The events industry in South Africa has been hard-hit during the 2020 nationwide lockdown. The ban on public gatherings and alcohol has completely shut down the industry, from music festivals and comedy shows to conferences and fun runs. Mass gathering events remain banned for the foreseeable future, creating uncertainty and instability within the sector.
IWESCO specialises in events cleaning and waste control. As such, the knock to the events industry has also affected our business. It is important to strategise and plan the way forward for the sector in order to support local businesses, artists, entertainers and organisers of these events. We look forward to getting involved with pre- and post-event cleaning and waste control once the lockdown restrictions are lifted.
One thing is certain - there are no quick fixes or simple solutions to get the events industry back on its feet. It will happen, but many businesses, musicians and promoters need to ask why they do what they do. They need to think about what makes them relevant and how to draw in the audiences going forward. These questions will often provide the best solutions.
Why is the events industry relevant and important?
The most important step to recovery is understanding why entertainers, hosts and organisers do what they do. The answer to this question can lead to the ‘how’ of getting the events industry back on track. It will show industry stakeholders what they need to do in order to get back on their feet and future-proof the sector.
Understanding the ‘why’ gives businesses direction and relevance. Start by looking from the inside out; know why your job is important and how it benefits society. The events industry is synonymous with entertainment, leisure, community cohesion and mental well-being. Once we understand these purposes, then we can consider venues, marketing channels and other solutions.
Important considerations for the future
The next step will be to put in place the foundations for the future. This means securing appropriate venues that can accommodate social distancing regulations and abide by the new rules. It also entails finding the best method for marketing the event, who to choose as a promoter, which social media channels to use and how they fit into the new way of organising events post-COVID-19.
Obviously, all precautions need to be taken when it comes to social distancing and hygiene at these events, but IWESCO can help with that. We are a certified essential service that can provide hygiene, sanitisation and disinfection services for any events that take place in the near future. Our offerings meet strict international standards and comply with all COVID-19 regulations in terms of personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees and hygiene.
2020 has truly been a worst-case scenario for the events industry, but South Africans are resilient. The end will come and when it does, the industry will move forward in-line with regulations. All industries have been affected by the pandemic, but how we plan for the future will determine the success of many stakeholders, such as entertainers, managers, venues and suppliers.
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IWESCO offers specialised cleaning and waste control services to industrial and commercial customers in South Africa. These services are aimed at minimising our customers’ impact on the environment. Our services also include pest control, garden maintenance, fogging and disinfecting. Our staff are highly trained to offer the most professional services. IWESCO is a Level 2 B-BBEE supplier with ISO 14001 certification for environmental management.
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We are a one-stop shop for all your contract cleaning and waste control needs and have a national footprint. Our head office is located in Tshwane but we can provide services to any industrial and commercial client in the major metropolitan areas around South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Mbombela and more.
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