The formation of the PSA TPG

THE PSA TOURING PRODUCTION GROUP

Andy Lenthall discusses the formation of the PSA TPG.

They say that, if you want something doing, you should ask a busy person. That kind of works in normal times but in these strange times of lockdown and virtually no gigs (apart from the virtual ones), those normally busy people are not busy. You do find groups of them though, usually on a screen, discussing ‘the situation’.

To that end, what can only be described as a bunch of Premier League managers from the touring production profession had gravitated toward discussion in the new normal Zoomosphere to do… something? What if, said we, you all got together and collated your thoughts on just how a production might work in a COVID-19 secure kind of way. With apologies to those of a linguistically pure disposition, the reworking of the opening phrase should perhaps read; if you want shit doing, ask people whose job it is to get shit done.

This is supposed to be a story of how it all unfolded, but we’re not entirely sure. We spoke in earlier email missives about repurposing skills; you’ve probably seen the memes – ‘if crew ran the world/airport/space programme’ – but the end result was swift and decisive and it’s on the PSA website. Let’s just say it happened and it’s a list of procedures that you might want to adopt if you’re going to work to guidance that may come from government before we’re allowed to proceed with ‘normal’ shows.

Of course, the most challenging part of the process was choosing a name for the group. Great suggestions were made, all variants of the People’s Front of Judea having been dismissed, the PSA Tour Production Group was born; the album had been written, the band had a name, only two or three remixes, a sleeve design and ready for release.

Featuring hits such as I’m Forever Touring Bubbles and 2,4,6,8 more trucks to enable 2m distancing whilst unloading, the guide is designed to enable working practices informed by risk assessments. It’s certainly not a ‘how to’ guide for every element of a show; this is designed to be tour safe and show ready. Early on in the process, it became clear that our part of the workplace, from warehouse to load out, could perhaps be managed utilising existing workplace guidance, including that aimed at the construction sector, hence the more job-specific nature of the guide, interpreting what exists into our language and our practices.

Perhaps it’s best encapsulated by the wise words of Wob Roberts who, in normal times, will be Sam Smith’s PM. “COVID-19 is an unwelcome

addition to the rider, yet there’s no better group of people to find the solution than those that deliver shows for a living. More than a document, this is intended to be a responsive set of protocols that efficiently move with a changing environment.”

Of course, this is all a bit theoretical. At the time of writing, the five-step road map to cultural recovery has hopped back from stage four to three, and realistically, this guidance wouldn’t be used in any real-world context unless we’re in a position to hold shows with no social distancing. Recent ‘socially distanced’ test events, now stalled because of the retrograde step, were hailed a success by government by virtue of the fact that they happened; results so far seem to be that it made no money, nobody got infected and it was a bit rubbish. Roll on stage five.

Will we need COVID-19 secure production though? When we get to stage five? Surely, it’ll all be over and this exercise will be a waste of time. Well, maybe, and we’re sure that it would be deemed the most satisfying waste of time ever. But maybe not, because there may be a point at which a range of alternative measures is deemed to reduce transmission risk as far as is reasonably practicable in the audience context. Family groups, plus type of act, plus track and trace, plus extra hygiene, plus masks – pure conjecture on our part, but practice, application and science are still a movable feast. Only today did we see a document arrive from the gov.uk update service looking at air flow in entertainment settings as well as a cheeky little number on UV and other disinfection measures. Maybe these will inform new proposals for test events, the delay may prove useful, and guidance may be forthcoming.

Ba ck in the Zoom, what next for the PSA TPG? It would be a shame to waste that energy, expertise, experience and time. No matter which industry group you’re in (there’s a good few), conversation always switches to how we come out of this better, looking after each other and the planet, being recognised for the work we put in and the skills we’ve acquired and being more welcoming to all. Naturally, being a group that relies on people, wellbeing and diversity have been the first sub-groups formed. They’re not subjects that the PSA is unfamiliar with, and we’ve worked hard in groups to make improvements; to risk repeating ourselves, this is about capturing currently available energy to create action and momentum, getting up to speed with current initiatives and delivering energy to ensure that production people are informed and acting accordingly.

Wel lbeing has already been championed amongst the group; it’s the immediate priority, more people are being helped now and the need for help will grow before it diminishes. Music Support are more active than ever; without a doubt, they will inform and lead the immediate actions of the group. Our Welfare Fund, Stagehand, has stepped up activity in delivering Mental Health First Aid training; we’ll need every reader’s help with an upcoming fundraising mission. Immediate action required.

Diversity is another problem that needs addressing; our workforce survey makes depressing reading when it comes to… everything to do with diversity. It’s simply not enough to assume that anyone is welcome as long as they can do the job, that everyone fits in no matter what because, in reality, people are obviously thinking that this business is not for them and we’re missing out on talent. In cold, calculating business terms, talent makes money. Realistically, they’re just friends we haven’t made yet and lives we haven’t enriched. Aims, objectives and agendas are under discussion; we’ll be introducing people to people to add weight to existing projects. This will be no rant and rave group, no thought and talk echo chamber. We get the feeling that this will be an actions group and we’ll be there to support and enable. Short-term plans, medium-term actions, longterm improvements.

We end with the same subject we ended with last month: sustainability. When we’re allowed to arrange gatherings for entertainment, there’ll need to be a world to tour and the plundering of resources will need to slow, even stop in some areas. A sustainable supply of people, a sustainable way of treating people, a sustainable supply of resources and the development of a circular economy where the old feeds the new are but a couple of elements that need to come into play if we are to give to our customers without taking too much from their world. Production people – they get things done. TPi www.psa.org.uk