Live Events Bring New Health Responsibilities For Planners
I guess the BIG question is can we do the whole live event thing like we used to? Well, in short, yes. In Ontario, we have been able to resume some in-person events. However, these events have changed drastically, and the planning that goes into an event and its operations have new steps we haven't had to think of before. But despite these new curveballs, we are just as happy as you to get off our screens!
Oh, hello there! Here’s this massive curveball!
Last year, we hosted the Surya Yoga Festival in Kemptville, Ontario. None of us could have imagined the long list of demands and new protocols we had to address when starting live events again. However, our team dove headfirst into the worldwide villain: COVID-19. We spent hours researching what needed to be done to actually see real humans again. This involved; staying up to date with local and provincial restrictions such as masks obligations and capacity limits. It meant that, like any business and organized event, we needed to have a COVID safety plan well thought through and printed on-site. This also meant including a blood protocol kit into the safety plan, something no one would ever have thought of pre-pandemic.
These new requirements were listed in more detail on the government of Ontario website and other reliable resources. To dot our i’s and cross our t’s, we made sure to reach out to a local health unit rep and chat with him about what was needed for this festival to take place safely. So just like all event planners, we made sure that the proper signage reflecting the guidelines was displayed all over the event. We even had handwashing signs all over the place… I mean EVERYWHERE! Here we are, adults being told to wash your hands! Talk about feeling like you are back in kindergarten.
That wasn't even the best part. Remember when we all wanted to be doctors and mad scientists, well part of the protocols include having FULL PPE in our first aid kit in case of an emergency. This means that we had to have gloves, gowns, goggles and shields on top of the usual bandaids and suckers. Although it feels like a lot, and I am sure we are all sick of hearing how we have to be safe or go into lockdown again, I am thankful we have safety procedures and equipment on us. It not only protects us but the families we go home to each night and the friends we can catch up with on weekends.
I know we are ready to move on from COVID, but we have to remember to be safe. So it is understandable as to why we need to implement these new protocols. But what does this mean for your next event or the future of the events industry?
Hello?! Is this thing on… Is anyone here? Can we go live?
I can positively say, going forward with live events will change compared to what they were pre-pandemic. We are so excited to start working on live events and attend them too! Planning may become a little more time-consuming and come with a few more head-scratching moments, but a small price to pay to get back into the swing of things. For the foreseeable future, event planners like us at ITM Events will continue to PROCEED WITH CAUTION and stay up to date with the forever-changing guidelines. We do this to protect our staff and YOU! I guess what I’m getting at here is the following: LIVE EVENTS AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE. I REPEAT. LIVE EVENTS AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE. We are undeniably excited and want to go live, we miss all your beautiful faces too much!
