Attending live audience events after all this. A study.

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 6:06pm

https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/coronavirus-movie-theaters-concert-venue-attendance-drop-study-1203550489/

 

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 6:26pm

I think the average person affected by this will be so excited to finally be able to go out, socialize and attend an event. Yes, I think people will be more cautious but I completely expect the crowds to return in a few weeks/a month after the CDC lifts everything. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 7:06pm

Interesting!  And while I would love if Sutton was correct - I think what will stick in a lot of people's mind is all the talk that there could be another wave in the fall.   Who wants to run that risk?

[Huss417]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 7:21pm

More power to those who will still have more of a disposable income to attend whatever they want to. I also agree with you dramamama not going to run the risk either.

[DAME]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 9:38pm

I think it will be a long time. And I think there’s going to have to be slot of changes to the way live events are carried out .

[EvaLyn]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 4:28am

I'm young-ish and -- barring financial difficulties--- I probably will go to more live events once this is over because they will mean so much more after this isolation. I feel like I took all the great art around me for granted until now. 

That said, most of the Broadway audience is very old, and barring a vaccine, I would not advice my older family members to go out much. So I would imagine content, esp in the theater, will have to be geared more towards younger folks. 

[PutonyourWarPaint]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 8:16am

Is it too much to ask that while an usher scans your barcode for your ticket, why not have an alternate device to scan your forehead for temperature?  That may have seemed incredibly invasive if I had post this 8 weeks ago. But we are in a different world now. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 12:01pm

PutonyourWarPaint said: "Is it too much to ask that while an usher scans your barcode for your ticket, why not have an alternate device to scan your foreheadfor temperature? That may have seemed incredibly invasive if I had post this 8 weeks ago. But we are in a different world now."

1.  Ushers and ticket takers are two separate positions in the theater.

2. A hot forehead doesn't necessarily mean you have a fever. 

[DAME]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 12:10pm

I keep thinking of those Broadway theaters.. those tight spaces.. the proximity to the people around you, the small lobbys,. the tight restrooms, the packed in seat capacity to make more money...  No way.  Not for a while.  

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 12:24pm

dramamama611 said: "Interesting! And while I would love ifSutton was correct - I think what will stick in a lot of people's mind is all the talk that there could be another wave in the fall. Who wants to run that risk?"

 

I think Sutton is correct regarding a portion of people who will go back once shows re-open. We are seeing people disregarding the social distancing rules so they will have no problem being in a theater.

But I also think what dramaram611 said is true if this comes to pass. What I could possibly see, now that they are re-evaluating the use of masks, is that we may be required to wear them while we are in places where social distancing is not possible. For the past few days I have just had thoughts of actors having to get used to looking out into an audience full of masks. Also, I attended a talk back 3 days before the shutdown and the audience participants had to sit in the second row and back. I would not be surprised if that didn't carry over to actual performances for a while. JMO

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 12:42pm

And again, once we’re able to get everyone tested it’s going to create some ease as far as people knowing they’ve already had it.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 1:09pm

Uncageg, wow I was just thinking this morning about actors looking out and seeing a sea of masks, and how absolutely jarring that would be. I wonder if that will be the new normal for awhile. I guess I think that (my original post) because so many of my family and friends cannot wait to be out in the world again, put money back into the economy and support the arts as much as possible. But of course, weighing the risk is so important as well. Sadly, some people have gone on like nothing has happened, and continue to just do whatever they want out in the community. We will see what happens. 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 2:05pm

EvaLyn said: "That said, most of the Broadway audience is very old, and barring a vaccine, I would not advice my older family members to go out much. So I would imagine content, esp in the theater, will have to be geared more towards younger folks."

 

And just how old is very old?

Enough with the stupid ageist comments.

 

[Huss417]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 2:55pm

Jordan Catalano said: "And again, once we’re able to get everyone tested it’s going to create some ease as far as people knowing they’ve already had it."

Have they come to the conclusion you can only get it once? I thought so far they weren't sure.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 3:09pm

Huss417 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "And again, once we’re able to get everyone tested it’s going to create some ease as far as people knowing they’ve already had it."

Have they come to the conclusion you can only get it once? I thought so far they weren't sure."

And how long before they can get everyone tested? That will take quite a long time.

