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Caught some talk surrounding AD and how what cons do to become safe and I'm elated that the rest of the group where I spotted this are very much in the "don't run an event during a pandemic you idiots".
One of them hypothetically went through a risk list but if you think an event can go ahead without compromising the health of attendees and staff you'd be dead wrong but I've got nothing better to do while I wait for AoT to premiere so lets spitball shall we?
1) Change venues.
Most cons cannot run in the venues they are currently at or slated to be at because they are small and the sheer lack of space means that applying social distancing rules is almost impossible.
Most cons cannot run in the venues they are currently at or slated to be at because they are small and the sheer lack of space means that applying social distancing rules is almost impossible.
2) Dealers are gone or reduced by 90%.
Dealer rooms at cons are cramped and the cause of huge congestion based on venues. You try applying safe social distancing rules to those areas and you'll find that you can safely have maybe 3 tables.
Dealer rooms at cons are cramped and the cause of huge congestion based on venues. You try applying safe social distancing rules to those areas and you'll find that you can safely have maybe 3 tables.
3) Cut attendance numbers by 70 or 80%.
A 500 person hotel event cannot run so it needs to cut attendance numbers. That's a given but the lack of 80% would mean ticket prices would need to go up by exuberant amounts.
A 500 person hotel event cannot run so it needs to cut attendance numbers. That's a given but the lack of 80% would mean ticket prices would need to go up by exuberant amounts.
This almost extortionate rise in ticket costs would be to offset the cost of the (new) bigger venue, additional cleaning items or provisions and the lack of the bulk attendee numbers.
Who's going to pay £300+ for a con with no events?
Who's going to pay £300+ for a con with no events?
4) Cut certain events.
Parties are out. That's a certainty. As are all other more active / workshop events. Cafe's etc etc
Parties are out. That's a certainty. As are all other more active / workshop events. Cafe's etc etc
5) It's very likely that I would push for a no-alcohol policy in hired rooms and potentially the entire venue itself.
This in my mind removes the possibility of alcohol impairing people's ability to stay safe during a pandemic.
This in my mind removes the possibility of alcohol impairing people's ability to stay safe during a pandemic.
So in short, the event will need to change to a barebones and incredibly expensive panelist show, nobody will really have fun and it is still a public safety risk not to mention that people are traveling for this.
Just stop trying to run events during a pandemic.
By doing so you are engaging in actively harming people and risk exposing people to a deadly disease. Why the fuck would you even entertain this idea?!
By doing so you are engaging in actively harming people and risk exposing people to a deadly disease. Why the fuck would you even entertain this idea?!
If you want to take a positive out of all of this, what I will see is that mask wearing and not cramming people into halls or venue rooms like sardines by giving people more space will be the things that hopefully stick around.
Hopefully we'll see events come back at the end of 2021 or during 2022.
Even with the pfizer vaccine, the UK event industry will not be fixed overnight. Just be patient.
Even with the pfizer vaccine, the UK event industry will not be fixed overnight. Just be patient.
