event industry.
In the meantime, as Steve La Cerra suggests on page 18, it’s time to dust off those faders and do a little prep so you’re 100% ready to go when that phone starts ringing. And the work will come — not only from postponed tours and events — but a gazillion weddings that were put on ice until the pandemic clears. We’re not quite there, but hey, it’s a start.
