Caution needed despite optimism over live events

Sitting on my desk is a black diary so small it could comfortably fit inside a large box of matches.

An accidental online purchase late last year, its modest size and unopened condition over the winter and into the spring felt like a constant and depressing reminder that live events were a thing of the pre-lockdown past.

Just over a month ago, the prospect of going to any kind of festival, concert, play or comedy show over the summer was a distant dream.

So there was something of a surprise when Scotland’s long-awaited route map, published in midapril, actually included May 17 as the date for the resumption of both indoor and outdoor live events – the same date given south of the border.

But – combined with next week’s reopening date for museums, galleries, hotels and restaurants – the news that live events could return midmay, was enough to spark a flurry of announcements – to the extent that I’m now trying to acquire a new diary.

Optimism that Scotland may actually be leaving its Covid nightmare behind has only increased in recent weeks, particularly with the early easing of restrictions on travel and socialising outdoors, which so many of us took advantage of over the weekend.

Suddenly, social arrangements are being made and holiday plans firmed up.

Yet there is still uncertainty and quite a bit of confusion over when normality may be able to return for artists, performers, venues and festivals.

In England, all are eyes are on June 21 – the provisional date Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set for the end of social distancing. scotland’ s route map does not extend any further than the end of June, by which time the events for 400 people indoors and 2,000 outdoors should be allowed.

However, the entire events industry is still awaiting guidance on what – and when – social distancing restrictions are likely over the summer, as they are likely to make all the difference to their plans being viable or not.