Live music slowly but surely returning to Conexus Arts Centre

You’d be hard-pressed to find a type of business that didn’t suffer from the pandemic, but live entertainment was hit especially hard.

While things aren’t completely back to normal, there are steps in the right direction at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina.

Last week, the venue played host to its second and third shows since the pandemic hit: A Buckcherry concert and a performance from Jess Moskaluke and the Regina Symphony Orchestra.

The pickup in activity is welcome for Neil Donnelly, the CEO of the arts centre.

“It’s been a long time coming. (I’m) certainly excited to be back at it. It’s still trying times out there, and there’s some unusual circumstances that they’re coming in under, but we’re certainly excited to be back doing our thing,” he said.

There are some growing pains, however.

The venue, as all others in Saskatchewan do, requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to get in the doors.

Donnelly said it’s a bit of a logistical issue that centre officials are still learning to deal with.

“You have to work at managing the lines and getting people through the vaccination check, and then through the typical ticket-taking check, so there’s a bit of a double process that you have to go through out front,” he explained.

“It’s a bit cumbersome for people. They have to get their phone out, or their wallet and their ID, so it’s multiple things plus their ticket. So it is a bit of a cumbersome process, I’ll say, but people are getting more used to it as you go out more, do it at restaurants and do it at other places.”

Once people get through the doors, it gets easier.

“Once they get in, (we’re) just reminding people to keep their masks on. They have to wear them throughout the show, except for when they’re actively consuming food or beverages,” Donnelly continued.

That being said, it can get a bit awkward for security to remind people to mask up if they aren’t wearing one in the middle of a show.

“It is tough in our theatre. There’s no centre aisle or anything, so you’ve got 50 people in one row across. So it’s a little difficult to get people’s attention,” he pointed out.

However, he doesn’t see it as a major problem.

“For the most part, people understand and they want to do it anyway. They want to protect themselves so it hasn’t been that big of a challenge so far,” he said. “People seem to be happy and enjoying themselves back in front of live music and live events again.”

Another aspect is booking talent to come and perform. The Regina Symphony Orchestra is a consistent fixture at Conexus. The centre has many shows booked, including orchestral versions of music by Pink Floyd and Joni Mitchell.

Outside of them, there are a few other upcoming shows.

City and Colour is to play there Nov. 28. The Glorious Sons are to play on Feb. 9, and Mother Mother is to have a show on May 5.

“It’s been a bit of a gradual process. We were expecting a busier fall than we have. Obviously, with the (COVID) numbers the way they are, people are still a bit more reluctant to come out and artists are a bit more reluctant to tour,” Donnelly explained.

“But we are thankful that we do have some activity happening.”