An Insight Into..:2519
UEA and The Waterfront: Running Live Music Venues In A Pandemic Age
25/03/21
Booking, planning and running the huge range of gigs and events at The Waterfront and the Nick Rayns LCR is a massive task at the best of times, but imagine doing this during a pandemic. Not being able to offer current and new students as well as the Norwich public the shows they expect and want must have been really hard, let alone all the different reschedules dates and arrangements just added to the impossible task.
We spoke to Jake whose job it is to do all of this, find out how he got through it all and what he's hoping to see come the end of lockdown.
It must have been a hectic year with not only managing the venues, but also the ever changing restrictions applying to students?
One whole year of me and my dining room, somehow it feels 5 minutes and a lifetime all rolled into one. Pretty much a year to the day since we made the decision to cancel our sold-out Frank Turner show at The Waterfront with the realisation starting to hit home… this old Covid is the real dealand means business. I certainly did not think I’d still be sitting in my dining room 12 months later, no chance.
One of the biggest challenges has to be the ongoing uncertainty, a real rollercoaster of emotions from one week to the next with hope and despair on a loop, there have certainly been some tough weeks in keeping motivation and let’s not mention all those rescheduled shows. Although, we have managed to reroute most gigs avoiding cancellations and we now have a long overdue end goal in sight. Everything crossed things go to plan.
The staff must have been doing a range of duties during this period outside of what they would normally do?
Absolutely, on top of staff furlough across the departments we have had to adapt with many of our student focused events in the past 12 months running virtually. Although, we had a programme of face to face welcome events on campus using a big top style tent on the lawn area outside The LCR. Felt like luck wasn’t on our side as the final week of events coincided with severe storms which put a premature end to the programme.
We also extended the SU Bar into The LCR which looked mightily impressive, a great effort by the venues team to get that up and running safely. A hit with our students, and we hope to reopen in line with government steps. We also had a surprise cinema night called Sunday Night Horror every week. The team are working hard on event plans for the return of students on campus. Watch this space as they say.
The Waterfront had a much needed freshen up, again the team have done a fantastic job in anticipation of reopening our doors. No more sticky floors, well for now anyway!
We also ran an alcohol click & collect service from The Waterfront plus though the summer we operated our beer garden as a table service pub. After a few months closed it was great to just have some faces at the venue again. We also worked with local promoter and friend of the venue Tilting Sky for a series of Instagram live Waterfront Sessions.
Laura Marling plays at The LCR this autumn
It must have been really hard for students as well, and guess fresher’s fayre was like it had never been before?
Of course, again the fayre ran virtually which presented it’s own difficulties, plans are already well under way for the welcome programme in September and this time we hope for the fun to be in person and not behind a laptop screen!
When the first lockdown ended and we entered Tier 1, I know you tried some things at Waterfront, how did they work?
That’s right we ran a few things on top of decorating the venue, an alcohol click and collect service and outside bar. The main room is good to go as a safe socially distanced live music venue, we had our trial show booked in for mid-December but the change in tiers and restrictions put a stop to that. We would love to make use of the space and all the work the team have put in; the venue looks unrecognisable it really does. Let’s see what the next few months bring.
It must have been a frustrating time for students on campus and how you operated LCR and The Hive?
Absolutely, it’s not the student experience anyone signed up for, right? During those weeks of real unrest and uncertainty around the country we aimed to provide support, information and safe entertaining spaces where possible. Unio, the coffee shop in The Hive, continued to operate as did the SU campus shop. The LCR being utilised as a seated socially distanced bar become an area where things felt a little bit normal for a few hours. Just a lot more mellow than usual.
Image Credt : @joefrancisphoto
How did Tier 3 change things?
Tier 3 certainly put a halt to our activity in both venues, cutting short our LCR/SU bar on campus and then The Waterfront plans to operate socially distanced shows from January onwards, we had our first trial events scheduled for mid-December but the change in tiers and restrictions stopped that
It must have been a challenge booking, re-booking and no doubt re-re-booking gigs during this period?
I thought we agreed let’s not mention all those reschedules! Only kidding, from a personal point of view this has been the bulk of the workload this past year and the one thing I’m conscience of is to not reschedule shows to July/August 2021 and the roadmap does not lead to where we need to be. Suddenly we have a situation where we need to move a big chunk of the diary to an already massively congested period. From my conversations that feeling is shared across the country.
If we look back at Lockdown 1 the discussions of finding a new date for a show would be looking a few weeks or months ahead but we are very much in constant negotiations for 2022 this time around.
What are your hopes for The Waterfront when restrictions allow?
A glorious triumphant safe sweaty return! If the roadmap goes to plan from late summer/autumn, we are looking back to back busy. Not many dates available in the diary for 2021.
One of the advantages of this down time is a chance to take stock and re-evaluate what we and the customers desire from the venue. How do we want the venue to be viewed, we want people to be proud of their venue and we know The Waterfront holds such a special place in the heart ofNorwich.
