With venues reopening and 90% to 95% of arts audiences vaccinated, we have entered a new stage of the pandemic. A significant share of the audience, despite being vaccinated, is still concerned about contracting the virus, and the recent turnabout in infection rates among unvaccinated Americans, driven by the Delta variant, is fueling this caution. Covid-19, it appears, will be with us for a long-time. Against this backdrop audiences must gain comfort with policies and practices that acknowledge the reality of a protracted, or perhaps even indefinite, risk of Covid-19 transmission at cultural events. Guest speaker James Doeser, a distinguished UK arts researcher and evaluator of the Contagious Cities initiative, will offer his views on Covid-19 as one of many risks that arts goers take each time they go out, followed by facilitated Q&A with Victoria Bailey and Alan Brown. This session is offered specifically to inform sector discussions about proof of vaccine requirements, masks and other protocols, surcharges for venue safety, and finding language to signal that Covid-19 is both an ongoing and acceptable risk.
FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
How are you going to get people in quickly with checking vaccine docs, tests, proof of age for children etc.?
Alan Brown: I am not familiar with the logistical solutions. There will be apps. However, I imagine that many hundreds of arts groups will be learning and sharing much about implementing vaccine-only admittance policies over the coming weeks. I know at least one small theatre that checks vaccine documentation in advance, so that patrons are not held up at the door. I imagine that the ticketing software companies will be adapting their software to meet this need, so that once patrons have provided their vaccine info., either in advance, or at the door, it is stored in the database and they don’t need to provide it again. We need to work this out as a sector, and fast, so that as many organizations as possible use the same implementation procedures.
But we are still waiting for vaccinations for children - so for children theatre its still another year or two before we can get back to touring in PAC.
Alan Brown: Yes, there is a different timeline here. Masks, distancing, and proof of negative Covid test results may be necessary policies for youth theatres for the next year, at least.
Can you speak on the potential efficacy of health surveys and contact tracing efforts as tools to utilize as we reopen?
Alan Brown: I cannot speak to either of these policies in terms of their actual efficacy in reducing risk of transmission. Some arts groups believe that so-called “community agreements” and “self-assessments and attestations” will be effective tools for achieving a higher level of trust between and amongst audience members. See:
Tory says that the three Broadway venue owners all have different approaches to how and who to contact trace, so clearly there is not yet any standard of practice with respect to contact tracing.
Can orgs in those states (where mandates are prohibited) recommend rather than mandate?
Alan Brown: Yes, but there will be a segment of ticket buyers who won’t come without vaccine-only and/or mask mandates in place. Mask-optional policies could backfire if audience members with strong pro-mask feelings act to marginalize or ostracize those who are not wearing masks. Some sports teams are designating specific seating sections for unvaccinated and vaccinated folks in sports stadiums and arenas, but this doesn’t make a lot of sense in smaller theatres.
Curious about flexibility on ticket refunds, given the changing environment.
Alan Brown: We will have to remain extremely flexible with refunds if we want people to buy tickets, given the current environment.
Is that a good approach for messaging -- to actively compare the risk to other known ones?
Alan Brown: I think its a slippery slope to compare Covid-19 to other viruses, but James might disagree.
How are some organizations approaching school field trips to see shows?
Alan Brown: You might want to check in with TYA/USA, the service organization for youth theatres. They were a partner with us on the first phase of the Covid study, and their member organizations are actively engaged with school districts in negotiating how artists will be able to access students in-school and outside of school.
What about digital productions? I know this was waning fast earlier this year, but does the fact that they are loyal audiences that miss us, and are now more wary, mean that they will be more interested in digital again?
Alan Brown: Yes, the latest Delta variant surge illustrates why it will be necessary to maintain some capacity to reach audiences with digital content. Most arts audiences are saying that digital programming will play at least a small role in their cultural diet moving forward.
CHAT LOG
Welcome, everyone. 100+ folks in the session currently. If you want to ask a question, please use the "Ask a Question" button at the bottom of your screen. We will respond to your questions either live or via email shortly after the event.
Lisa: Wonderful points, would you please give us some examples of how to do these?
Debra Waxman: MTC is following Broadway policies at our Off-Broadway theater as well
Ron Evans: Lisa, is that a question for James?
Lisa: Yes, Ron...sincerest appreciation
Ron Evans: Great. If we don't get to your question during the session, James will respond to your question via email.
Lisa: Perfect...thank you so much!
Ron Evans: menti.com code 44919544
Lisa: just lost audio?
Krystle Kline: yes, it's frozen for me too
Manuel Prestamono: audio?
Lisa: Yes, we can't hear Alan
Betsy: What was the recommendation about attendees 12 years of age and under? (since they aren't eligible for the vaccine yet)
Victoria Bailey: Bway is requiring proof of negative test.
