AKRON, Ohio — Northeast Ohioans looking to patronize one of several of the region’s live performance venues will soon need to show ID to enter — not necessarily as proof of age, but to verify their vaccination status.

What You Need To Know

  • Performance venues are banding together once again to survive the COVID-19 pandemic

  • More than a dozen venues will require patrons to show proof of either vaccination or negative COVID-19 test

  • The delta variant of COVID-19 is steadily pushing up the number of infections across the country

  • Many national touring bands already require venues to allow only vaccinated staff onsite when the bands perform

As the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus increases infection rates across the country, more than a dozen live performance clubs said they will enforce such a policy by Sept. 7.

Patrons will be asked at the door to show either proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours of entry, the venues said in a joint release. The restrictions will be in place indefinitely and could change depending on public health conditions.

The venue owners said the policy is necessary for their survival, after more than a year of struggling to stay afloat while generating no income because their doors were shuttered.

More than a dozen venues in Akron and Cleveland will enforce a COVID-19 policy at the door to keep the virus from spreading.

“We need to do what we can to operate safely and realize these are imperfect solutions to problems that are largely out of our control,” said Sean Watterson, co-owner of Happy Dog in Cleveland, in the release. “We are working with local partners on solutions to continually improve safety for audiences, performers and staff, and we recognize that, as conditions change, we will need to adapt and adjust our efforts.”

Current regional performance venues implementing a COVID-19 policy include:

Policies might vary slightly by venue, so club owners recommend visiting their websites before heading out to a show.

Many national touring bands already require venues to allow only vaccinated staff onsite when the bands perform, said Beachland Ballroom co-owner Cindy Barber.

“And some may still require masks, but this policy may help keep our schedules mostly intact," Barber said. “As northeast Ohio venues, we all want to have the same base policy so our fans can understand and feel protected when they come out to support live music."

Just as these venues united to survive the lock-down, they are united again to prioritize the health and safety of patrons, staff, artists and their businesses, said Jill Bacon Madden of Jilly’s Music Room in Akron.

“We were thrilled to reopen and invite people to gather and celebrate live music, performances and film again,” she said. “The rise in COVID cases coupled with vaccine hesitancy is a threat to the live entertainment economy. We are committed to taking positive action to get through and rise above it.”