There is fog and confusion in the ticketing and performance assistance measures offered during the pandemic by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) and the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC). A confusion that led to the cancellation of dozens of small music and song shows and that caused a lot of headaches for booking agencies, broadcasters and producers who opened up to the To have to on the subject.
“With Indie Montreal, we had about twenty show cancellations,” said Jon Weisz, founding director, and also general manager of Scènes de musique alternatives du Québec (SMAQ). “It is difficult to know if it is because of the changes in the sanitary measures – it is estimated at the SMAQ that 10 to 15% of our tickets were canceled by the spectators, either because of the wearing of the mask or the end distancing – or vagueness in financial aid measures. “
This vagueness arose at the press conference announcing the relaxations for the culture sector on September 30. Minister Nathalie Roy then announced that “the famous ticketing assistance measure” of the CALQ, which is used to compensate for reduced revenues due to small gauges, would “remain valid for six weeks” until November 15. However, this measure was renewed on September 15 until December 31, 2021.
A few days later, the Quebec Association of the Record, Show and Video Industry (ADISQ) let its members know through an internal mail including The duty has obtained a copy that the “Special measure for the dissemination of Quebec shows from CALQ and Temporary assistance for the performance of music and variety shows from SODEC will end on November 14, 2021”. Since then, there has been confusion in circles, who do not know what financial aid they will have on November 15.
These two measures gave a solid boost. As of September 30, 2021, the CALQ measure had enabled 153 organizations to share $ 20,108,721 and had subsidized more than 3,215 performances. Last year (until March 31) SODEC Aid supported 87 artists or companies, for a total of $ 1,263,953, according to the annual report. “By bringing the end of the programs from December 31 to November 14, it has completely changed the situation,” explains Eve Paré, general manager and vice-president of public affairs at ADISQ. “Tickets don’t always sell because all of a sudden you increase the gauge. There is still a great difficulty in bringing spectators back to the theaters. We feel this uncertainty very strongly among our members. “
The music channel
“SODEC went through temporary assistance for representation and producers to support the entire show chain, and also ensure income for broadcasters and artists”, explain people attached to an agency in the field of song and music, which requires anonymity for fear of alienating funders. “It allows us to rent rooms, for the benefit of presenters, and to send our artists there”, who thus earn fees.
Assistance for the SODEC regional tour has been amalgamated into this program, which covers artists’ fees, irrecoverable costs such as promotion, room rental costs and staff remuneration, and 20% fees for the producer or broadcaster. “Usually, I do two room rentals per year, in Montreal,” continues one of these people. This year, I did 55, everywhere: in Rimouski, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Chicoutimi, in Gaspésie, etc. “
Between November 14 and December 31, this agency offers “seven shows that could be canceled”, which would generate “a loss of approximately $ 55,000. This is without counting the contracts that we have not been able to sign in the last two weeks because some broadcasters do not want to take any risk ”. “It is difficult to plan a program without knowing the budgets and aid. How to make the financial package, with two months notice? Asks Mr. Weisz.
Minister Roy’s office confirmed to the To have to be aware of the concerns of the music industry. “SODEC and CALQ, two of the government corporations reporting to the Minister, will meet with their clienteles this Friday to confirm the measures that will take effect from November 15 until the end of 2021. […] An evaluation was carried out by SODEC and CALQ in order to respond even better to the reality of performance venues, stimulate ticket sales and ensure a transition period to promote a return to normalcy in these venues. Details will follow, therefore, on Friday.