Gasparilla parades might be postponed, but there’s another pirate-y celebration happening this weekend.
“The Deep End” is billed as a pre-party of sorts, ahead of April’s Shipwrecked Music Festival, whose venue is still listed as TBA. Happening outdoors at Pepin Hospitality Center’s Visionary Square, “The Deep End” is headlined by Chicago DJ and producer Green Velvet. Not sure if Mr. Velvet is “Bigger than Prince” as a recent banger suggests, but the tune does make me miss my club days.
Another Windy City EDM champ John Summit opens the show, for which an event page lists somewhat comforting COVID-19 protocols like a mask requirement, temperature check, social-distancing based on who you arrive with and a promise to kick people out for breaking the rules.
“Failure or refusal to comply with health and safety procedures will result in removal from the event. No exceptions,” the Facebook event page states. In a pandemic, rules are not meant to be broken, people.
Promoter Alliance Events wrote that the concert would only allow for 50% capacity at the venue, and Alliance rep Dave Marren told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that meant 1,000 tickets sold max.
“At the new space we measured 52,500 sq ft viewable to the stage,” Marren wrote in a text message. “By the generic measure of 6sq ft per person, this is actually only 11% capacity. By the FEMA recommendations for social distancing, which for bars and restaurants (indoors) is up to 15 sq ft per person, we are more than tripling that with 52.5 sq ft per person.”
Marren added that the event will feature a 270-degree angle view to allow people to spread out more comfortably. He said that wide viewing angle should encourage folks to stay away from each other. He's even encouraging people to bring chairs and blankets.
"This is a simple way to mark your own dedicated viewing space for the friends you arrive with and stay contained to your own "bubble" as recommended by health officials," Marren explained. "Many of our community members have not yet been comfortable with some of the bars and clubs, so we're excited to present an alternative opportunity that provides maximum space in an open-air setting."
And what if the attendees stil try and rush the stage or mix with other parties?
" ...we have an asymmetrical barricade, with tables at the end of each row to create additional physical separation for groups' social 'bubbles' for anyone that tries to leave the tables and "rush" as close as they can." Marren said. "Security will have easy access to the audience at this section to enforce masks and social distancing."
In a separate text message to CL, Pepin General Manager Kevin Mettling said, “Safety is of the utmost importance to us. We have a zero tolerance policy for anyone that doesn't follow guidelines,recommendations and policies.”
The Deep End: Green Velvet w/John Summit. Saturday, Jan. 30, 6 p.m. $35-$70. Visionary Square at Pepin Hospitality Center, Tampa. eventbrite.com
See a list of Tampa Bay’s “Safe & Sound” live music venues here.
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