topic Re: Concerts over for now? in Community Chat

Concerts over for now?

Witchy Woman — Sat, 16 May 2020 17:25:03 GMT

Maryland is just starting to reopen a few places, but not many. My county is still "stay at home" because of the proximity of another county with high deaths and infections. I'm fine staying put.

However we have two concerts "postponed" (for now) at a small venue in Annapolis, but I'm thinking there is no way on earth they can have a concert any time soon. Some shows have been canceled, but most are just postponed.

The dates are now September and October, but....what will be different? The room is small and normally full seating. The artists are singing...everyone sings along. Lots of eating and drinking, cheering...

There is no way to socially distance in this place unless they cancel 1/2 the seating. Even then, it would be a petri dish with so many people in a confined space.

I've not heard any discussion in general about concerts other than the big ones will likely not be held this year.

Just wish they would cancel the concerts and refund the ticket prices, because even if they go off, I cannot imagine feeling safe at such a venue. Mask or no mask, you are in a small space with lots of people breathing, singing....

I feel bad all around for the venue and the artists. Most unable to perform in public for the rest of the year...maybe longer.

Re: Concerts over for now?

Still Raining — Sat, 16 May 2020 17:17:13 GMT

It is beyond sad to think of a world with no live performances. But here we are.

Re: Concerts over for now?

golding76 — Sat, 16 May 2020 17:22:21 GMT

I weep for all that we have lost. A first cousin forwarded to me a beautiful video yesterday that brings home the fact that we are only visitors on this beautiful planet of ours. We have not been the most considerate of visitors, have we?

Alas, I am unable to copy and paste its ID. I know only basics in these maneuvers.

We "went to sleep in one world and woke up in another," as the video says.

I am deeply saddened that live performances may be a thing of the past for a very long time. Hope I am wrong -- hope they can return sooner than thought.

Re: Concerts over for now?

Witchy Woman — Sat, 16 May 2020 17:23:38 GMT

@Still Raining

@golding76

I so agree.

We have seen so many wonderful artists at this place and always have a good time. Reserved seating and reasonable prices. You are just steps from the artist. So much fun.

My husband and I agree that if they don't cancel, we aren't going anyway

Re: Concerts over for now?

golding76 — Sat, 16 May 2020 17:38:28 GMT

Witchy Woman,

This sort of loss digs into the economy even more, and the lives of performing artists are going to be at risk in more ways than one. (This topic is close to my heart for very personal reasons that I won't go into.)

Artists and their work pull us out of the sometimes painful lives that we lead; they elevate us; they let us transcend our everyday woes and feel good (or better) about life. The give us the will to go on.

So many artists -- particularly musicians -- do not have health insurance. So, not only will these marvelous human beings not have an income for food and housing, they will not have any money to seek medical care if they become ill. In the U.S., for the most part, those who have 9-to-5 jobs are the only ones who have health insurance. Musicians, in particular, do not have 9-to-5 jobs. The enormity of their loss during this downturn will be incalculable in terms of health and personal comfort.

This is not intended to urge you to attend your concert. Heavens no! I won't be attending anything in the near future either. The ramifications of all that has happened are not yet known. It will continue to to be a grim awakening.

Re: Concerts over for now?

morganjen — Sat, 16 May 2020 18:58:47 GMT

Check back in about 3 years and we'll see if it's safe to have live performances.

Re: Concerts over for now?

reiki604 — Sat, 16 May 2020 19:02:20 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
It is beyond sad to think of a world with no live performances. But here we are.

You have to go and look for them. I have been seeing many performances on You Tube, Facebook Live and zoom. Ok, lthey're not the big names one might be used to, but the musicians are there and performing their hearts out. I'm seeing more shows now than ever before and they're usually free with a request to donate to the artist, or at a minimal fee.

Re: Concerts over for now?

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 16 May 2020 19:19:59 GMT

@reiki604 Isn't it wonderful to discover the new talent that has emerged online? Hope it translates to performances at live venues when safe to do so.

Re: Concerts over for now?

bmorechick — Sat, 16 May 2020 19:47:13 GMT

I am in MD as well, and yes, our county has done a soft opening, with masks and distancing still required and I believe limited numbers of folks in the store. @Witchy Woman I know where your county is and yes, it’s high concentration of covid. I am on the Eastern Shore near the beach and we were very very upset, well the locals were, with the beach mayor opening things in a heavily traveled and over crowded resort. I fear the consequences.

All you can do is treat everyone like they are infected and continue safe practices. You cannot control the governmental responses so just protect yourself.

I too am sad about outdoor venues and concerts being shelved. But I think this will pass at some point. We must be patient in a country NOT know for patience, but moreso, self entitlement.

Re: Concerts over for now?

ValuSkr — Sat, 16 May 2020 19:53:01 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
It is beyond sad to think of a world with no live performances. But here we are.

We can have live performances live-streamed - not as good as in-person, of course, but better than nothing.

Re: Concerts over for now?

Witchy Woman — Sat, 16 May 2020 19:55:31 GMT

@bmorechick

I'm in Charles County, which borders PG. They opened St. Mary's, but because of our proximity, they kept places like Waldorf closed as many from PG come there to shop.

