In Brittany, Le Tremplin is an institution. The hunger strike observed for a week by the owner of this Montauban-en-Bretagne (Ille-et-Vilaine) nightclub speaks volumes about the state of emergency in which the vast night world finds itself. , owners of nightclubs, dance clubs and bars, event organizers, disc jockeys ... And the hopes they place in the inter-ministerial meeting in which they participate this Wednesday morning.
Closed and confined for three and a half months, representatives of the "Night, festive musical and living places" sector have an appointment at the Ministry of the Economy with the five ministers concerned by the closure of their establishments until September. With a health protocol providing for theaters less than 1,500 people a reduced gauge of 30% and binding measures, they ask the government to reopen from July 10 and an emergency fund of one billion euros until September 2021. D-Day, therefore, for the night world…
Four out of ten establishments in bankruptcy
This is the figure put forward by Frantz Steinbach, one of the representatives of this committee, himself the owner of several establishments in La Rochelle, Saint-Etienne, Lisbon… “We are in a real economic emergency, summarizes- he. The alarm call from the disco manager in Brittany shows the atmosphere that reigns in the sector. France has 2,000 nightclubs and 4,000 nightlife establishments, which employ 100,000 to 150,000 people, technicians, DJs, room workers, security guards, etc.
The profession believes that their closure this summer may encourage the proliferation of "wild parties and unexpected gatherings", such as the "Project X" evening which brought together 2,000 young people and degenerated last weekend in Paris. "We are professionals in the reception and security of these audiences," explains Frantz Steinbach. We have established a strict sanitary protocol for our reopening, with gauges reduced by 30% and a Covid-19 referent per establishment. "
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But will we dance with masks? "The French National Authority for Health does not impose the wearing of a mask," answers Frantz Steinbach. But we are committed to ensuring that there is no overflow on the dance floors. We will be very vigilant on alcohol consumption, on the presence of groups of ten people maximum, on hydroalcoholic gel and barrier gestures at entry, at bars… ”
An online petition
Since the nightclubs closed on March 14, the night world has not remained passive. The unions of the night were the first to step up. A platform petition was launched online three weeks ago by David Asko, Lille DJ and event organizer for 25 years. "We do not deny that there is a major health crisis, but we have the feeling that French culture is once again forgotten while it radiates throughout the world," he laments. We had to make people realize that if we didn't open very quickly, there was going to be a cataclysm. And we think of artists as well as providers. "
Under the title "Let's save the party, let's act!" ", His platform petition collected 5300 signatures. "Almost only professionals, which proves the plight of our community," he says. Beyond the extreme urgency of summer, we must imagine other models to find lasting solutions. Because we are not immune to other crises. And our sector represents at least a billion euros. "
The DJ blues
According to Sacem, there are between 15,000 and 17,000 professional disc jockeys in France. "All on the floor since March 14," said those responsible for Technopol. This association, which brings together all the worlds of electronic music, participated in the international event "United We Stream" in order to collect donations for DJs and make them work. The first evening took place at La Java, in Paris, in early June, with Boom Bass, Kiddy Smile, Crystallmess…
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VIDEO. United We Stream: live electro to save DJs and clubs from bankruptcy
"Two, three, five months without working, financially it's crazy," worries Hubert Blanc-Francard, alias Boombass, who was mixing that evening. Composer and producer, he can count on the sale of the records of his group Cassius to obtain an income and hold on. "But not everyone is," he says. Especially since, behind, we know that at the reopening, we will not leave as in 40. We will have to redo everything, it will be long. "It's a tough period both morally and financially, testifies Christelle Oyiri, alias Crystallmess, 27 years old. For many young artists like me, 2020 was also the year when we really wanted to get started and be more recognized by the profession. "
In a survey of 461 DJs, Technopol listed figures to say the least: a third of the disc jockeys surveyed say they canceled until August 31 between 40 and 80 contracts; 29% have lost between 1,500 and 5,000 euros in income, 23% between 5,000 and 10,000 euros, more than 11% between 10,000 and 20,000 euros.
"It's a double punishment, everyone is slowly losing their temper except us," continues Max Le Disez, a member of Technopol and an agent for electronic artists. We had to cancel 150 concerts and we have no idea when to resume. Many DJs have no money left to live, many places are going to close. "
A radio to the rescue of DJs
“For DJs, this coronavirus is dramatic. They are the first confined artists and will be the last to be confused, ”warns Antoine Baduel, the boss of the electro and techno radio FG. Hence his approach, at the end of April, to launch the operation "FG for DJs" to collect donations from the general public. "Unlike Germany and England, France has no status for professional DJs," he continues. They are either intermittent, micro-entrepreneurs, self-entrepreneurs, many combine jobs to live… ”
"Between David Guetta and the DJs who run the weddings, there are obviously many disparities behind this appellation, recalls Antoine Baduel. And often dramatic situations. Some have had no income for three months and can no longer pay their rent… ”
Its radio also opened their antenna to them, in particular during the Fête de la Musique, and gave voice to their defenders, like the 40 deputies who signed a platform in favor of the reopening of nightclubs. “We must empower young people, not infantilize them, claim the elected officials. Yes, they can go to a nightclub, while being careful when they are around their elders. "
