DC Metro Theater Arts: Despite a significant increase in vaccinations, DC-area theatergoers will be slow to return to local theaters, according to a new study by Limelight Insights by Shugoll, a national marketing research company in Rockville, Maryland. The company conducted an online survey with 1,259 DC-area theatergoers from March 25 to 29, 2021, on their intent to return to theaters.
12 comments:
This was an interesting article; it looks at how theatergoers feel about going back into spaces to see live performances. I think a lot of the discussions have been around when can productions move back into “normal” productions and less about what audience members plan to do and what they feel comfortable with. Granted, both are very, very important, don’t get me wrong. But I do find it interesting to see where people in DC specifically stand on returning to theaters in-person. Generally, it sounds like most people won’t feel comfortable until December/January, which makes sense to me. Hopefully, most people will be fully vaccinated by the fall but that doesn’t mean everything is back to what it was pre-COVID. Also, I think people under 15 (or so) aren’t getting vaccinated right now, and won’t be until vaccines are approved for younger children. Hopefully by next year we can see more theaters opening up to the general public again!
This article and the data from it speaks to a very real issue that we might be encountering, that despite it potentially being possible to reopen to normal, there are still a lot of people who are still uncomfortable with that. After going over a year of not being in large groups, rarely leaving the house, and seeing very few people, I think it is going to take longer than we anticipate to be comfortable going back to life as we knew it. As much as we all talk about the thing we are most excited to rush back to when we reopen, I think in actuality there is going to be a lot of fear still with us even as we push towards reopening. I do not think theater is immune from that, and though I certainly can not wait to watch a live, in-person show again, I am also concerned about not social-distancing and being in a room with people I do not know, so I think it is possible that the return to normal will not be as rapid as we might think.
This is a very interesting study. It makes sense that people continue to be very wary about attending live theatre until at least January 2022. I haven’t read that much about what Broadway’s or local theaters’ plans are for reopening safely in the fall, but I’d assume distancing and masking will still be required until enough of the population is vaccinated so that Covid-19 is no longer an overwhelming threat to the world. What I found interesting, though, is that even while vaccinated, people still wouldn’t feel comfortable seeing a show. My assumption would be that as people got vaccinated, they would feel more free to do the things they loved to do in the “old world”, and the more people that god vaccinated, the more people would be able to do all of those things. I wonder if there is further detail that went into this study and perhaps showed some reasoning behind why people wouldn’t fill the seats of a theatre regardless of a vaccine.
I think that it is going to take a long time for people to gain comfort being in settings around strangers inside for long periods of time. Right now we have barely reached 20% of the population being vaccinated and we have a long time to go to reach any semblance of herd immunity. Furthermore, we still have a lot to learn about vaccines (although recent news has been very positive). I think that for me personally, even though I have been vaccinated I won't be attending anything like indoor theater until we have reached a higher number of vaccinated people. I think that there will be a really big adjustment especially for people who have been strictly quarantining. Conversely, I am sure that some people will be so excited to go see a show in a theater and are more comfortable venturing out. However, I think that regardless of people's comfort levels it will take a long time for theater to return to what it was like before.
The results of this study honestly do not surprise me much at all. I fully expect the most large events and large group gatherings to not be back up in full swing until next spring. And even then I expect masks to become much more commonplace than they were prior to the pandemic. I especially am not surprised that these were the results in a large metropolitan area like DC. I think it would be very interesting to see how the results would differ in different geographic locations. But in a dencely populated area or city I don't expect people to be comfortable returning to theaters or similar events for a long time post widespread vaccination. especially because cities saw the most dramatic effects of rapid spread of the virus at the beginning of the pandemic, and I doubt that anyone is eager to test the vaccine and see that happen again.
I really am not surprised by this article. I did not expect live theatre to be up and running anytime soon and I don't think companies will even be breaking even until next year. It is gonna take a while for this vaccine to fully roll out and this virus to be at a point where people can comfortably go and watch a live show. Currently people will be getting vaccinated but still have to maintain social distancing and wear a mask, and when it comes down to it, people are just not comfortable being in that situation for an hour and a half or two hours and perhaps risk putting their help in jeopardy. Currently we do not know how well this vaccine will work in getting rid of the virus and people are answering as a result of that unknown. Theatre is not something people are willing to risk their lives or health for right now just because we are in an age where tv and movies are right at our fingertips. I think there is another beauty with live performances and there are people who are dying to get out and watch them but I don't think there will be large audience numbers for a very long time.
