On November 15, put on your best shoes and do your vocalizations: Quebec gave the green light on Tuesday for the reopening of the dance floors and karaoke. After months of claims, the nightlife industry breathes a sigh of relief.
“It was about time that happened! », Says Nic Urli, who collaborated on the opening of the speakeasy Club Velvet and the Flyjin nightclub.
In recent weeks, the night owl has been claiming the right to dance – banned by decree since June 2020 – for the survival of its industry. He even confided to Press, at the end of October, that he was thinking of having recourse to civil disobedience “if the dance floors do not [rouvraient] not “.
The ban on dancing will be lifted on November 15, with the obligation to wear a mask, Health Minister Christian Dubé announced on Tuesday in a series of health reliefs. It will also be allowed to participate in karaoke activities, according to certain health instructions. In theaters, the public will be able to stand, without an assigned seat, a relaxation that mainly affects independent venues.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, PRESS ARCHIVES
The owner of Velvet and Flyjin, Nicolas Urli.
“We were in the last big cities in the world to ban dancing. I believe we did well to demonstrate and demand change. [Je suis fier] of our industry. There we have to go up the slope! Nic Urli testifies enthusiastically.
The owner of Stereo, Montreal’s nightlife hotspot, Tommy Piscardeli, also welcomes the announcement, although he has some reservations.
“It’s a step forward. On the mask side, it will be a bit hard to control big crowds. We look at the Bell Center, for example, and not all people wear masks. We will do our best, but it will be very difficult to control, ”he said.
“The other fight” that he will have to lead will be to bring back his customers who, in recent months, had taken refuge in clandestine places to satisfy their thirst for dance.
“People have so much freedom in these events. No mask, no vaccination passport. I hope that we will be able to bring back our customers and that they agree to respect the regulations, ”he fears.
Make way for DJs
According to Anthony D’Urbano, promoter of electro concerts and manager of the Front Rite community, the date of November 15 had been circulating for several weeks.
We caught up with him in Toronto, where he went to take the pulse of the stage during Halloween. “The clubs are full and people are dancing,” he observes, happy to know that Montreal will follow suit.
“It’s impossible to be disappointed with this news,” adds DJ CRi. Nothing has happened for two years. Quebec will no longer be the exception to the rule. ”
During the procrastination of public health, an underground scene has grown in Montreal through social networks. Anthony D’Urbano sometimes found it heartbreaking to see the legal promoters kept out. “I understand, because people needed to dance, but we couldn’t be part of that gang that organizes illegal events. We’ve been riding and being known for too many years. ”
Will partygoers be willing to keep a mask on their face all night? Anthony D’Urbano doubts it. “Dancing in a legal space where everyone is doubly vaccinated, with or without a mask, is 1000 times better than dancing in an illegal room where no law is respected. ”
CRi, which regularly transports its consoles to the United States, has performed in front of masked spectators in one city, Seattle. “It worked very well. People seemed to be having fun. On the other hand, when you order a drink and take a sip, you don’t have your mask on. Is it better not to have any at all or to put your hand in your face every two seconds? I do not know. ”
The DJ is crossing his fingers so that no new wave in the spring comes to mar his Quebec tour. “Finally, the nightlife will be able to come back to life, hoping that, for the rest of things, it will be considered a little more as a cultural medium. ”
Sing loudly
In addition to nightclubs, karaoke bars can also reopen their doors. These festive places had bad press after an outbreak of COVID-19 caused 72 cases and one death in August 2020.
“We are pleasantly surprised, because we heard about a recovery in December”, explains Pascal Lefebvre, owner of the Taverne Le Normandie, in the Village. The establishment had karaoke events 7 nights a week before it all changed. “We had to reinvent ourselves with improvisation, quizzes, songwriters, but it is certain that it did not attract the same number of people. ”
La Taverne Normandie will finally be able to respond positively to the many customers who call to ask if karaoke will be back for office parties. “We are very happy and we are ready,” he says.
Singers for one night will have to wear a face covering if they cannot respect the physical distance of 2 meters, a lesser evil. “In the summer of 2020, there was no one vaccinated and we were doing karaoke with more demanding measures than those that will be required of us. It will be easy for us to adapt. ”
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, PRESS ARCHIVES
The Igloofest will be able to accommodate as many spectators as in 2019. Participants must, however, have their vaccination passport and wear a face cover, as set out on Tuesday.
Full capacity flowerbeds
Tuesday’s announcements also affect performance venues that do not have fixed seats. From November 15, they will be able to operate in a cabaret or standing format at full capacity. Once again, the mask and the vaccination passport will be prescribed.
“We have been waiting for this for several weeks,” rejoices Jon Weisz, general manager of Scènes de musique alternatives du Québec. On the other hand, there are small flaws, like every time new measures are announced. ”
For example, venues wishing to keep a distanced cabaret formula – as displayed at the sale of the show – will still have to impose the wearing of a mask. “This is not the format that was promised to ticket buyers. It causes a little friction. In bars or restaurants, once you are seated, you can remove the mask. ”
The case of dinner shows is also “very complicated”, notes Mr. Weisz. “There are different conflicting rules that must be clarified. It’s not clear. ”
Finally, social distancing will no longer be mandatory in major events such as festivals, which will be able to regain their normal capacity from November 15.
The announcement is right on time, rejoices Martin Roy, CEO of the Grouping of major international events, in full preparation for the winter season. It will open in mid-January with Igloofest, followed by the Quebec Winter Carnival and Montreal en Lumière.
“These events needed to know in which space they were going to be able to take place. This is really good news. And then imagine the snow removal of all independent areas! Exclaims Martin Roy.
And if it’s too late for last summer, the next summer season can still be saved. “We know where we’re headed and that’s reassuring. We can weigh on gas for the summer. ”