Over the last years, the incident reports of spiking UK and Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, and France have increased. Whilst using needles to administer drugs without consent has come forward as a common phenomenon. In Berlin, multiple accounts and stories have emerged regarding spiking incidents. Public discourse has been robust on the matter, increasing awareness, but also increasing fear.

Researcher Bengi Guven has provided a tool kit for tool kit on what to do in a case of spiking that offers concrete action steps: 

• What can governments do?
• What can clubs/ promoters do?
• What can the community do?

Read the full tool kit here

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Cities need safe and feasible strategies for reopening and reactivating their creative and nocturnal economies. The VibeLab five-point-strategy provides governments and nightlife practitioners five key areas for action — a roadmap for reopening nightlife during, and post-COVID-19. Now, more than ever, cities must ensure that these vulnerable sectors bounce back stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient than before. 

Regulations and infection rates differ geographically, so each city should initiate an online COVID-19 Event Risk Model.

An Event Risk Model can be adapted to suit the needs of different nightlife-related events, so it can be an online resource where organizers are able to plan in alignment on current regulations and latest scientific findings.

E.g. The Government of Flanders’ COVID Event Risk Model can be adapted and used accordingly for different nighttime events/operations. The model is an easy-to-use traffic light risk assessment, and is a useful tool for local authorities and nightlife practitioners alike when planning for nightlife-related events.

• Belgium Event Risk Model/Government of Flanders (Belgium)
• Event Risk Matrix of Forum Veranstaltungswirtschaft (Germany)
• Interactive Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool by Georgia Institute of Technology (USA)
• Managing COVID-19 Risk in the UK Entertainment Industry study by IOM (UK)

Tracing apps or entry management app solutions for live operators with rapid testing/vaccination information.

Tracing apps, also known as ‘health passports’,allow venues to register and track whether guests have been vaccinated or tested, and are a useful tool for live event operators.

YouCheck, which is being trialed in the UK, was originally designed as a ticket/ID system to combat ticket touts, as well as a means of communication between event audiences. It has since been adapted to connect with test, track and trace software.

• Event Pass App (UK) App-based event passport underpinned by a user’s very own digital identity. Name, age, ticket, Covid test result and vaccine status, in one go
• Luca App (Germany) The app is focused on contact tracing in exchange with the health authorities issuing direct notification of risk assessment by the health authorities as well as personal contact and visit history
• Liberty Pass (Spain): With a negative test the app grants access to all the events and collaborating activities of the Liberty Pass APP for 72 hours
• Videmic (Germany): This app is for contactless location tracking that helps organisers of film and music festivals, symposia, trade fairs or other events with location-based contact tracing to automatically trace chains of infection of coronavirus without storing personal data centrally
• RapidTest Kit (Austria): DIY Covid-19 test kit with fingerprint verification support event and tourism industries
• Covid-19 EyeScan Technology (Germany): SEMIC EyeScan App detects SARS-CoV-2 and more in just 3 minutes with a hit rate of 95%
• Covid-19 Breathalyser (Belgium): Widespread, daily testing is essential for assessing the spread of the pandemic

Longer opening hours outdoors, and simplified approval procedures for licenses.

Cities should change regulations to support later opening hours and more use of outdoor space, in an effort to respond to the short-term need for physical distancing, whilst further promoting a long-term cultural shift towards longer operating hours, and changes in citizens’ habits. There are ‘shades of night’ ━ different times and contexts ━ that can be adapted to different uses and regulations.

• Reopening nightclubs with testing (UK)
• Vilnius outdoor regulations (Lithuania)
• Extending club closing times (Ireland)
• Sydney Special outdoor dining regulations (Australia)

Repetitive data surveying of operators to measure nighttime recovery and facilitating awareness, as well as providing grants or investment capital in the post-COVID-19 phase are an essential step for reopening.

Developing strategies for cities at night requires regular data collection, surveying and monitoring. See list below for some good examples:

• Nighttime Strategy London (UK)
• Nighttime Recovery Plan Manchester (UK)
• Save our Stages Act (USA)
• Philadelphia Arts & Culture Grants (USA)
• Creative Footprint study – monitoring creative spaces (Japan, USA, Germany)
• Nighttime report (UK)
• Festival Cancellation fund (Norway)
• Bogota 24 horas (Colombia)
• Curtains Up NYC (USA)
• Berlin’s “Day of Club Culture” Awards (Germany)

Partnerships with the scientific community on public surveys, research projects and hygiene concepts.

With situations and information in each city constantly evolving, pilot and trial events which combine the safety of the community, feasibility for operators and fun for attendees are an important part of the transition phase towards normal operation. Without them, creative and events industries may be left in damaging stasis.

Collaborations between nightlife practitioners and the scientific and medical communities are essential to this process in order to ensure that a) all event ‘experiments’ are conducted safely, utilising the latest in Covid health and hygiene information, and b) research and surveying is accurate and ongoing.

• Fieldlab pilot event series (Netherlands)
• Rapid-testing pilot Berlin (Germany)
• Hygiene concept and infection control in the event industry Berlin (Germany)
• Rapid-testing pilot Barcelona (Spain)
• Rapid-testing pilot (Albania)
• Rapid-testing pilot without social distancing Liverpool (UK)

This five-point-strategy is intended as a launch point: industry stakeholders, urban planners, academics and nightlife participants alike are encouraged to engage in this solutions-oriented discussion, then take action within their own communities:  

• Build the dialogue and share examples of good practices within your city. If you are not part of the local government, petition them to take action.
• Analyse local opportunities and challenges in adopting good practices via 1:1 consulting sessions. We provide you access to our international network and knowledge base.
• VibeLab will help you to develop an action plan unique to your city.

Read more on nighttime.org about showcases from around the world and about VibeLab’s network of experts to help you create sustainable strategies to reactivate the nighttime economy.

Contact us at hello@vibe-lab.org

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