Status: 02.12.2021 6:06 p.m.
December is usually the best time of the year for theaters and concert halls. But this year too, many events are falling victim to the corona pandemic. The industry is angry – and is asking for more money.
“Wickie and the strong men” have to pause. Because it cannot implement the new Corona requirements of the state of Hesse, the Schauspiel Frankfurt has canceled all events from next Sunday until probably December 9th – including the production of Runer Jonsson’s children’s book. The city’s health department had previously only allowed the game to continue on the municipal theaters under the condition of the “chessboard” with 2G + requirements as well as a mask requirement.
This regulation means that less than half of the available spaces may be occupied.
However, more tickets have already been sold than the space allowed now, according to the theater. “According to which criteria should we now unload our guests? There are no transparent guidelines for this,” complains Artistic Director Anselm Weber. Visitors will receive a voucher for tickets they have already purchased. The cards can also be returned or exchanged.
Like the Frankfurter Schauspiel, other organizers are also doing. The Prime Minister’s Conference today decided to significantly limit sports and cultural events. For this purpose, only 30 to 50 percent of the capacity should be used for events in closed rooms with up to 5000 spectators. At the same time, visitors must wear medical masks and be vaccinated or have recovered (2G). In addition, a current test can be prescribed for the participants (2G +).
“Reckless and hostile to culture”
Andreas Schessl, head of MünchenMusik, is already familiar with such restrictions, because in Bavarian theaters, cinemas and concert halls, in addition to the 2G + rule, the occupancy of the halls has been limited to a maximum of 25 percent since November 25th. As a result, Schessl, one of Europe’s largest concert organizers, had to cancel a number of performances by artists; some have also been postponed. As in Frankfurt, the question arose as to what criteria should guests have been unloaded. The events would “not pay off” with such a limited capacity.
That is why Schessl decided: If there is an alternative date, the tickets that have already been purchased remain valid. If the event is canceled without replacement, purchased tickets can be returned to the advance booking office where they were purchased.
The organizer considers the restrictions to be unfair. He has therefore brought an action before the Bavarian Administrative Court and the Bavarian Constitutional Court. Schessl is particularly bothered by the unequal treatment of culture and gastronomy. “Reckless and anti-cultural,” he called the measures taken against him br.
Industry fears many rejections
Jens Michow, President of the Federal Association of the Concert and Event Industry (BDKV), fully understands the cancellations in Frankfurt and Munich. “If in future a maximum of 30 to 50 percent of the room capacity may be used indoors for cultural events, all events will have to be canceled immediately. They would be completely uneconomical,” he said in an interview with tagesschau.de. In addition, it would not be reasonable for the cardholders or the organizers if three quarters of the audience had to be sent home again.
“The organizers have only been able to implement the 2G rule, which has been in force since September, with more staff. Since then, many cardholders have wanted their entry fee back because they are not ready to be tested even though they have been vaccinated or recovered,” says Michow Many bought their tickets back in 2019 when no one knew anything about Corona. They accepted that an event was postponed up to three times. “If it is now expected that a negative test result will be presented beyond 2G must, many people will prefer not to go to concerts or the theater, “says Michow.
According to the law, organizers are entitled to issue the holder of an admission ticket purchased before March 8, 2020 with a voucher for the amount of the admission price instead of a reimbursement of the admission price. This voucher can then be redeemed either for the catch-up event or, alternatively, for another event of the organizer. If the voucher is not redeemed by the end of 2021, the holders can request that the value be paid out from January 2022.
“Sharpening” of the special fund called for
For association president Michow the situation of the branch is devastating. In 2019, the event industry generated around six billion euros in sales. “The slump in sales since March last year should now amount to at least 10 billion euros.”
If almost all concerts had to be canceled again, significantly higher state aid would be necessary. To this end, the industry needs a “re-sharpening” of the special fund for cultural events launched by the federal government in the spring. Of the 2.5 billion euros in this fund, one billion is still available. “I hope that the money will be enough, otherwise the federal government will have to add more,” said Michow. The organizers are not eager for state aid and had never taken any help before the outbreak of the pandemic, “but in this situation there is no other way,” said the association president.