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When Benjys Karaoke Bar’s Jazz Bir heard the news indoor dance floors could reopen from Friday, he cracked open a bottle of champagne.
“I couldn’t care less what time it was,” he said.
Benjys Karaoke Bar co-owners Jazz Bir and Tim Firth, who are celebrating the return of indoor dance floors. Credit:Justin McManus
For two years now, Benjys – a rainbow-splattered venue off Lygon Street in Brunswick East – has been in limbo, and Mr Bir, along with co-owner Tim Firth, wondered if they would make it out the other side.
“We were closed for over 10 months and then in and out of restrictions; singing off, singing on, dancing on, dancing off,” he said.
“Because of the dancing, it brought our business probably down to about 20 per cent [of normal levels]. We were closing early and, obviously, this time, there was no government bailouts; still full rents, full everything.
“There have been moments throughout the past two years that we have thought of closing because we just couldn’t make ends meet, and we were working to keep the business going.”
With indoor dance floors reopening at 6pm on Friday, though, and density limits off at hospitality and entertainment venues, Mr Bir said Benjys planned to bring out the dancing-themed “bangers” when they opened at 8pm.
They spent a large part of the day setting up, revelling in dragging tables from the space.
“[We’ll play songs like] Let’s Dance by David Bowie and Dancing Queen … all of those,” he said. “The singing and the dancing – it’s just joyous for us.”
The Carlton Club functions manager Nina Pasqua said she was ecstatic to see dance floors reopening, with much of the four-storey venue unable to be used throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“[On] Friday and Saturday nights, that’s really why young people come here; to listen to our DJs, and to party and dance,” she said.
“God, we were so excited [when we heard the restrictions were easing].
“Some big parties that I’ve had organised with promoters, we just keep cancelling every month … so yesterday, I was able to contact some of them and say, ‘yay, we can do our big parties again’.”
Both Mr Bir and Ms Pasqua were eager for indoor mask rules to be lifted; a measure flagged by the Andrews government to come off as soon as next week.
“Working in a really late-night, loud, rowdy venue with masks on, it’s really hard to hear people over the bar and talk back to them,” Ms Pasqua said. “So if that gets lifted, I think everyone will be relieved.”
They felt lucky to have their loyal followings in Melbourne’s suburbs, but worried about the future of venues in the CBD that relied on office workers coming in through the week.
“People could dance at weddings and not be vaccinated, but they could come to Benjys [vaccinated] … and they couldn’t dance,” Mr Bir said.
“I just don’t understand the double standard. All I’ve ever wanted from any government, and particularly this one, is consistency.”
While the requirement for patrons to check in with QR codes will remain in place at hospitality and entertainment venues from 6pm on Friday, it will be lifted at shops, schools, and workplaces.
The 14-day hotel quarantine period for international visitors and aircrew who are not fully vaccinated will also be reduced to seven days.
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