Center Stage Manager: Reopening Music Venues Must Be Done 'Very, Very Carefully'

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Governor Brian Kemp issued a new executive order on Thursday that paves the way for the reopening of the state's music venues. Josh Antenucci, a managing partner at Atlanta's Center Stage venue, said he still wants to be cautious.

Gov. Brian Kemp has issued a new executive order that paves the way for the reopening of the state's music venues after months of being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Josh Antenucci, a managing partner at Atlanta's Center Stage venue, said he still wants to be cautious.

"I think we are going to continue approaching it very, very carefully and progressively in terms of crawling before we walk and walking before we run," Antenucci said.

The governor issued the executive order last Thursday allowing concert venues to reopen July 1 if  the spaces meet certain requirements, ranging from social distancing to employees wearing masks to wiping down seats, handrails and other surfaces. 

For venues like Center Stage that have general admission spaces, Antenucci said there's a lot of consideration left before its doors can open.

"We've got to determine what capacity limits we need to self impose in order to maintain that safe distance environment," he said. "We've also got to come up with procedures on how we can legitimately keep separation between parties that are going to cohabitate."

Center Stage, like many other live venues around Atlanta, is not rushing to announce a date for when concerts can begin again. But Antenucci believes there are a potential for the venues to begin utilizing their stages in creative ways. He said he could see the venue beginning to do things online.

"The easing of the restriction of doing any sort of activity within a venue has given us a license to keep getting creative in the streaming environment and bringing some artists to the stage," he said.

Center Stage has had to cancel or postpone dozens of  concerts and other live events since the pandemic forced shutdown in mid-March. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Center Stage: 'There's A Risk For All Music Venues To Close'

The governor's executive order lists more than 20 different requirements for venues, including requiring signs banning people who have tested positive for coronavirus, exhibited symptoms or been exposed to a patient sickened by COVID-19 within the last 14 days. Venues also must screen individuals at entrances and stagger the times of when people can enter and exit. 

Center Stage, along with other venues in Atlanta like the Masquerade and Smith's Olde Bar, are part of the National Independent Venue Association, or NIVA. The coalition describes itself as a recently formed group of 1,300 different clubs and venues around the country.

NIVA has launched a national campaign lobbying lawmakers to "save our stages" and provide additional financial aid to music establishments and promoters. Many independent music venues around the country have struggled to stay afloat since the onset of the pandemic.

Greg Green of the Masquerade spoke to GPB News last month about the importance of the coalition.

"If we don't survive, then you're going to have an entertainment industry that's literally owned by one or two companies," Green said.

Antennucci said he remains optimistic.

"I'm incredibly hopeful," he said. "I am more committed to making sure that we as a company are fully prepared to provide the experience that music fans need to have when they get back."

Note: In addition to being a journalist for GPB, the author plays in a band distributed by Warner Music Group. They have previously performed at and been compensated by the venues mentioned in this article.