New York To Drop Indoor Mask Mandate This Week — Page 5

Here's an idea: If you don't like that you have to wear a mask to see a show, don't go see a show. It's really that simple. Regardless of any science or anything else. The business requires masks. If you don't want to wear a mask, take your business elsewhere. They are under no obligation to bow to what you want.

Updated On: 2/10/22 at 02:58 PM

We are entering an interesting time of the pandemic -- and I think this is going to be tough on a lot of people. The only thing I think I am pretty confident of is that we will never in our lives see 100% of society walking around maskless (at least not for a very long time).

1) We have a group of people who just don't have the mental or emotional stamina to live under pandemic restrictions anymore. Regardless of the current Covid numbers, most of these people fatigued pretty quickly back in 2020, and now that Omicron is weaker than Delta, there is very little anyone can do to convince them that restrictions are necessary.

2) We have another group of people who don't feel comfortable removing pandemic restrictions. Some of these people have underlying health conditions or live with family members who are more at risk. They now feel they are going to become susceptible to the virus because people are going to start taking off their masks.

3) There is also a group of people that have no underlying health conditions and no family members at high risk, but are simply not comfortable taking the mask off even if statistical data shows that there is an almost 0% risk of getting severely affected by the virus.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this all pans out. I belong somewhat to all three groups. I think everyone needs to learn to try to be objective when listening to perspectives that differ from their own or post-pandemic society is going to be far more depressing than during the pandemic.

I do believe the mask mandates on Broadway need to be lifted at some point - I don't think this is something that we should have permanently. Is April the answer? We'll have to see what the data looks like at that point. However, I am confident that when it is lifted, there will be a group of consumers who are not going to buy tickets for a little while. As I stated in my previous posts, the League has to decide if the group of consumers who will not buy tickets for a while is going to exceed the new consumers who will come because of the lifted restrictions.

BroadwayRox3588 said: "My point is that, in spring 2020, one thing that was very clearly articulated, in no uncertain terms, was that mitigation measures were temporary. Like I said, this was stated with certainty by virtually every credible scientist. "This will end," they said. "This is not forever," they said. "We will go back to normal," they said.

Fast forward two years, and it's not feeling so temporary anymore. And, as has been pointed out, there are many on these boards who seem to want it to be permanent.

Maybe "moving the goalposts" was the wrong terminology. But I know plenty of people who are feeling more than a little discouraged at the prolonged, and perpetually extended emphasis on these supposedly "temporary" measures. Discouraged, and dare I say, a bit punked."

I'm not sure anyone said anything with certanty in 2020 because that's not a word scientists use. A credible scientist would never say more than that, based on observed facts, the outcome would be a certain way. But, clearly, no one in 2020 knew we were going to have Delta, or Omicron. If anything, a scientist would have assumed (as they did) that people would be rational meaning they would stay home, wear masks, mitigate, etc., yet half the country did not. And of course it was also explained that the risk of doing what half the country did was that the virus would be able to mutate into new variants, which is exactly what happened. So if scientists expressed what seemed like certainty to you, they were making assumptions, first and foremost, that the people of this world (and especially this country) were not as stupid as they turned out to be. If people feel punked, they should direct their attention to the idiots. Omicron did not fill hospitals in NY to capacity. We did not have dead people in refrigerator trucks. Yes we had terrible stuff happening but nothing like in, e.g., Houston. If we were an island nation with regulated borders, we would not be wearing masks in theatres right now.

For some reason, Telecharge has removed the vaccine, mask, and ID requirements from the individual show pages. There's still a link to them on the home page, but at no point during the ticket-buying process is the buyer made aware of them anymore.

Updated On: 2/11/22 at 09:54 AM

adotburr said: "TaffyDavenport said: "For some reason, Telecharge has removed the vaccine, mask, and ID requirements from the individual show pages. There's still a link to them on the home page, but at no point during the ticket-buying process is the buyer made aware of them anymore."

Hmm.. I wonder if maybe each theatre will decide to enforce it or not? I was just looking at Little Shop tickets and the policy was still listed, but when I checked Strange Loop page the policy was gone."

Could some sort of announcement be imminent???

Telecharge is down right now.

TaffyDavenport said: "adotburr said: "Telecharge is down right now."

No, it's not."

Update: the main page (telecharge.com) is an error but the Shows & More page is working for me. And looks like each individual show is working too.

Updated On: 2/11/22 at 10:31 AM

No more masks!!!!!!!

adotburr said: "TaffyDavenport said: "For some reason, Telecharge has removed the vaccine, mask, and ID requirements from the individual show pages. There's still a link to them on the home page, but at no point during the ticket-buying process is the buyer made aware of them anymore."

Hmm.. I wonder if maybe each theatre will decide to enforce it or not? I was just looking at Little Shop tickets and the policy was still listed, but when I checked Strange Loop page the policy was gone."



It is there on the 1st ordering screen at the bottom.

Regardless of this announced mandate, nothing is changing as it states each venue/restaurant/MTA, etc still has their full rights to enforce their own policies, which many will continue to adhere to for the safety of their staff and customers. No one wants to shutdown business due to a COVID outbreak.

Broadway theatres will continue this mask/vaccine proof scenario so enough with this hypothetical nonsense. Your own beliefs and theories are a waste of your time. I have tickets to FUNNY GIRL in early April and I received an email stating mask/vaccine proof is required for my performance.

Not surprised at all that they're back on there, but think it's odd that they were removed in the first place. Since they had been missing since yesterday, I thought it was worth mentioning, and it's entirely possible that Telecharge was alerted because of this thread.

Jordan Catalano said: "NY Times Article I wonder what this will do for Broadway, moving forward…"

Bar back open at American Utopia. Also at Wicked, usher said. Can't drink through a mask.

Once the show started, no "mask monitors" wandering up/down aisles tonight asking folks to mask up like they do in other shows. And I noticed among patrons when those masks slipped below the nose/mouth, they stayed there. Bar had 3 lines backing up to merch. I was happy I could bring in and drink my water during show.

Frankly, it was a pleasant break. Springsteen shows started its early June 2021 run without masks. Hopefully David Byrne and his company will finish theirs without them, even if it's sagging masks conveniently ignored. Hope other theaters follow. That will hasten the return to normal.

One no-bar or snacks advantage? Easy clean-up. Floors free of plastic glasses and candy wrappers.

At Music Man the other day, two guys in front of us had their masks down for the half hour before the show started and ushers who saw said nothing to them. They were even talking to them. I just don’t think they care anymore.