Sacramento venues, tourism officers put together for return of indoor exhibits

It’s the announcement that many local artists have been waiting for. State officials released new guidelines on Friday that allow live indoor events from April 15, under certain conditions. “It’s been pretty tough for everyone. You can’t really plan for all of your jobs to go away at once,” said Ira Skinner, musician and booking agent at The Russ Room. “I look forward to getting back to work so people can see the room. If it means everyone needs to be vaccinated, please get the vaccine and come out and enjoy our venue.” Its venue just opened months before the pandemic. Under the new guidelines, if all participants are tested or can provide proof of vaccination, the number of people allowed to perform indoors will increase. Capacity also depends on the level of restrictions in each county based on the state’s reopening levels. No indoor events are allowed in the most restrictive purple level. The Sacramento Kings also responded to the new changes, issuing a statement that they “look forward to seeing fans safely back at the arena in the near future”. “It is very encouraging news for the industry and region,” said Mike Testa, President and CEO of Visit Sacramento. Testa also oversees the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. He said congressional events bring substantial dollars to the local economy. “It’s a $ 66 billion industry in California that was put on hold last year,” Testa said, adding that the Sacramento-owned convention center will generate $ 240 million in a typical year. The venue is slated to reopen in May after being closed for renovations for two years. “We are looking for the game book that we can follow when we inform our customers about the future,” said Testa. “At the end of the tunnel there is a light, but there is still a lot of tunnel left, so that we can slowly but surely get there.” For example, Skinner wonders how capacity constraints work for performance spaces like his that combine food and music. “We are fully compliant with what the county requires of us,” Skinner said.

SACRAMENTO, California –

It’s the announcement that many local artists have been waiting for.

State officials released new guidelines on Friday Live indoor events can take place from April 15th under certain conditions.

“It’s been pretty tough for everyone. You can’t really plan for all of your jobs to go away at once,” said Ira Skinner, musician and booking agent at The Russ Room. “I look forward to getting back to work so people can see the room. If it means everyone needs to be vaccinated, please get the vaccine and come out and enjoy our venue.”

Its venue opened just months before the pandemic.

Under the new guidelines, if all participants are tested or can provide proof of vaccination, the number of people allowed to perform indoors will increase. Capacity also depends on the level of restrictions in each county based on the state’s reopening levels. No indoor events are allowed in the most restrictive purple level.

The Sacramento Kings also responded to the new changes, issuing a statement that they “look forward to seeing fans safely back at the arena in the near future”.

“It’s very encouraging news for the industry and region,” said Mike Testa, President and CEO of Visit Sacramento.

Testa also oversees the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. He said congressional events bring substantial dollars to the local economy.

“It’s a $ 66 billion industry in California that was put on hold last year,” Testa said, adding that the Sacramento-owned convention center will generate $ 240 million in a typical year.

The venue is slated to reopen in May after being closed for renovations for two years.

“We are looking for the game book that we can follow when we inform our customers about the future,” said Testa. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but there is still some tunnel left, so we’re getting there slowly but surely.”

In the meantime, further questions remain unanswered for organizers and artists.

For example, Skinner wonders how capacity constraints work for performance spaces like his that combine food and music.

“We are fully compliant with what the county requires of us,” Skinner said.