Playing it safe: music venues find their feet

A month after some of Brisbane’s most popular venues ­reopened, owners are quietly confident the music scene will survive.

Pixie Weyand, owner of Brisbane music venue The Zoo, says ‘initially it was hard; I felt like I was the fun police, asking people to sit down’. Picture: Glenn Hunt

A month after some of Brisbane’s most popular venues ­reopened, owners are quietly confident the music scene will survive and ­ultimately thrive despite dracon­ian safety measures.

The past four weeks have ­required adjustments for Pixie Weyand, the owner of Fortitude Valley mainstay The Zoo, whose floorboards have been heaving with sweaty rock ’n’ roll mosh pits since 1992. “It’s such a significant change from how we operate, as seated audiences were something that we’ve never dealt with,” she said.

“Initially it was hard; I felt like I was the fun police, asking people to sit down, even though it was the law.”

Ordinarily, The Zoo hosts crowds of up to 500 people, but in its COVID-safe seating arrangement, venue capacity has dropped to 100 since reopening on July 10.

“As the weeks have crept on, people have gotten way more understanding of the seriousness,” Weyand said. “I think that the outbreak in Melbourne has really solidified how quickly things can get out of hand.”

Ticketholders have their temperature checked at the door, and contact details are recorded in case contract tracing is required.

“It’s a lot more effort on our end, that’s for sure — but it means that we can have live music, which makes it worth it,” she said.

Nearby venue The Triffid also reopened for live music last month, and has hosted about 20 gigs and more than 2000 patrons in its 120-capacity beer garden since then.

“Before coronavirus, you wouldn’t see many bands at all looking to do two shows in a night, but now they’re seeing it as a bit of a necessity,” said Mark Gibbons, head of bookings at The Triffid.

In Sydney, Chippendale venue The Lansdowne has been hosting 50-capacity seated concerts since mid-June.

“Economically, no one’s going to buy a boat,” said co-owner Jake Smyth with a laugh. “But, interestingly, bands have been putting their ticket prices up and audiences have been really supportive.”

Despite the friendly rivalry that usually exists between the music scenes of the eastern capital cities, none of the northerners are gloating while Victoria suffers through its second lockdown.

“You’ve got to feel for the people down there,” said Gibbons. “A lot of the talent pool in Australia is out of Melbourne, or greater Victoria. We’re seeing a huge amount of talent that isn’t able to work: both the artists and the crews.”