For smaller venues like Warehouse, one of the possibilities that exists in the future is livestreaming concerts.

Although producing a livestreamed show may not replace the revenue of a ticketed event, Dickson said it is something promoters will have to take a serious look at moving forward.

“So we have looked at the opportunities around livestreaming events, whether that is because venue capacities are lower, or because less people are inclined to go out to an event.”

While livestreaming may be one way venues could readapt their business model, Dickson said the real concern for local promoters like himself is not what the music business will look like a year from now, but the question of how to survive the next six months or more.

“The larger question is whether venues can survive the summer. Many venues have entirely closed and (gone) out of business because they just can’t pay their overhead, even with the subsidies.”

Other entertainment venues in St. Catharines are doing what they can to open their doors.

Marc Sinodinos of Showtime Comedy and Entertainment said that their doors have been shut since March as well, but will finally be reopened next month.

“We haven’t been able to do anything. We have literally just been sitting with the door closed, but we are going to reopen after Labour Day.”

Sinodinos said he looked into ways to allow for alternative events during the closure, including the possibility of outdoor events, but the logistical challenges that come with hosting a live event during a pandemic were simply too much.

“There is nothing for live events. We looked into doing outdoor shows, and those were denied as well. So we decided we were going to wait until they lifted the restrictions, and we are going to open up with extremely limited seating.”

Showtime will run its first set of comedy shows since March after Labour Day with a new look.

For example, Sinodinos said, the comedian will be standing behind Plexiglas, and tables will be spread out to allow for greater distancing.

“It is still not good. We are operating at a third of capacity. We are basically going to be opening and running shows in hopes to break even, so that we are still around when the restrictions do get lifted.”

While a small step forward for local venues like Showtime, Sinodinos said the current restrictions may not be ideal when it comes to live events, but both promoters and audiences will have to work with and learn to accept them.

“It is what it is; we don’t have a choice. We can’t stay with the doors closed any longer.”

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With the music and entertainment industry among those hit the hardest during the pandemic, reporter Bryan Levesque spoke with local venues in St. Catharines to see what the future of live events looks like in Niagara.