Melbourne was back in a big way this weekend, triumphing even in the age of cancel culture.
And by that, we mean ticket-cancelling culture in the age of COVID-19.
Polo players at Twilight Beach Polo at St Kilda on Saturday.Credit: SDP Media
Melburnians had beach polo, a feel-good ’80s musical, a cancer charity ball, the soccer grand final and a gay pride march to choose from.
West St Kilda beach on Saturday afternoon was taken over by the Twilight Beach Polo, putting the 3182 locality on a par with Miami, Ibiza and Dubai “in hosting top-level beach polo and entertainment”. Take that, Bondi.
The polo was won by … wait ... don’t tell us you’re interested in the result; none of the 2000 attending seemed to be. Corporate marquees sold early, while general public ticket sales were more last-minute. Shane Warne, son Jackson Warne and Sam Newman were spotted in the Alya Skin marquee. Alas, Ian Botham couldn’t make it.
Crucially, event operators can now pay additional insurance premiums to protect their bottom line in the event of cancellations and ticket refunds if patrons test positive to COVID or the state government forces a reduction in capacity due to density limits.
Simone Elliott, Kyla Kirkpatrick and Cherry Dipietrantonio at the Twilight Beach Polo at St Kilda.Credit: SDP Media
This insurance option was not previously available or affordable for small and medium events.
Brad Taylor, Twilight Beach Polo founder and managing director of Idiom Events, said if cancellation and ticket refund insurance were not available, events could not be staged.
Jackson and Shane Warne at the polo.Credit: SDP Media
“Insurance premiums have always been high but necessary, but when you put additional layers on insurance on top of your public liability and professional indemnity, insurance for event cancellation or ticket refunds were out of reach for many operators,” he said.
“It’s all thanks to the new cancel culture, insurance premiums for this type of insurance have dropped and event operators can forge forwards with confidence.”
Also attending: Miss Universe Australia 2021 Daria Varlamova and Collingwood’s Mason Cox and Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive Andrew Westacott. Real Housewives of Melbourne: Simone Elliott, Kyla Kirkpatrick, Cherry Dipietrantonio and Pettifleur Berenger.
Meanwhile, Nine’s Jo Hall and Varlamova rivalled corporate Eddie Everywhere Jane Halton, doubling down with an appearance at the Red Ball Melbourne at Grand Hyatt that evening for the Fight Cancer Foundation. The event had only moved three times.
Thanks to COVID restrictions, the event had a certain Salem, Massachusetts, c.1692 feel – no dancing! But guests, including Real Housewives’ Gamble Breaux and Rick Wolfe, were entertained by Anthony Callea, Southern Beat Productions and Jack Fragile.
And The Hour Glass gave away a $51,000 Hublot watch for the Red Ball Raffle.
Not too far away, at the FFA Cup final at AAMI Park, Melbourne Victory players jumped into the rapturous crowd of 15,343 after a goal while on their way to a 2-1 victory over the Central Coast Mariners.
Undoubtedly, organisers and audiences gained confidence from the Australian Open, which pulled a crowd of 346,468 fans over a fortnight, during which the state government increased tournament crowd caps from 50 per cent to 65 per cent for the semi-finals and again to 80 per cent for the finals.
Open crowds were up on the 130,374 that attended last year when it was hit by a five-day lockdown, but nowhere near 2020’s record (812,174).
On Sunday, showing renewed confidence in events after the cancellation of the Australia Day parade, Premier Daniel Andrews, wife Catherine andg local MP Josh Burns strutted their stuff at Midsumma Pride March down St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street.
Attending The Wedding Singer, Mel Schilling, dating and relationship expert from Married at First Sight, and husband Gareth Brisbane. Credit: Nicole Cleary
That afternoon, a near-full house of 2000 ’80s music lovers turned out in force for the opening performance of the encore season of The Wedding Singer at the Arts Centre.
“In Sydney, ticket sales slowed as a result of COVID and it was a tricky time to navigate,” said producer David Venn.
“Melbourne audiences have turned it around, reminding us that people are ready to get out and about again. We have been overwhelmed by the hugely positive responses. It’s exciting to see a theatre full of people again.”
Berenger and Breaux flew the flag for the Real Housewives.
Also putting in an appearance were David Astle, ABC Radio host and The Age’s Friday crossword compiler/torturer, as well as Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp, in seat H20, chowing down on a Streets Cornetto at interval.
A cultural guide to going out and loving your city. Sign up to our Culture Fix newsletter here.