Recap: Granville Island Brewing presents VMF Pop-Up Patio!
When we said VMF was going to be bigger than ever this year, we truly meant it. Despite COVID19 restricting us from our usual festival, it did provide an opportunity to rethink VMF and create a new way to reconnect with all of you. The outcome? Our typically ten day festival turned into three weeks that included an open air Pop Up Patio presented by Granville Island Brewing, consisting of five unique nights of COVID safe entertainment experiences each week with a grand total of 16 nights of performances - including the closing night! Comedy, Burlesque, Drag, and Live Music was curated by different local organizations bringing some of the most diverse talent we’ve ever had the pleasure of hosting at VMF.
Meet Nick Collinet and Finn Parkes, the organizers of Granville Island Brewing presents VMF Pop-Up Patio. These two put their heart and soul into creating three weeks of events in a period of time that in hindsight seems impossible. Now that everyone’s blood pressures have dropped back to normal since the festival, we thought it would be fun to recap the events with an insider look!
What was it like creating this three week schedule of events in such a short time span?
There were so many elements to bringing the pop-up to life that we didn't know for sure that this would happen until just days before starting. We engaged a ton of external curators on the project which made it challenging given the time constraints and amount of communication, as well as being in a middle of a pandemic and folks feeling uneasy, which we expected. We felt it was an important element of our mission to showcase a broad spectrum of entertainment for everyone to enjoy that we as curators wouldn't have been able to accomplish alone. Working with other curators is a great way to meet new artists and engage with different communities. With venues closed or operating at an extremely reduced scale, we wanted to provide a stage for as many artists and performers as possible from across the arts and entertainment spectrum who have been out of work, many of which were unable to access CERB for various reasons and struggling. We kept that in mind while booking artists and hiring staff. The reception from artists and curators was really special and deeply moving. Since this was the first show for most of them in 6+ months, many of our hosts and artists made heartfelt comments to our audience about how wonderful it was to "be back", in a way that felt safe for both them and the audience. It was very touching and made a huge impact on us personally as well, we became more and more aware of how needed this was which added more fuel to the fire.
What was it like putting on a three week long event during a pandemic?
Producing events in a pandemic added many layers to an already complicated process. Each time that we overcame an obstacle, 1-3 new ones seemed to present themselves. While this was exhausting, it was also extremely energizing to creatively problem solve and push through to make something magical happen day after day. Our biggest hope is that we will inspire others to find a way to do what we did, it's challenging but possible. We can still gather safely, we just have to put our minds to it and think creatively about the ways in which we connect. The ways we have been lacking connection and how we could address that moving forward. This creates more room for accessibility for those who like certain types of music or performances but find it challenging or unable to go to nightclubs or alcohol primary venues with flashing lights and high volumes. Finding ways to include more folks in the experience is a huge plus. This was a great opportunity to book artists and showcase music styles that don't always get the spotlight, especially if they are lower tempo or energy. We were able to experiment with Downtempo, Ambient, and more experimental Electronic Music performances that were very well received. Broadening people's musical horizons and opening them up to new genres they may really love is something we feel is very valuable, not only to the artists but to those who may connect really deeply and find inspiration in discovering something new.
How did the Pop Up Patio maintain COVID19 safe precautions and safety measures?
We felt confident that our patio not only met but exceeded health and safety requirements. We're happy to report that we didn't have any instances of potential COVID-19 exposure after 3 weeks of events. Every individual was asked a sequence of health screening questions before entering the space followed by mandatory sanitization. All surfaces, including tables, chairs, and table toppers were cleaned after every use. Table spacing was ample, and fresh air flowed freely in the space.! We had strict guidelines for artists and staff that when followed, kept us all safe. Through this experience, we learned that taking appropriate safety precautions is simple and attainable, though time-consuming. Having the right staff who share your values, goals, and drive for what the mission is will make or break you. They are the ones (kindly) enforcing, cleaning, and making sure our protocols are held to the standard necessary. Making sure they are feeling safe, heard, valued, and at ease in the space allows that energy and feeling to flourish. At that point, they are confident in being able to keep the patrons and artists safe. Being open to feedback and adjusting the way things are running, and speaking directly about any discomfort/changes to be made is the only way to ensure everyone feels comfortable. We may be writing the safety protocols and producing the event, but our staff knows best when it comes to adjusting the flow of the event and internal systems for smooth sailing. Flexibility is key as we navigate new norms.
How many performers did the Pop Up Patio see?
While the capacity limitations were a challenge, the length of the pop up allowed us to feature 82 artists and performers over 34 shows. The sit-down format allowed us to explore new forms of programming, providing a stage to comedians, musicians, drag and burlesque performers. 57 percent of performers self identify as LGBTQ2+ while 57% identify as BIPOC.
What is your hope for Vancouver’s performing arts community?
Arts and culture is experiencing a huge amount of loss right now. Festivals canceled, venues closed, seats, and dancefloors empty. This loss is real, and it is immense. We absolutely need to find ways to transform what we do and how we do it in order to keep people connected to art, but most importantly, to each other. The VMF Pop-Up Patio was one way to do this, producing an extended event that might not have been allowed pre-COVID. Government policies need to be enacted to continue to support innovation like this. It's imperative for music to survive, and to combat the growing sense of societal disconnection in a city that already struggled with loneliness. The only way forward is to pivot and think forward.
Missed the shows / want to enjoy them again? Make sure to check out Patio Sessions: Vol 1 and Vol 2 from our Pop-Up Patio on our Youtube Channel!
We are incredibly thankful for being able to have been a part of such an amazing experience this year. A special Thank You to all the performers and curators from each night, our partners Granville Island Brewing for presenting the space with us, SoundOn BC for recording the performances so we can enjoy them again, Portable Electric for making it possible for us to power the sound and ambiance of the space, ENCORP for providing us means to take eco-friendly measures with recycling, and Vyne Botanicals, Lonetree Cider, Hey Y’all, PYUR, and Andrew Peller Wines for providing beverages for attendees to enjoy while watching the shows! Each and every one of our partners are responsible for helping to bring the Pop-Up Patio to life.
Additionally, Thank You to everyone who came, supported, watched, laughed, sang, and enjoyed the shows with us. Your continual love and support for VMF and the performing arts means the world to us.
Photos by Gabriel Martins
