Pittsburgh Arts, Regional Theatre, New Work, Producing, Copyright, Labor Unions,
New Products, Coping Skills, J-O-Bs...
Theatre industry news, University & School of Drama Announcements, plus occasional course support for
Carnegie Mellon School of Drama Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni.
CMU School of Drama
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Macy’s plans smaller but camera-ready Thanksgiving parade
PBS NewsHour: A Macy’s Thanksgiving parade reimagined for the coronavirus pandemic will feature floats, performers and giant balloons along a one-block stretch of 34th Street in front of the retailer’s flagship Manhattan store, Macy’s officials announced Monday.
14 comments:
Annika Evens
said...
I don’t really know what to think of this new parade plan. I know that they are going to be following all of the restrictions put in place by the local government but it still seems like a lot of people will be in close contact with each other. I would be interested in learning more about how big the crew is and how that is working. I know they aren’t going to have a live audience like every other year, but I still feel like people are going to come to try to see the 1 block parade they are doing. But I do really like that they are still doing something because there are so many people who love this parade and watch it every year. And I like the idea of having the balloons flown by being attached to vehicles instead of the usual people holding onto them. That seems like a really safe way to do it. It sounds like all performers will have to be wearing masks which is a great thing. Maybe if people watching at home see widespread mask-wearing on TV they will be more inclined to wear ones themselves. I am excited for them to announce the performances.
I think it was extremely wise for Macy's to get ahead of the game, cancel the in person aspect of the parade, and start working on an all live stream version early. While I agree with many people across the nation that it is sad to not have an in person attendance to the event, it is without a doubt the smart move. On top of this, by making this decision early, I believe that Macy's will be able to pull of the event in fashion, as we would hope given that it is an event all about the looks. If Macy's had held onto the hope that they would be able to have the parade as usual, they, most likely, would have been scrambling last minute to make the parade suitable in the live stream only format. To me, it will not make a huge difference. I have never been to the parade in person, and nor did I have plans to this year. For that reason, I feel as though I am not the crowd that is super disappointed by this. That being said, I understand where those people are coming from.
I am personally a fan of this alternate solution to the traditional Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade itself has always been a staple in my family's traditions and we always watch it. There have been a couple years when we have even gone to see the parade in person in NYC and recorded it so that we could watch the musical numbers later that day. However it was obvious that something was going to have to happen because of the world of COVID. I am so glad they they have chosen to do an abbreviated version of the event rather then cancelling all together. It will obviously not be the same as the traditional event but I have faith that it will still be done well and in style.
It is so exciting to hear that even in this crazy time in history a tradition cherished by so many will still go on after so many other events and plans before it have been cancelled. While the parade won’t look like it has in the past, I personally am so thrilled to see what the new programming will look like. Since most of the parade is now going to be virtual, they have an amazing opportunity to welcome all types of performers, speakers, and characters that maybe they have never had the chance to before. I am also so happy to hear that the parade workers will be taking all of the necessary precautions for COVID, and am excited to see how the select few of parade floats will fly on cars without handlers. While I pray that cars controlling the floats won’t be a recipe for disaster, it most definitely was the right call on Macy’s part. Perhaps the best part of the parade going almost entirely online is that now all of the workers or in-person attendees get to spend more time with their families on Thanksgiving day.
It is so strange to me that we are planning a parade with everything that is going on in the world. I am a fan, but also just reading this after reading other articles about RBG passing and such is a whiplash I did not need to put on myself. With that out of the way, I truly am excited to see how this will be pulled off. I have to admit, my anxiety spiked when I read that they are tethering the large balloons to vehicles. Obviously, I am not expecting a vehicle to be pulled into the air, but the mental image was funny enough. Like mentioned above, I too am worried about people still trying to come and see the truncated parade. Are there going to be restrictions or blocks closed off to ensure people do not sneak in? I wonder where exactly the parade will be staged. I have never been, so I don’t know if it typically runs through more residential or business parts of the city or not.
I have always loved watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. It has been a tradition for my family since I was young. I am happy to hear that they are still going to put on the parade. It seems like the television experience won't be too different than what is normally expected from the broadcast. I am interested in what the performers will be, there is usually one person that I enjoy, the rest are just kind of random people. I am also wondering whether or not there will be any musical performances from any broadway musicals this year. I feel like there wouldn't be any, but if some of the shows have the funds and producers try to push the show there could be a performance. I feel bad for the people who go to the parade in person since they will be able to have that experience this year.
