A ‘pleasant surprise’ for DJs as COVID-19 rules ease

• Dancing allowed with masks
• DJs have been struggling to stay busy due to restrictions

Nightclubs have faced many challenges due to the pandemic, but it finally looks like there's light at the end of the tunnel, although it remains to be seen just how many want to gather under the glittering disco ball.

The provincial government has lifted most public health measures, allowing nightclubs to return to full capacity and people to dance again, as long as everyone is fully vaccinated and wearing a mask.

DJ Cody Lanoue, who goes by the name Code:E, told Kelowna10 allowing dance floors to open up again was a “pleasant surprise”.

“It’s just kind of a big surprise that they just let us open to full capacity,” Lanoue said, noting he didn’t think dance floors would be open until at least Victoria Day long weekend, or Canada Day.

“We were expecting another ‘okay, now you can have 12 people per booth and they’re actually allowed to stand at the bar again and order drinks,’ because we had that restriction.”

He said he has spent the past week preparing music that will get the crowd charged, far different than what he’s been playing for the last couple of years.

“It’s been lounge atmosphere, sitting down, don’t try to hype the crowd up,” he added.

Lanoue said he has had to balance his music between trying to keep people entertained, but not dancing.

“I’m the DJ, that’s the whole goal of my job is to get people up dancing and cheering and having a good time, so it’s like, okay I’m going back to that,” he said.

Lanoue said he’s stayed away from doing mobile work and smaller events during the pandemic for fear of repercussions.

“Last thing I wanted to do was show up at somebody's house party where they say it’s going to be 15 people… and it turns into a 500 person rager and the police show up and take all my equipment,” he added.

The pandemic has shaken Lanoue’s career, as he says he can’t rely on his job to be as stable anymore, like he used to.

“[I] can’t really plan for anything. I just have to hope that… this is the tail end, and that we’re going to keep going again,” Lanoue said.

Even though masks are still required when on the dance floor, Lanoue said he and his fellow DJs will deal with and work within whatever restrictions they need to to return to some normalcy.