Quiet Riot to Play Socially Distanced Show in Arkansas

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

June 11th, 2020 4:43 PM

Quiet Riot will be playing a show next month in Arkansas that will put in place various social distancing guidelines.

Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali told Eddie Trunk (as transcribed by Blabbermouth) that the show will be taking place on July 4 at the Magic Springs Theme and Water Park in Hot Springs, Ark. Banali said, “…I am told officially through e-mails that the city has approved the date and they’ve approved it for as much as a three-thousand capacity. So it should be interesting.”

Banali continued, “I’m still waiting to see what’s gonna happen, because you don’t know if two weeks out, or a week out before the show, all of a sudden, that part of Arkansas gets shut down, locked down, the show is canceled or postponed to another date. And in the meantime, you have expenses — flights and hotels and all this kind of nonsense that you have to deal with.”

Magic Spring Theme and Water Park shared via their website, “To ensure everyone’s enjoyment it is highly recommended that concert attendees bring blankets as social distancing guidelines of six feet will be enforced. We ask your assistance in self-distancing your group from others. Due to these restrictions, reserved seating sales will continue to be suspended. Those who have purchased reserved seats will be provided updates individually via email. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.”

Banali went public in October 2019 with a diagnosis with stage four pancreatic cancer, but despite him being vulnerable to COVID-19, he said, “Early on [during the coronavirus pandemic], my wife put us both on home watch, and we just really haven’t been out of the house with the exception of going into my doctor’s to get treatments. I have to be very, very careful, because I’m in the age group, and because of serious underlying conditions, I’m at the top of the list that if I did get coronavirus, I probably would not survive it…I ended up having two more trips into the hospital with blockages. There’s always something — it’s a one step forward, two steps back, kind of situation. But I’m willing to fight it out.”

No Moshing/Crowd Surfing and 7 Other Changes Likely to be Made at Concerts During COVID-19

• No Moshing/Crowd Surfing.

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  Per the Event Safty Alliance's (ESA) 'Reopening Guide for Event Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic,' "Patrons cannot all stand at the front of the stage like they are accustomed; moshing and crowd surfing are violations of social distancing per se and must be absolutely prohibited during this pandemic."

• No Merch Tables/Stands.

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  Instead of buying an artist's t-shirt at a merch stand/booth, it's recommended that "...items for sale can be posted on a web site or event app that allows for mobile ordering and on-site pickup." If there is a merch table/booth present, "Mark merchandise sales lines on floor, with barricade, or rope and stanchion, patrolled by guest services workers to provide information and enforce social distancing." It's also recommended there be no trying on of merch and to have contactless payment.

• Socially-Distanced Smoking Areas.

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  It's recommended that "... even hallways and smoking areas where patrons congregate will have to be monitored to enforce health policies."
• Restrooms will likely have strict person limits.

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  Per the ESA's guide, "Workers should limit occupancy of restrooms to ensure social distancing. Unless portable restroom facilities are added, this will likely result in patrons waiting outside the restroom doors. The area where they are waiting will require monitoring to preserve (a) appropriate space between patrons and (b) an easily discernible line to avoid conflict about where the line begins. 

• Any changes a venue makes needs to be very visible to the public.

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  If a venue makes any changes to policies related to how they handle health and safety issues, they are advised to make them as clear as possible and list them basically everywhere including on their website, social media channels, various ticket purchasing sites, emails/push notifications, their mobile app and signage in their venue. In other words: Get ready for A LOT of updates.

• If there’s an intermission, people won’t be dismissed all at once.

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  Per the ESA's guide, "Intermission presents the same social distancing challenges as ingress [entering a venue] and egress [exiting a venue], with the distinction that some patrons will remain seated. For everyone who chooses to get up, they will have to be led out from back to front, and patrons will not be allowed to congregate inside or outside restrooms or near lobby concession stands. Even with fewer people attending events during the early phase of reopening, intermission may have to be longer than before to allow time for socially distanced patron movement. Given these issues, including how to let some people out of a row while others remain seated, the path of least resistance may simply be shorter shows with no intermission."
• Getting a drink will be even more of a process.

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  In addition to there being a recommended worker for just ringing up drink orders, "At a self-service restaurant or concession stand, the number of counter staff should be limited consistent with social distancing. Workers should place food and beverages on the table, counter, or other surface rather than handing purchases directly to patrons...Bartenders should model safe behavior by wearing a face covering and gloves when they are behind the bar...Patrons should hold their own identification for bartender inspection. If a worker must handle a patron’s ID, the worker should then dispose of their gloves and wash their hands before resuming service."

• Musicians on stage may have to abide by social distancing rules.

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  Per the ESA's guide, "The authoritative guidance requiring not less than six feet (two meters) of social distance may have to be expanded for singers and musical instrument players. Musicians often breathe deeply and expel aerosols further than people engaged in non-physical activities. Their performance space, including on stage and in orchestra pits, should be arranged to maximize social distancing while allowing at least some of them to perform together."  

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

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