A lot of people see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade as a staple in their annual Thanksgiving traditions. It is nice that Macy’s had the time and the forethought to be able to plan what will likely be the best-case scenario for their parade this year. There is so much this year that is different and a bit disappointing, so having some of these glimmers of comfort may be reassuring to some. The obvious concern here is that people will try to cram into the small area of visibility for the parade and then New York will, again, hit an extreme low point in their battle with COVID. I am curious about the exact location and how they will navigate this. Honestly, I probably will not watch this, but I still hope it goes well because I would hate to hear about people who like the Thanksgiving Parade’s joy being crushed by another disappointment from this year.
Personally, the thought of this spectacle makes me uneasy. For starters, the parade, if you could even call it that, will be much less grandiose than it is on a normal year. Cutting performances from the production and shortening the span of the performance area as a whole are smart in theory but realistically they just shove the people that will be in attendance, into a closer space, which seems counterintuitive. Also I am a huge fan of the tradition that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade holds and I have always wanted to work on a Broadway show to be there and display it for everyone to see but I have my gripes with this new plan. It altogether just feels very pressured and kitsch for all that is happening in the world right now. I am so used to the normal Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade that I know this one will not live up to the normal standard so it has already set my standards low and will most likely let me down.
I cannot give my support of this parade. Though I know that they are going to be following certain regulations to keep all participants safe, I think that there are better ways to do this. We all know that people in the city will come to see the parade regardless of the pandemic, and there is no way to control a crowd in the public in New York. The fact of the matter is that this will promote social gatherings. Even if it is outside, this blame will be placed on Macys and the city. It is true that many Americans tune in to watch the parade on television. This has been something my grandma who lives in California does every year ( I don't think she has ever been to the actual parade). In this case, since it is television, there are ways to have a virtual parade so it will protect the health of the performers and the citizens of the city. They can definitely put together a performance video for each parade participant without going through an entire recorded parade. This will also allow performers to stay where they are in the world without having to travel and interact with new people.
I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of parades. Although, I did get to witness how much joy they bring to people because I grew up right down the street from the Rose Parade. This article actually inspired me to find out what they are planning to do this year. People come from all across the country or gather together in front of the TV to see it every year. I’m glad they are finding a way to make it work by setting restrictions. It was smart to limit the amount of performers and hire them locally to avoid travel. I also will be tuning in to see what the special vehicles driving the big character balloons look like. This year’s event obviously won’t feel the same, but I think it’s a good compromise to not having it at all. It can feel like there is no end in sight, so I think it’s good for people to still experience some joy.
I had almost forgotten about how much the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade would have to change to accommodate for social distancing and no in person crowds. It has always been a staple of my morning on Thanksgiving, so I’m glad to hear that they are adapting to the circumstances. It's super interesting that they’re able to use vehicles for carrying the balloons rather than the hundreds of people who usually do the job- I wonder if they will keep that system after the pandemic or return to using people to handle the balloons. Like most live theater, they’re adjusting to just film the parade and shortening the route because of it. It’ll be interesting to see how different the televised version is this year versus past years; I’ve only ever watched it on TV. Also, their performances will likely be a little different because they are only able to offer spots to local groups, I’m excited to see who is able to come perform!
I’m kind of split in my reaction to this idea. On one hand, I really appreciate the actions various groups are taking to bring some kind of normalcy and levity to this year by continuing with planned or traditional activities in a modified form. That’s certainly what we’re doing with school, and what many theatre artists are doing, either to try and support themselves with some, lessened, income, or with the ideas to bring art into the world despite the circumstances, which I think is admirable. However, events like the Thanksgiving Parade that are literally designed to bring thousands of people together in close proximity seem like something that we shouldn’t necessarily be trying to pull off this year, even in a modified form. The measures that the parade have announced seem helpful in lessening the covid impact, but having a performance of the scale described, even outdoors and with masks, seems dangerous enough to the point of not being worth it.
It is absolutely crazy to imagine the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade without an audience this year; it just shows once again how during this time of health security we are updating our cultural moments to keep human lives safe. Growing up in NYC, some of my best holiday memories are attending the parade in person and being in a crowd of people looking at the balloons from a crowded city sidewalk. That same feeling will most likely not be able to be emulated online or on television, but they will most definitely try their best in keeping this holiday tradition alive. The few years I have watched the parade on television, I felt that they provide an amazing experience that hopefully shouldn’t be much different this year since most of the tv coverage is in front of the Macy’s entrance on 34th street.
Growing up, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade has been a staple in my family’s tradition. While helping my mom and grandmother in the kitchen, we would watch the performances, admire the floats and character balloons, and enjoy the liveliness of the parade that would carry us through conversations at the table while enjoying our thanksgiving meal. I truly don’t know if I could imagine a Thanksgiving without the parade as a part of it, because it has become so ingrained in our traditions that I think it would feel like something is missing (although this entire year feels like something is missing- because it is). So with all that being said, I think the idea of keeping the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade alive in some way makes sense, because I can imagine there are other households that share a similar sentiment with the parade, even if it’s not going to be the same as what it was before. There method of reinventing is similar to what we have seen from other venues with the idea of livestreaming, so while I still have questions about the entirety of their plan, I think that there is something there and at least a framework of other small scale livestreams and recordings that they can use to assist in this planning. I am excited to see what this will be like, and how everything plays out in the process.
