VIP NEWS > INDEPTH STORY >
AUGUST 2020
COVID-19 and the Live Industry: How Are we Coping? It goes without saying that these are challenging times with the Live Music & Events Industry being one of the worst hit by the current coronavirus crisis and with the lockdowns and restrictions on events imposed by governments all over the world. Although there is some hope on the horizon with many tours already being rescheduled for the autumn there is still a lot of uncertainty remaining. We asked 4 professionals from different countries about their current situation and how they are dealing with the problems facing their businesses.
Dan Firoiu Managing Partner, Coco Agency Ltd. (BG) First of all I want to thank you for this great
VIP News. We expect the Bulgarian market
month to month with a lack of leadership
opportunity for this interview. Our company
to be back to normal from June and have
or supervision.
Coco Agency is active in the Middle East and
been less active locally. We have concerts
Europe. Over the past year our events had
with an audience from 50 until 2000 visitors,
Have you managed to promote or book
2.7 million visitors worldwide and we are
festivals with a maximum capacity of 15.000
any shows at all during this period of
proud to say that from 2017 our company
to 20.000 and clubs that are open, of course
uncertainty?
had an event each day until the CoronaVirus
sanitary restrictions apply at the events.
LockDown.
Yes we have promoted exhibitions in Ukraine
Have you received any financial support
- Poland and Latvia with more than 120.000
How is your company coping with the
from your government and if so are you
visitors.
current crisis and how’s the re-opening
still receiving support?
schedule looking in your country?
10
Have you managed to monetize any live streamed gigs and if so how?
We received a joke amount of 800 euro
Our activities have not been affected by
for one employee and we have more than
CoronaVirus, our exhibitions during March
20 employees. The authorities not only
Streaming gigs or exhibitions is not a part of
and April were travelling or being prepared
of Bulgaria but also of other EU countries
our activities.
for the 2020 season. We had less visitors
don’t really see the entertainment, event
in May but by June, visitors numbers were
and culture industries as important. When
Do you see live streamed gigs being a
the same as before. We have also worked
I see the market it is ridiculous that many
revenue stream in the future even when
with the Ministries of Health and Culture in
companies in this industry have financial
things get back to normal?
different countries to create a protocol for
problems after 3 or 4 months of not being
how exhibitions and museums could go back
active. It is sad that 40 % of the companies
I saw that BTS, the South Korean K-Pop
to business in the time of CoronaVirus. For
in the event industry in Belgium have closed
band, broke records with their live streamed
this I refer to the article I gave in the May
and shows how companies survive from
shows and TomorrowLand had great success