A live show, an overnight stay, a flight and a new city to perform to. A location shoot, a temporary place to live and a new environment to get used to. The working and home lives of actors, musicians and other stars of the entertainment world have long been transient, centred around their latest tour or new production. It’s meant never being in one place for too long, often away from family and friends for extended periods and with no real permanent base to call home. 

However that all changed last year. In an industry hard hit by the pandemic, concerts were cancelled and projects were put on hold. With international travel restricted, those previously used to being on the move now had to remain at home. As for many of us, this prompted a time of reflection and a reassessment of where they wanted to be and what home would look like in the years ahead.

For some that meant laying down permanent roots and opting to focus only on more local projects in the future, in order to prioritise the time they wanted to spend with their families. Others have focused on writing music and scripts, channelling their energies into new material for a time when we would be able to enjoy their work once more. Meanwhile, being based long term in one place caused others to reassess their property portfolios and consider where it is they enjoy living most. Often with a string of properties around the world, some have decided it’s time to sell up a little-used city or country base.

Where movies were still being produced, it involved all those on set forming Covid-secure bubbles and locking down in a location for a prolonged period. As a result, we’ve started to see some of those in the public eye considering these places as areas where they’d like to be longer term, especially as communities and clusters of high-profile friends began to form around the world.

The notion of moving from city to country is a theme that’s been much discussed over the past 12 months and it’s a topic that’s been no less relevant to those in entertainment. Be it coming out of New York City to the Hamptons, California to Austin or from Sydney to Byron Bay, there’s been a sense of wanting to have that open space and privacy away from the spotlight to focus on what they want from a career once the opportunity to entertain is a reality once more.

As time has gone on, much like the vast majority of workplaces around the world, the industry has adapted. Events have taken place remotely; live performances have been streamed without an audience. Certainly, we’re finding ourselves busier than ever as we look to assist clients whose property priorities have shifted as a result of the pandemic.

Further information

Contact Stephen O’Kane

Contact Savills Sports & Entertainment