Victoria Bailey: At least that is how I read it
Cheryle Hansen: how are you going to get people in quickly with checking vaccine docs, tests, proof of age for children etc.
Ron Evans: audio and video should now be back
Lisa Thank you!
Ron Evans: If we don't get to your questions live, we will respond via email to everyone shortly after the session. But keep your questions coming.
Debra Waxman: Can orgs in those states recommend rather than mandate?
Lisa: Curious about flexibility on ticket refunds, given the changing environment
Ron Evans: Thank you, Debra and Lisa
Marlina Halper: My audio and vdeo never came back on - I am so sorry.
Ron Evans: Marlina, try refreshing your browser window.
Pat Torre: sMy audio is out.
Amanda Nelson: Given that we will likely need to adjust our policies and practices to respond to current situations - what messaging/communication would you recommend organizations use to better prepare our audiences for change/changing rules.
Laura Zucker: People are not being irrational-- the recent outbreaks have infected up to 75% vaccinated.
Marlina Halper: Great - thanks Ron!
Ron Evans: For anyone with audio that has dropped out, please refresh your browser window, or close it and come in again.
Claire Armbruster: thanks Ron! that worked!
Ron Evans: Otherwise the recording will be available right here, about 5 minutes after the end of the session.
Amanda Nelson: clap::clap::clap:
Ron Evans: Glad to hear it, Claire!
Andrés Franco, COA: Will this be available on-demand after today?
Laura Zucker: Yes.
Ron Evans: Yes, Andrés, about 5 minutes after this session, you can watch the recording on this same Crowdcast page. We will also send out a link.
Andrés Franco, COA: Thanks. I'm vaccinated and after attending ONE indoor event (a religious prayer meet) with a large congregation (of supposedly vaccinated folks, no way to know for sure) where nobody was masked and lunch was served, I was sick with a cold (? was it more than a cold?) for a week. That concerned me about going back to the theatre for sure.
PennyMaria Jackson: Alan, there is still some validity with the equity question but misinformation has further complicated the issue.
Davida Rae: My understanding re Broadway was vaccinated unless can claim good reason not to be, then negative test is option.
Bill: What about digital productions? I know this was waning fast earlier this year, but does the fact that they are loyal audiences that miss us, and are now more wary, mean that they will be more interested in digital again?
Ron Evans: Up to about a week ago, I knew of several organizations that were planning to be broadly open, with specific performances that would be vaccination-required and mask required. That is now being reexamined.
Surale Phillips: We have created a TAG list for Dashboard users who wish to tag the open-ended comments about why people will ONLY attend venues with vaccinated-only policy and why people will NOT attend if there is a vaccinated-only policy. The tag lists captures the overarching themes we found in the comments. The tag list will be available shortly.
Brian Beirne: Perhaps we will go through a phase of theaters demanding 100% vaccinated until the rate improves, and after the rate improves when there is more containment, theaters would be more comfortable modifying policies with allowances for the unvaccinated.
Debra Waxman: On Broadway the first round of protocols are only for now thru October 31 and will be re-evaluated periodically and that is part of the messaging
James McNeel: @Brian -- and then there comes potential boosters and cycling those into our vaccine requirements.
Bill: We included the 99% vaccinated rate among our patrons in our season announcement: https://wilmatheater.org/2021-22-season/
Brian Beirne: @Debra @James agree with you both. information is changing, so our policies will change, as attitudes change. Theaters need to adapt and communicate.
Ron Evans: Wow, thank you for sharing, James.
Surale Phillips: Thousands of people are still going to Disney World every single day. In Florida, the percentage of visitors who are vaccinated is probably pretty low. People are willing to take that risk with their kids, but not come to another type of theater. We need to think about that.
Lisa: Agreed! Thank you all so very much. This has been extremely helpful...as have all of your webinars Ron & Alan! Mille Grazie!!
Ron Evans: All, the recording will appear here about 5 minutes after the session. We will respond to other questions via email. Thank you for joining us. Take care of yourself today.
Claudia Fiks: Thank you all. Great insights.
Guy Mendilow (He/His)Thanks to you all
Andrés Franco, COA: Thank you!
Anthony Kayer: Thanks, all!
Surale Phillips: Great discussion!
Paula Muncaster Walker: thank you
Betsy: Thank you!
Bill: Thank you all! So very helpful, as always!
Sherri Kotimsky: Thank you
Kimberly Brody: Appreciate this so much!!!
Jolie: thank you. Wonderful info.
Lauren: Thank you
Marlina Halper: Thank you so much everyone!!
Ron Oshima: terrific conversation.
Isha Rao: Thank you so much!
Donna Isaac: Thank you!
Krystle Kline: thank you!
Alan Brown: Thanks, everyone!
Ron Evans: Thank you for your great questions and insights!
Comments