Employers have been laying off staff members across all sectors of the industry, including advertising, ticket selling and producing offices and at scenic and lighting design shops.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Broadway businesses take a hit after theater shutdown
Employers have been laying off staff members across all sectors of the industry, including advertising, ticket selling and producing offices and at scenic and lighting design shops.
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I was actually in New York when the announcement was made about Broadway’s closure due to covid-19, and upon reading the news, I was immediately concerned for the great number of people involved in the industry that would struggle. The first people who crossed my mind were performers and crew, but this article pointed out the box office and advertising staffs as well who relied on the consistency and routine of everyday function per normal. The article offered high numbers of people in the different areas that make up Broadway who have lost their jobs, and that number is already so high, but I can’t help but think about ALL the arts institutions around the united states and the rest of the world who are now unable to support the same teams of workers. Theater is, at it’s core, a collaborative art form, and during the time of a global pandemic of a virus that is so contagious, of course theater can’t operate in its normal capacities. I hadn’t even thought about what might happen when things start to open up again. Sure, the doors might be open again and ticket sales back open, but I can imagine that people would be slow and skeptical in making their way back out into the world.
I tried to rush a Broadway show the day that they announced the shutdown. Obviously, at the time I was not aware that these performances would be canceled, but I presume that the box office and those involved with the day to day operations of the productions on Broadway were probably aware of the probability and were waiting for an official announcement. It’s been really unfortunate to hear about employees being laid off in the way that this article describes. It has also been unfortunate to hear about how some shows cannot continue once Broadway inevitable returns due to scheduling or financial difficulties. It is very strange to reflect upon all the different ways that the shutdown of the entertainment industry is affecting many people. Having conversations in New York with people in lines visiting from other countries were excited to watch some live theater. Now they can’t, nobody can. Hopefully there isn’t an arduous path to recovery once operations resume.
This is so concerning. I was talking to my friend the other day, who’s parents work in entertainment, and she told me her parents are filing unemployment because there are no free-lancing jobs being offered and companies are laying off staff members. This is a hard time for the entertainment industry because we all rely on people gathering essentially. I imagine that designers and other people are still continuing on with what they were working if there was any project going on for them, but this is especially hard for theater staff who have a steady/long position who suddenly don’t have a job anymore because performances are not happening. While I’m not surprised that this is happening, it is wrong that there are no measures in place to protect workers in this situation. Unemployment is happening across all industries too. As of two days ago, 3.3 million people in the States have filed for unemployment. It just shows how prepared we are for outbreaks like this and I hope we learn from it.
The shutdown of Broadway was both very surprising and very expected when it really came down to it. For safety reasons, and as numbers are growing more and more of people infected, I think it makes sense for theaters to be closing, to maintain wellbeing of patrons, crews, and all people involved. For economical reasons, I think it is incredibly detrimental for the industry to be shut down when it comes to the effect that it is going to have on people’s artistic drive, motivation, and desire to still work in the industry when it comes to the unknowns that are in place after this is over. Broadway will of course bounce back, because of it’s commercialized nature. However, Broadway tends to set a precedence for other theatres in New York City and around the country, and those are the theatres that are going to see more of an impact from these shutdowns. I think the rest of the world is going to realize how large and economically important the entertainment industry really is and the force that is behind it as we see how long this goes on.
At this point I am just seeing article after article after article about coronavirus and how it is affecting the industry and the world. Of course, I wouldn’t expect it to be any other way at the moment because of the gravity of the situation we are facing. That being said, it is still absolutely heartbreaking to see all these people filing for unemployment and watching unemployment rates simply skyrocketing. Unemployment rates are the highest they have been in countless years, with quite literally millions of people in America alone filing for unemployment. People who I know, relatives of mine, in-laws of mine are being faced with the task. It is truly heart breaking to see and it’s a real reality check that is emphasizing just how serious this Covid-19 pandemic is, if it wasn’t already abundantly clear enough. That being said, it is also refreshing and encouraging seeing all the support and community outreach going on. This article mentioned how Broadway producers are coming together and paying for health insurance for all Broadway employees in the midst of this crisis. It is things like this which little by little restore my faith in humanity.
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