The magic has gone from the showbiz world, we need more guidance from Government to help it return Top illusionist Keith tells of fears for crippled sector
We are looking at gigging as soon as possible
KEITH Barry has expressed fears for the entertainment business amid the virus crisis claiming the Government has left it in the dark about its future.
The illusionist is planning a gig at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre in September with potential temperature checks and swab tests at the door being touted as a way to keep magic alive.
Keith, from Co Waterford, told the Irish Mirror: “Right now we’re guessing what live shows will be like in the future. Because right now there’s no clear guidance from the Government whatsoever on entertainment.
“It’s not good because if we have no guidance we’re shooting in the dark and we’re creating our own model of what we consider safe.
“We’re being proactive in so far as we’re trying to create a model, we haven’t solved it yet.
“But we’re looking at everything from temperature checking people at the front door, there’s scientists researching swab tests that are instant so you can tell whether people have Covid or not
Magician Keith Barry but that depends how far away that is. But for now we’re looking at leaving space between family units or couples in the audience.”
The 43-year-old is liaising with promoters to help get the crippled industry back on its feet.
He said: “I’m working with MCD, we’re actively looking at me performing in the Olympia in September but nothing is confirmed as yet.
“We’re looking at gigging as soon as humanly possible to get the entertainment industry back on its feet.
‘We might cap the Olympia at 400 people, it can take 1,200. With these figures nobody is going to make any money but it’s about getting entertainers back out there. It’s only a small part of what I can do but I’m doing it in the hope I can inspire other acts to do the same. Somebody’s going to have to be the first to go back at that level and employ all those people who need to be employed, like the sound people, the lighting people, staging people.”
But there’s no fear the magician’s career has gone up in smoke.
He said: “I’m already doing virtual keynote performances, virtual mentalism performances for corporate.
“I’m doing one-to-one mind coaching and an e-book that’s ready to release.”
And Ireland’s leading mentalist is giving back during the pandemic.
He said: “Originally, I was doing it as an e-book to sell but given the current climate I thought it would be better to give it away to people and thousands have registered on my site. It’s a formula and if they follow it they’ll achieve peak performance in their life whether it’s personal or professional, it’s a road map teaching you how to reprogramme the subconscious mind.”
■ For more details visit keithbarry.com.
KEITH BARRY
preferred option was for stadiums to be 50% full.
A total of 44% added they will only attend live sports events or concerts when a Covid-19 vaccine is available.
And four in 10 adults believe the remaining Ireland soccer qualifiers for the postponed
Euro 2020 should be played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin later this year.
One in four Irish adults are in favour of reduced capacity or digitally streamed music concerts.
Meanwhile, almost six in 10 would rather see events in major indoor venues hold off on a return until 2021.