In answer to the questions posed:
Yes, I WILL be wearing a face mask backstage at festivals
– I will be wearing it in consideration of my peers, the fellow performers and musicians who have not been able to work since March 2020.
– I will be wearing it in consideration of the backstage crew and tech teams who have not been able to work since March 2020.
– I will be wearing it in consideration of the promoters who have lost ÂŁmillions cancelling and rescheduling events multiple times since March 2020.
– I will be wearing it to minimise the risk of somebody testing positive and everyone involved having to self-isolate, as has happened to the London production of âHairsprayâ that I saw on Saturday, the entire cast & crew are now in self-isolation until Mid-July, and all shows have been cancelled – absolutely heart-breaking!
I have made the personal decision to cancel ALL bookings that were at indoor or enclosed spaces, or where the audience would be in close proximity and the risk of aerosol transmission high.
As the World Health Organisation continues to recommend â âMasks are a key measure to suppress transmission and save lives. Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive âDo it all!â approach including physical distancing, avoiding crowded, closed and close-contact settings, good ventilation, cleaning hands, covering sneezes and coughs, and more. Depending on the type, masks can be used for either protection of healthy persons or to prevent onward transmission.â
My family and I have all had both vaccines, and will continue to wear our masks in close contact settings, and will avoid crowded venues.
This has not stopped us from getting on with our lives.
We have still been having days out, we have been to the theatre.
We have met up with friends & family, and will be going on holiday.
We will continue to do all of these things safely, and we will continue to do so wearing our masks, as many other people have also chosen to do.
I donât feel that wearing a face mask impinges my freedom or civil liberty any more than wearing a seat belt in a car or a crash helmet on a motorbike (Not that youâd ever get me on a motorbike!) and i’m happy to do it to be able to get on with my daily life safely – being vaccinated, testing weekly, wearing a mask and being sensible.
Yes, I WILL be wearing a face mask backstage at festivals, because if the artists get sick or test positive THERE IS NO FESTIVAL.
