THE president of the TT Promoters Association Jerome “Rome” Precilla wants people to understand that the entertainment sector employs many and its members simply wants a chance to work again.

Newsday spoke to some artistes and event planners about how they have been coping being almost two years into the pandemic and with the sector largely shut.

In a phone interview Rome said it has been very difficult for many in the industry as the pandemic runs its course.

“The entertainment sector has been one that has been shut down from the inception of this pandemic and it is still closed to some extent…,” he said.

Many artistes have found it difficult to get jobs, he said.

“There are few artistes now – myself included – who have been getting a few bookings around the Christmas time. I have been getting but it is very small compared to years gone by. We are grateful for the little opportunities we are getting but it is no way near able for us to be sustainable, in terms of artistes being able to take care of their families.”

He said it was not only difficult for the artistes but the musicians, promoters and other workers in the industry. In September, the government introduced its TT Safe Zone initiative with the reopening of spaces like bars and other venues for fully vaccinated people.

Nevertheless, promoters are not allowed to have parties but rather shows, Rome said.

“It has been a difficult time for the entire sector.”

He said people tried transitioning to virtual events and, while the events are entertaining and creative, financially, the artistes are unable to generate income from them.

Artistes would usually rely on corporate sponsorship for such events and because the corporate sector has also been hard hit by the pandemic, the sponsors have not been spending as much to support virtual events.

The association has been in talks with the Ministry of Health and Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell and was looking forward to a safe-zone type of Carnival.

But, Rome said, that depends on a number of things such as the covid19 cases, vaccination rate and the new omicron variant.

Rome said even before the government announced the safe-zone initiative, the association decided to host vaccinated events.

[caption id="attachment_930064" align="alignnone" width="683"] Wendell Manwarren says the biggest challenge for creative people – because there has been so much uncertainty – was how to plan properly. - CHOLAI[/caption]

“When the safe zones were implemented, we were in full support of that because of the science,” he said.

Rome said the association understands there is no life after covid19 but life with it.

“A lot of countries outside of TT have adopted that same safe-zone policy. I went to New York; I went to a couple of clubs where you have to show your vaccination card to enter. And based on that we believe that is the safest way to go.

“The last thing we would want as an entertainment sector – as much as we would want our events to restart and to have a Carnival