Venue boss says Frank Turner’s socially distanced trial gig was ‘not a success’ as they failed to cover their costs despite singer performing for free
- Frank Turner played to an audience of 200 people at Clapham Grand on Tuesday
- Without social distancing, the London venue normally boasts a capacity of 1,250
- The venue’s manager Ally Wolf said the show ‘cannot be the future for live music’
- Turner says he nearly pulled out after hearing the audience couldn’t sing along
A venue boss has said Frank Turner’s socially distanced trial gig was ‘not a success,’ as it failed to cover operating costs, despite the singer performing for free.
The Clapham Grand in South London cut its capacity from 1,250 to 200 in order to accommodate new distancing measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
But Ally Wolf, the venue’s manager, said the trial, modelled on the Government’s pilot scheme, would not be financially viable for most venues.
Clapham Grand in South London said the new socially distanced model for live performances was not financially viable, after cutting its capacity from 1,250 to 200 for a concert on Tuesday
Frank Turner performed at the concert free of charge, but the venue still couldn’t cover operating costs
Calling for the government to provide support for smaller venues, Mr Wolf said the pilot: ‘Is not a financial model that the industry can remotely rely upon to get to be sustainable.
‘It can’t be the future for live music, it can’t be the future for venues.’
The model would be particularly challenging to implement for smaller venues, Mr Wolf said, before adding that profits could not exceed operating costs even before a fee for the performer is factored in.
A £1.57billion support package for the arts has already been announced by the Culture Secretary.
During the pilot, while crowds normally stand at the Clapham Grand, seating and tables were put in to allow for social distancing.
Audience members were able to order drinks to their tables and they were asked to arrive at staggered intervals.
One-way systems were put in place around the venue and people had their temperature checked as they entered the building.
Frank Turner says a ban on crowds singing along ‘nearly made him change his mind’ ahead of the gig
Speaking after Tuesday’s concert, Frank Turner, who was supported by folk artist Beans on Toast, said it was ‘galling’ to hear that the crowd would not be able to sing along during his performance.
Writing on his blog, he told fans: ‘That brought me up short, and nearly made me change my mind about the show.
‘Getting the crowd involved in the performance is at the heart of what I do on stage, and the shows I play work towards a moment of unification, where the barrier between performer and audience breaks down.’
Live performances are expected to return on August 1.