14 comments:
I don’t really know what to think of this new parade plan. I know that they are going to be following all of the restrictions put in place by the local government but it still seems like a lot of people will be in close contact with each other. I would be interested in learning more about how big the crew is and how that is working. I know they aren’t going to have a live audience like every other year, but I still feel like people are going to come to try to see the 1 block parade they are doing. But I do really like that they are still doing something because there are so many people who love this parade and watch it every year. And I like the idea of having the balloons flown by being attached to vehicles instead of the usual people holding onto them. That seems like a really safe way to do it. It sounds like all performers will have to be wearing masks which is a great thing. Maybe if people watching at home see widespread mask-wearing on TV they will be more inclined to wear ones themselves. I am excited for them to announce the performances.
I think it was extremely wise for Macy's to get ahead of the game, cancel the in person aspect of the parade, and start working on an all live stream version early. While I agree with many people across the nation that it is sad to not have an in person attendance to the event, it is without a doubt the smart move. On top of this, by making this decision early, I believe that Macy's will be able to pull of the event in fashion, as we would hope given that it is an event all about the looks. If Macy's had held onto the hope that they would be able to have the parade as usual, they, most likely, would have been scrambling last minute to make the parade suitable in the live stream only format. To me, it will not make a huge difference. I have never been to the parade in person, and nor did I have plans to this year. For that reason, I feel as though I am not the crowd that is super disappointed by this. That being said, I understand where those people are coming from.
I am personally a fan of this alternate solution to the traditional Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade itself has always been a staple in my family's traditions and we always watch it. There have been a couple years when we have even gone to see the parade in person in NYC and recorded it so that we could watch the musical numbers later that day. However it was obvious that something was going to have to happen because of the world of COVID. I am so glad they they have chosen to do an abbreviated version of the event rather then cancelling all together. It will obviously not be the same as the traditional event but I have faith that it will still be done well and in style.
It is so exciting to hear that even in this crazy time in history a tradition cherished by so many will still go on after so many other events and plans before it have been cancelled. While the parade won’t look like it has in the past, I personally am so thrilled to see what the new programming will look like. Since most of the parade is now going to be virtual, they have an amazing opportunity to welcome all types of performers, speakers, and characters that maybe they have never had the chance to before. I am also so happy to hear that the parade workers will be taking all of the necessary precautions for COVID, and am excited to see how the select few of parade floats will fly on cars without handlers. While I pray that cars controlling the floats won’t be a recipe for disaster, it most definitely was the right call on Macy’s part. Perhaps the best part of the parade going almost entirely online is that now all of the workers or in-person attendees get to spend more time with their families on Thanksgiving day.
It is so strange to me that we are planning a parade with everything that is going on in the world. I am a fan, but also just reading this after reading other articles about RBG passing and such is a whiplash I did not need to put on myself. With that out of the way, I truly am excited to see how this will be pulled off. I have to admit, my anxiety spiked when I read that they are tethering the large balloons to vehicles. Obviously, I am not expecting a vehicle to be pulled into the air, but the mental image was funny enough.
Like mentioned above, I too am worried about people still trying to come and see the truncated parade. Are there going to be restrictions or blocks closed off to ensure people do not sneak in? I wonder where exactly the parade will be staged. I have never been, so I don’t know if it typically runs through more residential or business parts of the city or not.
I have always loved watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. It has been a tradition for my family since I was young. I am happy to hear that they are still going to put on the parade. It seems like the television experience won't be too different than what is normally expected from the broadcast. I am interested in what the performers will be, there is usually one person that I enjoy, the rest are just kind of random people. I am also wondering whether or not there will be any musical performances from any broadway musicals this year. I feel like there wouldn't be any, but if some of the shows have the funds and producers try to push the show there could be a performance. I feel bad for the people who go to the parade in person since they will be able to have that experience this year.
A lot of people see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade as a staple in their annual Thanksgiving traditions. It is nice that Macy’s had the time and the forethought to be able to plan what will likely be the best-case scenario for their parade this year. There is so much this year that is different and a bit disappointing, so having some of these glimmers of comfort may be reassuring to some. The obvious concern here is that people will try to cram into the small area of visibility for the parade and then New York will, again, hit an extreme low point in their battle with COVID. I am curious about the exact location and how they will navigate this. Honestly, I probably will not watch this, but I still hope it goes well because I would hate to hear about people who like the Thanksgiving Parade’s joy being crushed by another disappointment from this year.