As may have been said, I doubt most people (or, most sensible people) will be fully comfortable regrouping in large numbers, with or without masks, after the pandemic. Apparently, my state plans to resume live theatre on the 15th of this month, which is also when the vaccine will be eligible for everyone aged 16 and above in my state. This seems silly, as most of the population is not vaccinated yet, and will not be at that point. I know that the pandemic is going to have lasting impacts on my behavior and my life. Related to going to this article, some of those behaviors would be like not being comfortable being in enclosed spaces with lots of strangers even if we're all safe, vaccinated, and masked; being constantly aware of what surfaces I'm touching, being constantly anxious about who what when where why. I guess the delay in returning to live theatre makes sense.
While this is not that surprising, these statistics are still rather sad. At this point, we know that the vaccine is extremely effective in all of those that have already received it and the distribution of the vaccine is at a very efficient pace currently. We should be able to have theatres at a limited capacity with strictly vaccinated people and be able to do shows in person as soon as there are enough people vaccinated. To me, this honestly feels doable this summer and it is sad to see that people will not be ready until winter of next year. I think this is a great point to begin the reopening of our industry as so many people are getting their shots now. It must be slow and responsible but I honestly do not think that we can prolong the reopening much longer. I really think a great and safe model to follow here is what NYPopsUp is doing in NYC. They are having a series of live events that started in February and all of them are extremely safe and follow many very strict protocols to ensure safety.
This is not that surprising that people are squeamish, especially since the average age of theatergoers is probably higher meaning people have more health problems and are more wary. I’m somewhat curious if there will be long-term repercussions from this pandemic that will affect the way theater structures are designed and built. My guess is that things will linger like masks in the healthcare industry. I’m also curious if it’s really going to take that long to get everyone a vaccine who wants a vaccine, or if by the fall the only people who won’t have gotten it will be people who are hesitant to, and the remaining speed will be determined by effective public relations. I'm sure this will go down the rabbit hole of “vaccine passports” and if those are a thing etc. This was published on the 1st of april which is right around the time the CDC confirmed that fully vaccinated people have a greenlight to travel, so it’s possible a more up to date study is in order.
I am saddened by the thought of live theatre being pushed further and further back, more than it already was, but I understand how that feeling may not be everyone’s current priority. New vaccines getting rolled out to the public, even picking up speed of phases here in Pittsburgh, brings optimism that in-person activities will soon return, yet the number of people willing to actually attend these events is low. Theatre is an expensive hobby. No matter if you are in DC, where this survey was conducted, or elsewhere, it is nowhere near cheap to attend shows. Many people lost their forms of income over the pandemic or struggled with basic necessities so I would not want to pressure anyone into seeing a musical when their own wellbeing is on the line instead. Even so, with 52% of people willing to show up, I think half-capacity shows would be a win-win situation for the theatres (albeit not what they were hoping for) and for those wanting to see a performance in person again.
It is very unfortunate to read a article saying that live theater will not be possible for longer than we had dissipated even with The mass distribution of vaccinations is happening all across this country. I feel That the studies are sort of wrong and that more people than we believe will return to theaters as soon as they open. In New York City vaccines are now available for every single citizen above 16 years old. Within a month more than 3/4 of the population of New York City, the largest city in the United States, will be vaccinated. Even if theaters return at half capacity, I believe there are more patrons that are going to come out to support their theaters after not seeing performances for so long. I do understand the point that a lot of people have been financially affected by the pandemic and the ticket sales may not be as strong as they believe. But I do know that there are still a lot of rich people who are patrons and supporters of the art theater and they will come out through their pocketbooks and persons to support theater. I agree that a more up to date study needs to be conducted because vaccinations have changed around the country and as Owen said, so has the CDC’s regulations for what vaccinated people can do.
It is very unfortunate to read a article saying that live theater will not be possible for longer than we had dissipated even with The mass distribution of vaccinations is happening all across this country. I feel That the studies are sort of wrong and that more people than we believe will return to theaters as soon as they open. In New York City vaccines are now available for every single citizen above 16 years old. Within a month more than 3/4 of the population of New York City, the largest city in the United States, will be vaccinated. Even if theaters return at half capacity, I believe there are more patrons that are going to come out to support their theaters after not seeing performances for so long. I do understand the point that a lot of people have been financially affected by the pandemic and the ticket sales may not be as strong as they believe. But I do know that there are still a lot of rich people who are patrons and supporters of the art theater and they will come out through their pocketbooks and persons to support theater. I agree that a more up to date study needs to be conducted because vaccinations have changed around the country and as Owen said, so has the CDC’s regulations for what vaccinated people can do.
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