Unvaccinated, French singer Zaz is postponing her scheduled shows in Quebec at the end of September due to “sanitary measures still in effect in Canada,” she announced on social media on Friday. A decision that surprised Quebec broadcasters.
Posted yesterday at 7:00 a.m.
“We received the information very late last week, under embargo, a little before the official announcement,” explained the communications director of the Grand Théâtre de Québec, Jean-François Ermel.
Quebec broadcasters were unaware that Zaz’s visit risked being compromised by his vaccination status. “Of course we were surprised, adds Jean-François Ermel. Especially since it was a show that still sold well. Fortunately, with the pandemic, we have developed communication mechanisms with ticket holders, so we are able to turn around quickly. »
Zaz is one of the few French artists to tour extensively in Quebec. She was to perform at the Palais municipal de La Baie, in Saguenay (September 21), at the Grand Théâtre de Québec (September 23 and 24), at the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts, in Montreal (September 26 and 27). , and at the Cogeco Amphitheater in Trois-Rivières (September 29).
At Diffusion Saguenay, it was only at the end of the day on Thursday that we learned from the producers that Zaz could not come and sing in Quebec, said programming and marketing director, Claudine Bourdages.
Of course, we would have liked to know better beforehand. It’s the first time it’s happened. And maybe not the last.
Claudine Bourdages, Programming and Marketing Director, Diffusion Saguenay
Mme Bourdages learned the reason behind the postponement by reading the singer’s Facebook post on Friday afternoon.
“With the jet lag, let’s say that the information circulated in a somewhat curious way. “Same thing in Quebec, where calls from the public came from the weekend, after the publication of the singer.
Major scheduling conflict
“We are a broadcaster, they are on a tour with dates with us. We don’t have a lot of control, it’s their production, their tour team, explains Jean-François Ermel. When we are informed, we act for the best according to the directives. »
Zaz’s Quebec tour is presented by a group of producers: Richard Walter Productions and Anthakarana Events on the French side, and Blü Dog Media and Le cœur qui rêve on the Quebec side.
On the phone, the Quebec producers explain to us that Zaz, even if she is not vaccinated, could have taken the plane. But her status required her to self-isolate for 15 days upon arriving, causing a major scheduling conflict and unable to fit into her tour – she will be performing on September 17 in Mérida, Spain.
On Friday, the singer said on Facebook that she had made “every effort to obtain entry clearance” to Canada. She also recalled that she had managed to do “all the dates since last March internationally by showing white paw (repeated PCR test and isolation)”.
“Tours are planned long in advance. Tickets have been on sale for a long time, ”explains Claudine Bourdages, convinced that everything has been done on the part of the producers to avoid this situation. “We don’t know how fast the rules fall, and they must have thought this one was going to fall faster than that. »
Efforts for 2023
At the moment, broadcasters and producers are trying to find new dates, in 2023. This requires “significant calendar work”, since several rooms are involved, according to Claudine Bourdages. “Obviously it’s very disappointing. We are all very disappointed. Production is too. That’s not what we wanted. »
If the pandemic has taught broadcasters anything, it is to manage uncertainty, recalls Jean-François Ermel. Moreover, many shows have had to be postponed in recent months because artists have contracted COVID-19.
The Grand Théâtre de Québec is therefore no more cautious after this episode and is also trying to find a place for Zaz in 2023. “An artist like that, who has a great reputation, a great offer for the public, and a great response from the public, we want it to happen. But there are things beyond our control. »