It's something that we're all in together, no matter if you're an artist, a performer, a tech or a venue. We're all affected equally. If we can't play, then venues can't sustain an income or have any kind of growth.
At my management, Invictus Entertainment, out of Penticton, B.C., Jim has told me horrific stories as of late, where he has reached out to contacts that he has booked and worked with in the venues for over 20 years who are no longer there. He was told he has to call the mayor of the town, or the city, to try to access the venue.
One of the biggest concerns coming out, God willing, the other side of COVID is that we're looking at six to eight months minimum for these venues to be restaffed, if they haven't been already been reallocated. We've lost quite a few theatres across Canada to now becoming movie theatres only. They're actually taking the time and doing the work through grants to convert the theatres. We have now lost an outlet for 3.1 million people to actually go and earn an income.