Personally, the thought of this spectacle makes me uneasy. For starters, the parade, if you could even call it that, will be much less grandiose than it is on a normal year. Cutting performances from the production and shortening the span of the performance area as a whole are smart in theory but realistically they just shove the people that will be in attendance, into a closer space, which seems counterintuitive. Also I am a huge fan of the tradition that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade holds and I have always wanted to work on a Broadway show to be there and display it for everyone to see but I have my gripes with this new plan. It altogether just feels very pressured and kitsch for all that is happening in the world right now. I am so used to the normal Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade that I know this one will not live up to the normal standard so it has already set my standards low and will most likely let me down.
I cannot give my support of this parade. Though I know that they are going to be following certain regulations to keep all participants safe, I think that there are better ways to do this. We all know that people in the city will come to see the parade regardless of the pandemic, and there is no way to control a crowd in the public in New York. The fact of the matter is that this will promote social gatherings. Even if it is outside, this blame will be placed on Macys and the city. It is true that many Americans tune in to watch the parade on television. This has been something my grandma who lives in California does every year ( I don't think she has ever been to the actual parade). In this case, since it is television, there are ways to have a virtual parade so it will protect the health of the performers and the citizens of the city. They can definitely put together a performance video for each parade participant without going through an entire recorded parade. This will also allow performers to stay where they are in the world without having to travel and interact with new people.
I’ll be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of parades. Although, I did get to witness how much joy they bring to people because I grew up right down the street from the Rose Parade. This article actually inspired me to find out what they are planning to do this year. People come from all across the country or gather together in front of the TV to see it every year. I’m glad they are finding a way to make it work by setting restrictions. It was smart to limit the amount of performers and hire them locally to avoid travel. I also will be tuning in to see what the special vehicles driving the big character balloons look like. This year’s event obviously won’t feel the same, but I think it’s a good compromise to not having it at all. It can feel like there is no end in sight, so I think it’s good for people to still experience some joy.
I had almost forgotten about how much the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade would have to change to accommodate for social distancing and no in person crowds. It has always been a staple of my morning on Thanksgiving, so I’m glad to hear that they are adapting to the circumstances. It's super interesting that they’re able to use vehicles for carrying the balloons rather than the hundreds of people who usually do the job- I wonder if they will keep that system after the pandemic or return to using people to handle the balloons. Like most live theater, they’re adjusting to just film the parade and shortening the route because of it. It’ll be interesting to see how different the televised version is this year versus past years; I’ve only ever watched it on TV. Also, their performances will likely be a little different because they are only able to offer spots to local groups, I’m excited to see who is able to come perform!
I’m kind of split in my reaction to this idea. On one hand, I really appreciate the actions various groups are taking to bring some kind of normalcy and levity to this year by continuing with planned or traditional activities in a modified form. That’s certainly what we’re doing with school, and what many theatre artists are doing, either to try and support themselves with some, lessened, income, or with the ideas to bring art into the world despite the circumstances, which I think is admirable. However, events like the Thanksgiving Parade that are literally designed to bring thousands of people together in close proximity seem like something that we shouldn’t necessarily be trying to pull off this year, even in a modified form. The measures that the parade have announced seem helpful in lessening the covid impact, but having a performance of the scale described, even outdoors and with masks, seems dangerous enough to the point of not being worth it.
It is absolutely crazy to imagine the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade without an audience this year; it just shows once again how during this time of health security we are updating our cultural moments to keep human lives safe. Growing up in NYC, some of my best holiday memories are attending the parade in person and being in a crowd of people looking at the balloons from a crowded city sidewalk. That same feeling will most likely not be able to be emulated online or on television, but they will most definitely try their best in keeping this holiday tradition alive. The few years I have watched the parade on television, I felt that they provide an amazing experience that hopefully shouldn’t be much different this year since most of the tv coverage is in front of the Macy’s entrance on 34th street.
Growing up, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade has been a staple in my family’s tradition. While helping my mom and grandmother in the kitchen, we would watch the performances, admire the floats and character balloons, and enjoy the liveliness of the parade that would carry us through conversations at the table while enjoying our thanksgiving meal. I truly don’t know if I could imagine a Thanksgiving without the parade as a part of it, because it has become so ingrained in our traditions that I think it would feel like something is missing (although this entire year feels like something is missing- because it is). So with all that being said, I think the idea of keeping the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade alive in some way makes sense, because I can imagine there are other households that share a similar sentiment with the parade, even if it’s not going to be the same as what it was before. There method of reinventing is similar to what we have seen from other venues with the idea of livestreaming, so while I still have questions about the entirety of their plan, I think that there is something there and at least a framework of other small scale livestreams and recordings that they can use to assist in this planning. I am excited to see what this will be like, and how everything plays out in the process.
Post a Comment