Ontario venues say new COVID-19 rules create 'double standard' for standing concerts

Indoor concerts are slowly coming back to life in Ontario, but venue owners say the latest COVID-19 guidelines will dampen any significant return to live music in the coming months.

At first glance, new rules that lifted capacity limits in "select settings" last weekend seemed to allow 100 per cent capacity at all live shows.

However, venue owners say they were disappointed to learn the policies only apply to spaces with seating — mostly stadiums, arenas and theatres. That's left smaller venues without seats unable to hold shows unless they install chairs, a move they say dramatically reduces capacity and makes some planned concerts unfeasible.

Erin Benjamin, chief executive of the Canadian Live Music Association, said the "vast majority" of concert venues are now in a tough spot. Most of the country's live spaces are "general admission" venues, or standing room only, and tickets for many upcoming shows were sold with the idea ticketholders wouldn't be seated.

At the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, putting seats into the standing space cuts the room's capacity nearly in half to 250 people, said owner Jeff Cohen. That's a major deterrent for bands, especially ones from outside the country, who can't justify bankrolling a Canadian tour under those economics.

Cohen said independent concert promoter Collective Concerts, as well as Toronto venues Lee's Palace and the Horseshoe, have cumulatively cancelled 53 shows over the past month after deciding the current seating rules made them impossible to hold.

"That's a lot of workers, from sound techs to stage loaders not working, and artists having major holes on their tour," he said.