Shinedown Announce ‘Deep Dive’ Tour Has Been Canceled

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

May 26th, 2020 1:42 PM

Shinedown has announced their “Deep Dive” tour has been officially canceled.

The band issued the following statement via their Facebook page:

“We’re coming to you with news…

We’ve always been a ‘fans first’ band, but leaving you all in the dark is something we refuse to do.

The ‘Deep Dive Tour’ was an idea the four of us collectively came up with to do something special for you in a way we don’t often get to do. But with the weight of everything happening in the world today, it has come to light that its impossible at this point to continue to move the tour forward this year. Trust us, we’ve tried anything and everything to make these shows happen while always keeping the health and safety of our fans, crew, and local venue staff as our #1 prionty.

Instead of stringing everyone along who pays their hard-earned money through endlessly postponing and rescheduling, we’ve had to make the difficult decision to cancel the shows.

The ‘Deep Dive Tour’ will have to come alive at a different time when it’s safe for all. Refunds for all tickets and VIP will be available at point of purchase.

As much as this crushes us to not play the ‘Deep Dive Tour’, the health and safety of our fans, crew, and venue staff around the world are of the utmost importance to us.

We love you, we miss you, and we have so much more coming for you this year while we sort out the ‘Concert World.’

For information on postponements/cancellations for non-‘Deep Dive’ summer dates, please check at point a purchase.”

Shinedown made news earlier this month when frontman Brent Smith said in an interview, “…As of right now, [the tour is] all a go. So we’re not backing off of that rescheduled timeline. Obviously, our number one priority is the safety of the public, but we also want the public to know something from us to all of them out there: we are not afraid to play for you. We wanna do everything safely and we wanna go by the professionals in the medical community and what we’re gonna need to do, but you can’t stay inside forever.”

No Moshing/Crowd Surfing and 7 Other Changes Likely to be Made at Concerts During COVID-19

• No Moshing/Crowd Surfing.

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  Per the Event Safty Alliance's (ESA) 'Reopening Guide for Event Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic,' "Patrons cannot all stand at the front of the stage like they are accustomed; moshing and crowd surfing are violations of social distancing per se and must be absolutely prohibited during this pandemic."

• No Merch Tables/Stands.

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  Instead of buying an artist's t-shirt at a merch stand/booth, it's recommended that "...items for sale can be posted on a web site or event app that allows for mobile ordering and on-site pickup." If there is a merch table/booth present, "Mark merchandise sales lines on floor, with barricade, or rope and stanchion, patrolled by guest services workers to provide information and enforce social distancing." It's also recommended there be no trying on of merch and to have contactless payment.

• Socially-Distanced Smoking Areas.

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  It's recommended that "... even hallways and smoking areas where patrons congregate will have to be monitored to enforce health policies."
• Restrooms will likely have strict person limits.

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  Per the ESA's guide, "Workers should limit occupancy of restrooms to ensure social distancing. Unless portable restroom facilities are added, this will likely result in patrons waiting outside the restroom doors. The area where they are waiting will require monitoring to preserve (a) appropriate space between patrons and (b) an easily discernible line to avoid conflict about where the line begins. 

• Any changes a venue makes needs to be very visible to the public.

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  If a venue makes any changes to policies related to how they handle health and safety issues, they are advised to make them as clear as possible and list them basically everywhere including on their website, social media channels, various ticket purchasing sites, emails/push notifications, their mobile app and signage in their venue. In other words: Get ready for A LOT of updates.

• If there’s an intermission, people won’t be dismissed all at once.

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  Per the ESA's guide, "Intermission presents the same social distancing challenges as ingress [entering a venue] and egress [exiting a venue], with the distinction that some patrons will remain seated. For everyone who chooses to get up, they will have to be led out from back to front, and patrons will not be allowed to congregate inside or outside restrooms or near lobby concession stands. Even with fewer people attending events during the early phase of reopening, intermission may have to be longer than before to allow time for socially distanced patron movement. Given these issues, including how to let some people out of a row while others remain seated, the path of least resistance may simply be shorter shows with no intermission."
• Getting a drink will be even more of a process.

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  In addition to there being a recommended worker for just ringing up drink orders, "At a self-service restaurant or concession stand, the number of counter staff should be limited consistent with social distancing. Workers should place food and beverages on the table, counter, or other surface rather than handing purchases directly to patrons...Bartenders should model safe behavior by wearing a face covering and gloves when they are behind the bar...Patrons should hold their own identification for bartender inspection. If a worker must handle a patron’s ID, the worker should then dispose of their gloves and wash their hands before resuming service."

• Musicians on stage may have to abide by social distancing rules.

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  Per the ESA's guide, "The authoritative guidance requiring not less than six feet (two meters) of social distance may have to be expanded for singers and musical instrument players. Musicians often breathe deeply and expel aerosols further than people engaged in non-physical activities. Their performance space, including on stage and in orchestra pits, should be arranged to maximize social distancing while allowing at least some of them to perform together."  

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Category:

• Music

Tags:

Shinedown