Social distancing is the first thing on everyone’s mind during the time of COVID-19. So how do you welcome people back to your venues in a way that makes them feel safe and keeps them safe?
Staging Concepts, a provider of portable staging solutions, has already had venues inquire about creative accommodations that will ensure the safety of their guests but ultimately change and—dare we say—enhance the audience experience.
The solutions will vary between different styles of venues. “We've been approached by a number of different facilities managers for stadiums and sports venues who ask, ‘How do we rip up our row seating and create more VIP areas that can be sectioned off by group and allow for social distancing?’ It is no longer about packing people in shoulder to shoulder. There might be four chairs around a high-top table and a wall partition between one group and the next group,” says Cindy Albrecht, director of sales and marketing at Staging Concepts. Instead of traditional seating risers, clubs and concert venues are considering pods and booths on seating risers, which can be moved around and placed at various areas around the venue for different configurations. “Your group sits together and is encouraged to stay in your booth, and each booth is sectioned off and positioned six feet from the other groups.” Meanwhile, traditional theatres may veer from row seating and consider six-foot tables and inserts to distance groups.
“This is a trend we were seeing before COVID in the sense that VIP was more attractive at venues,” notes Jessica Ley, marketing and communications coordinator at Staging Concepts. “Venues were looking for creative ways to draw someone to leave their house to go to the venue. VIP sections are often where venues make their money versus the general admission. So now, with social distancing needed, VIP areas are going to be the new kind of normal where it is all throughout the venue rather than special seating.”
Staging Concepts has portable and flexible solutions to help aid that fan experience. Camera platforms can create more space between people while still achieving multiple angles to capture the action on screens that can “help fans feel closer to the action even if they're physically distant from it,” says Albrecht. Temporary platforms and ramps can help separate merchandise tables, food kiosks, and guest services from the concourse floor. “Our mobile, modular options allow venues to take it down and move it around, but still create distance so that fans can address various urgencies at designated areas. Guests can avoid crowding but still enjoy the experience and grab a quick bite or purchase that band t-shirt,” notes Ley. Barricades and guardrails can help guests form lines and facilitate the number of people entering or exiting at a time.
Staging Concepts also offers temporary and custom staging equipment, such as rolling staging platforms, risers, and portable seating, that can quickly re-design a space for an event or health crisis. Their portable platforms, ADA ramps, railings, and stair units can even construct temporary medical facilities at hospitals or alternative care sites, such as unused convention center show floors or ballrooms.
The CDC identifies outdoor spaces as less risky than indoor spaces. Consequently, Staging Concepts is adapting to this trend for outdoor gatherings and solutions. “We're developing an all-weather panel,” explains Albrecht. “It's basically our staging platform but it's a different type of material that can handle the abuse of rain, sun, and other outdoor elements.”
“The future is so uncertain,” concludes Albrecht. “Venues need to really be thinking about not only how they're going to solve social distancing, but also how they can do that in a way that's flexible. Rather than invest millions of dollars to make these renovations, consider solutions that are not permanent. Staging Concepts’ solutions give venues more of that flexibility, and in uncertain times, I think it's really important to be able to have those options to change: either change your venue out in different ways to adjust for what's happening in the world