I rarely go North to shop, and head to St. Mary's most of the time...or I just shop local. But, I am hopeful that things will improve in PG soon. They have been hit very hard.

If you are in Maryland, you probably know about or have visited Ramshead Tavern in Annapolis. They are showing some concerts postponed until June or later, but, again, I cannot imagine they will be able to have ANY concerts.

We have tickets to see Felix Cavaliere and Michael Franks...both now set for much later in the year. At this point, it seems Ramshead may have to close down their concert room.

It's one of our favorite spots and, it makes me sad that they might have to go out of business. How do you survive with so much of what you do revolves around live performances?

Re: Concerts over for now?

Witchy Woman — Sat, 16 May 2020 20:01:26 GMT

@reiki604

While I'm not adverse to watching online performances, I'd rather see a live performance.

Our tickets were paid for months ago, and if this venue has to refund all those cancelled shows, it's thousands and thousands of $$. Not to mention the food/drink purchases generated during the concert.

I'm patient, but there is nothing like the joy of live singing.

Re: Concerts over for now?

Sooner — Sat, 16 May 2020 20:03:02 GMT

@Witchy Woman wrote:
@bmorechick

I'm in Charles County, which borders PG. They opened St. Mary's, but because of our proximity, they kept places like Waldorf closed as many from PG come there to shop.

I rarely go North to shop, and head to St. Mary's most of the time...or I just shop local. But, I am hopeful that things will improve in PG soon. They have been hit very hard.

If you are in Maryland, you probably know about or have visited Ramshead Tavern in Annapolis. They are showing some concerts postponed until June or later, but, again, I cannot imagine they will be able to have ANY concerts.

We have tickets to see Felix Cavaliere and Michael Franks...both now set for much later in the year. At this point, it seems Ramshead may have to close down their concert room.

It's one of our favorite spots and, it makes me sad that they might have to go out of business. How do you survive with so much of what you do revolves around live performances?

@bmorechick @Witchy Woman You'll be fine. Lots of us are without much access to live performances. People who live in rural areas and small towns. And there are whole lot of them out there!

We are fortunate that almost everything is vailable to experience while not live, but in many ways, formats and great sound quality.

Sorry for your loss, but we are all lucky to live in the digital age on the music front!

Re: Concerts over for now?

bmorechick — Sat, 16 May 2020 20:39:07 GMT

@Witchy Woman I am what folks here call a “come here” because I was not born and raised on the eastern shore. I am originally from Baltimore City, more specifically Highlandtown (Hollintown) and Canton. So during the 70s and 80s I frequented Largo, Merriweather, Baltimore Civic Center, Morris Mechanic to name a few for live convert venues and really really enjoyed that. In Annapolis, I, my sisters and friends frequented some of the bars as well. I know where you are...I have relatives in St. Marys co. Folks in metro areas have been slammed and understandably so due to close living proximity.

I believe we all be able to get back to some form of what we were, but crisis always renders change, so curious to see how this will all pan out. In the meantime I hope everyone enjoys what they can, when they can and look to something new and fresh and hopeful in 2021.

Re: Concerts over for now?

Greeneyedlady21 — Sat, 16 May 2020 21:11:45 GMT

I had tickets to Swan Lake ballet, donated the cost to the ballet company. Took the refund on a postponed Riverdance because 2021 is just too far away and unsure for my life.

Was really looking forward to Lady Gaga. That hasn't been cancelled or postponed yet, Live Nation and Ticketmaster love to hold on to people's money. I would like my money back, it was not a cheap ticket.

I love concerts, theater, and ballet. And live sports. Can live without them, but life is much less enjoyable for me without them.

Re: Concerts over for now?

reiki604 — Sat, 16 May 2020 22:57:56 GMT

@Witchy Woman wrote:
@reiki604

While I'm not adverse to watching online performances, I'd rather see a live performance.

Our tickets were paid for months ago, and if this venue has to refund all those cancelled shows, it's thousands and thousands of $$. Not to mention the food/drink purchases generated during the concert.

I'm patient, but there is nothing like the joy of live singing.

I understand what you are saying but what I'm talking about are live performances. I know of at least one who has a happy hour concert every friday from 6-7ish. We are encouraged to request songs, some his, some not. Each week has a different theme. With a Zoom concert another performer encourages us to sing along with the old standard folk songs or his current songs that we know.

It's embracing the new normal and encouraging and supporting artists who are hurting very badly these days.

Re: Concerts over for now?

I am still oxox — Sat, 16 May 2020 23:15:53 GMT

We had two concerts that were supposed to be around this time.

Ringo at Tanglewood moved to June 2021, their entire schedule has moved to 2021 and a local concert that was supposed to be in early May and moved to August and I have no intention of going

Re: Concerts over for now?

reiki604 — Sat, 16 May 2020 23:20:48 GMT

I also heard (if I wasn't dreaming it) that Keith Urban did a concert outside of Nashville in a Drive-in Movie theatre for essential workers. He set up the stage under the screen where he was projected and the concert goers were safely spaced appropriately in their cars. Where there's a will, there's a way!