The iconic Hollywood Bowl is getting back into the swing of things but will separate people who have had the COVID jab from those who haven’t.
After being absolutely decimated over 2020, the live music industry has been struggling to find its feet again. It’s justifiable — a hot sweaty room with hundreds of dancing bodies pressed up against one another sounds like a ripe playground for spreading disease, and so venues have had to find a middle ground in operating their spaces.
In the case of the Hollywood Bowl, this middle ground is a very real piece of ground, splitting audiences down the middle between those who have received 2021’s COVID-19 vaccine, and those who haven’t. The venue’s capacity has been reduced to 67% of its total capacity and will give preferential tickets to those who can show proof of their vaccine alongside their ID.
As stated on its website, these seats will not be socially distanced, so for those with access to the vaccine, you’ll be able to dance and sweat and get as close to your fellow vaccinated patrons as you want. It’s just like 2020 never happened.
In the unvaccinated section, however, seats will be socially distanced and will require you to provide proof of a negative COVID test collected within 72 hours of the gig’s commencement.
With venues around the world desperate to get the turnstiles spinning once again, does the Hollywood Bowl model provide a viable blueprint? At the very least, it’s an interesting way of integrating safety into the venue.
However, if you’re able to get in, some free gigs are being put on over the next couple of months, including one from Thundercat and Flylo in honour of essential workers.
Given the circumstances, we’re leaning towards cutting the Hollywood Bowl some slack, And if it’s a necessary measure for concert venues to introduce this kind of separation, let’s just hope it’s also a temporary one.
