Posted: 4/9/20 at 12:39pm
Broadway Flash said: "I don't really think there is a precedent for this situation though. I really don't think things aregonna be thatbad when the city opens up. People would go out to bars and clubs and theatres right now if they could."
If people could go to bars and clubs etc right now, then they would. Because that's because that would mean no COVID-19. But, clearly that's not the case. And, I know that you mentioned unemployment being an option. Well, there are two important things you need to know about that. First off, unemployment is used by people who are are out of work, need a way to put food on the table and pay bills. People tend to not use that money for recreational and luxury outings such as the theatre.
Furthermore, I work on Broadway. Yes, I will still be employed once the shutdown is over. But, for me, it won't be same as it ever was. I don't know how things will look post shutdown. No one does, it's just pure speculation at this point.
Also, here's a wakeup call for how backed up unemployment is, at least here in New York. I am out of work, so I applied. When you do, you have two options of getting your money. Either via direct deposit or a pre paid card in the mail. There have been people I know who signed up for direct deposit who ended up getting a pre paid card and others who have requested a card but didn't get it in the timeframe they were told they would be and are struggling for reasons I mentioned earlier in this post. Furthermore, it is extremely backed up. There are people who signed up and filed an unemployment claim weeks ago, still have yet to get anything and the unemployment office is telling them that in addition to money coming to them now, they will retroactively send them monies owed from before. This is the reality many people are facing.