Restrictions Eased In Melbourne As Live Music Continues To Struggle

Melbourne’s lockdown rules have further eased, with entertainment and events capacities changing again. 

Returning to rules reminiscent of before the state's most recent lockdown, certain venues and dancefloors are back to 75% capacity.

The following rules have been outlined by the Victorian Government and have gone into effect as of today:

• Indoor entertainment venues with fixed seating will be able to operate at 75% capacity once again, with a maximum of 300 patrons per venue
• Venues following the Public Events Framework will return to 75% capacity with a maximum limit of 2,000 patrons
• Outdoor venues with fixed-seating will operate 75% of seated capacity with up to 1,000 patrons
• Indoor, non-seating venues will be allowed 300 people maximum, under a limit of one person per two square metres under the operation of a COVID Check-in Marshal (or one per person per four square metres if not). Dance floors can reopen with up to 50 patrons if a COVID Check-in Marshall is present

Throughout the country, the constant need for rescheduling shows due to lockdown and capacity restrictions is crippling the music industry, with those within it calling for more support.

Speaking with The Music this week, Sophie Kirov, director of touring and logistics company Lost Motel, said "we need to get those capacities back to 100%".

“We absolutely need to keep putting pressure on state governments to [increase] those capacities, because until we’re at a point where our shows can be finically viable, we’re not going to see tour parties engaging the number of crew that we did, engaging suppliers and building out these budgets as we once did,” Kirov said.

READ MORE:

• 'A Dangerous Predicament': Why Aus Music Industry Desperately Needs Roadmap Out Of COVID

• ‘It’s Very Dire’: What COVID Restrictions Mean For Aus Music Industry’s Unsung Heroes

• ‘People Are Suffering’: Constant Show Rescheduling Crippling Music Industry