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 3:39pm

I have to admit that I will stay home if I need to wear a mask to attend a discretionary event. I have worn them a few times for a couple of hours (e.g., visiting my father in the ICU). I couldn’t stand it — made me hot and uncomfortable, thought I was going to faint). But I wore them because I had to do so.

I know there are many people who wear them regularly and, whether they like it or not, they get more used to it. Contrast that with someone who does not need to wear it in their ‘normal’ existence; they will not be used to it and will be uncomfortable. As much as I love the theatre and seeing movies in theatres with big screens, wearing a mask would so detract from my experience that I would pass...regrettably .

[ArtMan]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 3:48pm

Jarethan said: "I have to admit that I will stay home if I need to wear a mask to attend a discretionary event. I have worn them a few times for a couple of hours (e.g., visiting my father in the ICU). I couldn’t stand it — made me hot and uncomfortable, thought I was going to faint). But I wore them because I had to do so.

I know there are many people who wear them regularly and, whether they like it or not, they get more used to it. Contrast that with someone who does not need to wear it in their ‘normal’ existence; they will not be used to it and will be uncomfortable. As much as I love the theatre and seeing movies in theatres with big screens, wearing a mask would so detract from my experience that I would pass...regrettably ."

I agree.  I had to wear one, a couple of years ago, visiting my mother's unit.  I couldn't stand it, but did it to follow the rules.  Thankfully, it was only for a couple of days.  It was hot and at times felt, I couldn't breath. Today, at Walmart, I noticed an increase in people wearing masks.  Funny, but some, were the same people, who didn't follow social distancing guidelines.

[TarHeelAlan]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 3:53pm

Highland Guy said: "EvaLyn said: "That said, most of the Broadway audience is very old, and barring a vaccine, I would not advice my older family members to go out much. So I would imagine content, esp in the theater, will have to be geared more towards younger folks."
And just how old is very old?
Enough with the stupid ageist comments."

Thank you, Highland Guy. And just to insert some hard data to counter EvaLyn's speculation about how audiences are "very old", here's the latest info from the Broadway League, released January 2020 about the 2018-2019 season. https://www.broadwayleague.com/press/press-releases/the-broadway-league-reveals-the-demographics-of-the-broadway-audience-for-2018-2019-season/   The salient point is this: "The average age of the Broadway theatre goer was 42.3 years old. This average has hovered between 40 and 45 years old for the past two decades."  

 

 

 

[Kad]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 5:13pm

While I would agree that older people (65+) would not constitute most of Broadway's audience, an average age isn't a particularly good way to see what demographics look like.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 4/1/20 at 11:58pm

uncageg said: "Huss417 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "And again, once we’re able to get everyone tested it’s going to create some ease as far as people knowing they’ve already had it."

Have they come to the conclusion you can only get it once? I thought so far they weren't sure."

And how long before they can get everyone tested? That will take quite a long time.

Also who says you can’t get it AFTER ‘passing the test’ initially

 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 4/2/20 at 2:14am

I do not think theatres will be allowed to open with full houses. There will probably be a limit and people will not sit next to each other. It there is a limit then it will not be financially feasible for producers. Life as we know it is going to be different.

If the virus sticks around which t probably will then large gatherings might be discouraged for sometime. Some have speculated that large venues will not reopen for at least 18 months.

 

 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/2/20 at 5:39am

Kad said: "While I would agree that older people (65+) would not constitute most of Broadway's audience, an average age isn't a particularly good way to see what demographics look like."

While that is true,  the average age of an audience member on Broadway is 42 years old.  That means the audiences would skew much older,  especially when factoring in the younger ages of the audiences for The Lion King and Aladdin.

Updated On: 4/2/20 at 05:39 AM

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/2/20 at 7:16am

I believe the Phantom world tour in South Korea is still happening and performing right now. I'm curious whether the audiences there are all wearing masks or if they're practicing some form of social distancing (an empty seat between each party?)

[EvaLyn]

Posted: 4/2/20 at 8:20am

Exactly, a bunch of popular w/ tourists shows on Broadway are geared towards children so that decreases that average age considerably.

"Very old" = the age range that is most in danger from this virus. The virus is ageist.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 4/2/20 at 8:49am

EvaLyn said: "Exactly, a bunch of popular w/ tourists shows on Broadway are geared towards children so that decreases that average age considerably.

"Very old" = the age range that is most in danger from this virus. The virus is ageist."

The virus doesn't care if you a month old or you are 101yrs old. People between the ages of 24-49 have the most positive tests.