When the Covid-19 pandemic last March 2020 forced the world to close the doors to all kinds of activities, for business owners and entertainment entrepreneurs, the uncertainty came accompanied by the hope that in a few months life would go back to its usual routine.
Concerts, tours, shows, cinemas, theaters, patron saint festivities, carnivals, all kinds of artistic performances and recreation were postponed. Many entrepreneurs had the conviction to resume business at the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021.
But reality forced a change of plans since neither by the end of 2020 the business was reactivated, nor for the beginning of the new year is there a real and effective solution to the crisis generated by the curfew, due to the presence of the virus in the Dominican Republic and other countries in the world.
Closed.
The large stages where the most important national and international artists exhibit their art to be consumed by a massive public continue with the lights off.
Scenarios such as the Altos de Chavón Amphitheater, the La Fiesta Theater at the Jaragua hotel, the Filmore Room at the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana, Stage 360, the Carlos Piantini Room at the Eduardo Brito National Theater and its Ravelo Room; Hard Rock Live at Blue Mall, Casa de Teatro, bars, cinemas, restaurants and others, where artists, musicians, businessmen, technicians, suppliers and workers brought bread to their tables, have not been able to reopen their doors.
The crisis that the coronavirus has generated is incalculable in terms of job losses and money generation in the entertainment industry.
Local businessmen, artists, actors and others have drawn the attention of the government, which last December sought to alleviate the situation by providing exponents of popular tropical music with the purchase of five performances, with an advance payment, which aroused in society Dominican Republic severe criticism, and that finally, said loan would be a kind of help from the Social Policy Cabinet, coordinated by José Francisco “Tony” Peña Guaba.
“It will be difficult to recover”
Joaquín Geara, is an artistic entrepreneur with more than 40 years in the business, he is the administrator of “Escenario 360”, in Plaza Galería 360, one of the busiest stages in the capital city due to the diversity of shows and shows that are held presented on the spot.
When asked by LISTIN DIARIO Geara believes that the entertainment business could restart in about six or seven months, “being optimistic”, he says. But for the moment, he doesn’t see a light at the end of the road.
From the beginning of the pandemic, he remembers that he was pragmatic when the curfew began, and like other businessmen he looked for new alternatives to continue producing, which now with these new curfew averages, had to close the place.
“When the outbreak subsided we opened on Sundays with a magic show for the children and it didn’t work, which indicates that people are afraid of going out to get infected. On Sundays we rented the premises for a church, which celebrated its worship and now the theaters are closed, we had to close again. I do not see light, at the moment, since in the middle of a crisis the decision to go have fun is the last priorities in the life of a human being. For what we are living it will be difficult to recover ”, he stated. Geara.
Protests.
There have been no lack of demonstrations of protests, through social networks. Since yesterday a call for a “cacerolazo” circulates, for this Tuesday 12, at 8:30 at night.
CINEMA
They closed again.
The Caribbean Cinemas company, which during the pandemic looked for other alternatives and opened its rooms in compliance with the necessary protocol, announced the closure of its rooms. “In compliance with the new measures established by the authorities, our cinemas will be closed.”
– .
