|
Jon, how many shows had to be moved and reset?
After the shutdown hit and it became apparent that we would be unable to do shows for awhile, we began to proactively move as many dates as we could into the second half of the year. We cleared about three months worth of shows almost immediately. We have moved 15 shows to later in the calendar year. Another eight moved into 2021. Unfortunately, we've lost eight to season cancellations and local restrictions. We hope to rebook most of those in 2021.
When do you expect The Oak Ridge Boys 20/20 Tour to resume?
The entire industry, like our entire nation, is in a wait and see mode right now. Still we are hoping to play limited dates in June and July, and then pick up heavier touring in August.
Will there be different regulations in each state/region/city the Oaks will be playing?
I am fairly sure we will see restrictions on the local and state levels that may make a few dates impossible to play. We just hope that it is minimal. The Boys are excited to get back on the road, taking their music and healing to the fans. Many cities, counties and states are waiting to weigh in on when, and even if, concerts can be held. We are monitoring restrictions in many markets and hoping for progress towards lifting them.
We also have to consider travel between states, as some require 14-day quarantines for outsiders, which is obviously not going to work for us. There's a lot to consider, and much of it is out of our hands. The good news is that, according to reports, Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee has just announced that large attractions, including racetracks, amusement parks, waterparks, theaters, museums and auditoriums, will be allowed to reopen starting May 22. Let’s hope other states follow suit quickly.
What kind of adjustments, if any, are being made for travel arrangements, etc.?
We will focus on keeping the Boys, band and crew safe and healthy. That will include everything from sanitizing the buses to working with hotels to make the stays safe. Of course it is of primary importance to keep the Boys healthy, so meet and greets will not be possible for the foreseeable future.
Venues will focus on the safety of their patrons. Each promoter or event will handle this differently, based on their venue and the regulations imposed on them. I am sure plenty of measures will be taken to thoroughly sanitize the building. Social distancing in entrances, lobbies, concessions, restrooms and even the seating areas will be issues for each venue. I expect masks to be required initially.
How much promoter enthusiasm are you seeing for upcoming shows?
We are seeing a lot of promoters continue to push hard for their dates. We have even booked a couple of new shows during the pandemic. There is a lot of excitement out there. If the promoters had their way, I think almost all would proceed as planned with precautions. But, as noted earlier, they may not have that option due to local/state regulations.
We are not booked in the pandemic hotspots, so we are cautiously optimistic that we can play a large number of our scheduled dates. A good number of the shows that remain on the books are in locales that have had few, and sometimes zero, cases of Covid-19. Those folks are eager to get back to a more normal life and we hope to bring our show to them!
I assure you the Boys are ready to hit the stage as soon as it is safe for them and their audiences to do so. See you out there!
|