Then of course we have our beloved Propaganda and Meltdown clubnights to return, and we can only imagine the excitement that will surround those first nights in the venue.
We are itching to get those doors open but there are still many uncertainties with what a ‘return to normal’ gig or club night looks and feels like, that is something we are actively working on and we will only reopen when we feel the venue is completely safe to do so.
How does it look for The Nick Rayns LCR?
If we could make all the events in the diary happen then we are set for a blockbuster return. Certain larger scale tours especially artists from overseas, continue to reschedule to 2022 and even as far as 2023 as it’s becoming more problematic to find availability for multi date tours. Plus, it does offerthat little bit extra security the shows could take place.
There have been some exciting conversations surrounding artists that you would generally consider too large to perform at the venue. The past two weeks have been extremely exciting with new show announcements. Check out www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk for all the latest info (shameful website plug)
Perhaps you might want to share a couple of highlights coming up?
The ones I’m allowed to say? There’s a few I would love to spill the beans on but those will have to wait. At The LCR we can look forward to shows with Wolf Alice, Laura Marling, Jake Bugg, Slowthai, Tom Grennan are just a few new additions. New dates announced for Paul Weller, Skunk Anansie, Doves.
Then down at The Waterfront we recently announced the return of Wakefield’s finest The Cribs, which should be an absolute belter. Inhaler also join us in October following a sold-out show in 2019. We have a pair of special album shows in conjunction with HMV, in July we host the incredible Arlo Parks, Arlo was one of our favourite discoveries last year so we feel lucky to have that one. And then in September Maximo Park storm the venue for an intimate event.
In October the main room and Studio will be host venues for Wild Paths festival, we know the WP gang are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make the 2021 an extra special event and all the noises so far sound beautiful. We really do pray these events can take place and the venues are committed to achieving that. We have so much more news coming in the next few weeks which we can’t wait to share!
How do people book tickets for upcoming events?
Ah I went in too early with the shameful website plug. Tickets for all our events at The Nick RaynsLCR UEA, The Waterfront, Waterfront Studio can be found at www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk, any queries can be emailed to boxoffice@uea.ac.uk. To be the first to access exclusive pre-sales be sure to sign up to our weekly mailer here UEA Tickets (list-manage.com)
We understand and expect lots of concern and uncertainty with the amount of changes in the past year, and there are bound to be many more questions as we approach a likely reopening. We are here to help to the best of our ability and provide information but unfortunately a lot of the unknowns are out of our hands, we all must wait and monitor the state of play.
How has the pandemic changed your personal values?
Probably similar to most but allowed me time to assess what is important, family, friends, health. Seeing the pain and struggle lots of people have experienced my heart really does go out to anyone who has experienced extreme difficulties during this time. Made me feel pretty lucky for what we’ve got.
What, if any, positives have you found coming out of the pandemic?
From a professional point of view, due to the nature of the way we have been operating since March the relationships built with other venues, promoters and agents around the country. Always felt like an all in this together attitude which honestly has made things so much smoother.
What do you think you will change as a result of the pandemic experience?
Tricky question to answer, maybe the biggest change is to focus my energy on things I truly have a passion for and not be easily led to places I did not necessarily want to be. It would be a shame for this year to be in vain and return the other side with the same mindset, I’d struggle to see how anyone would be unchanged surviving through this year.
Looking forward, what are your hopes and expectations?
Looking ahead we hope the venues can safely reopen based on government guidance, we hope that those venues, the crew, security, everyone can weather these next few months and make a triumphant return for a party that may go on for some time.
Current hot topic, information our customers may need to provide for entry to the venues, lots of talk surrounding proof of vaccination and/or a negative test. If I’m honest there is a massive question mark over that and internally, we discuss scenario A to Z and will have ideas to combat as many eventual scenarios as possible. We hope as the landscape becomes clearer and we move past those roadmap targets the finer details will become clearer.
Each venue will be working hard on reopening procedures but without clarity and definitive confidence in the rules and restrictions it would be a risk for any venue to reopen its doors.
Of course, trying to not get ahead of ourselves but after this last year it’s hard to not get excited isn’t it? Long way to go but it feels real this time round we may actually get there. Famous last words.
Finally, a grand return inside Carrow Road for a season of Premier League football.
Jake also let us know how he sees Outline..
Kev, Team Outline, you know how much we value everything you do not only for our venues and the Students Union but for the entire region and we know how difficult this year has been for Outline. We are grateful that Outline continues to offer an essential platform for entertainment and businesses in the city and will continue to do so on the other side of this storm.
We would also love to hear from the Outline readers in what information they would be looking for to feel comfortable returning to our venues? We hope to provide as much detail as possible because ultimately, it’s all about providing an enjoyable and safe entertainment venue in the city.