Will the Show Go On? Regulations for Reopening of Entertainment Venues Offer Little Hope

Last week, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a litany of regulatory guidelines for livehouses, theaters, internet cafés, and other "entertainment venues" hoping to reopen in the waning days of COVID-19, according to Beijing News.

The documents indicate that in areas in China considered low-risk, venues can hold performances after receiving approval from the local party committee and government. However, all medium- to large-scale events, as well as those featuring foreign nationals and anyone needing to enter the mainland, such as performers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao, are still suspended (perhaps unsurprisingly given they can't enter the country anyway). Meanwhile, all commercial performances in medium- and high-risk areas will continue to be put on hold.

For those venues that do reopen, a strict 30 percent capacity will be enforced to ensure that audience members can abide by the requisite one-meter social distancing. Likewise, performers are also required to keep a one-meter distance from each other. Lastly, any venue that houses more than one theater or performance hall will only be allowed to operate one of those spaces at a time.

As for internet cafés and other entertainment venues, a nod from the local government and party commission is similarly required before resuming operations. Moreover, these venues will only be allowed to seat 50 percent of their capacity. As such, it's recommended that people book ahead of time so that the establishment can stagger its flow of customers.

On the surface, these regulations appear to be poking holes in what has otherwise been an impenetrable wall of regulations surrounding the entertainment industry these past few months. But really, there's still a long way to go before things are back to normal. Unfortunately, for some venues – most recently DDC – the new guidelines are too little too late, while for others, capping ticket sales at 30 percent doesn't begin to cover the expenses of hosting a show, let alone turn a profit. Additionally, the ongoing suspension of medium- to large-scale performances, coupled with the ban on foreign musicians and performers diminishes the chance of venue owners salvaging their business in the short-term.

If you'd like to do your part in helping some of China's livehouses and F&B venues mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19, click here and here respectively.

Read: COVID-19 Takes Down Beloved Live Music Venue DDC

Images: GM, Live Beijing Music