“That’s Entertainment,” by the Jam kind of describes today’s times. “A police car and a screaming siren,” “Feeding ducks in the park and wishing you were far away,” Two lovers kissing amongst the scream of midnight. Two lovers missing the tranquility of solitude.” These pulled lyrics all end with the chorus, “That’s entertainment, that’s entertainment.”
What will become of our entertainment? Anyone who knows me knows I have many interests. Like everyone else since the virus took hold, they’ve been put on hold indefinitely. I’ve gotten some of my money back. More refunds are pending. Some you have to fight for. Thanks, Ticketmaster.
I missed an opera. Lincoln Center was a pleasure to work with on the refund process. I’m a NY Philharmonic subscriber, scheduled to see several shows in November and December. The fall opera was season was just canceled. I’m sure it is only days till other venues at Lincoln Center cancel. My Alarm and Ringo Starr shows have been postponed. The Pet Shop Boys–New Order Unity tour met the same fate. I didn’t get to sip some new wines. The tasting was canceled. Still waiting for “Black Widow”, Wonder Woman-1984” and “X-Men the New Mutants,” Eventually they will come out. I wish they would have just let them play on Fios and other providers. And of course, I’ve already missed several Yankee games. At least the Yankees are undefeated. Sadly, so are the Red Sox.
I am happy the refunds are slowly and I mean slowly coming in. However, I would have rather heard “68 Guns”, “Temptation,” and “Yellow Submarine.” Right now it seems all we all hear is the Pet Shop Boys’ “What I’ve done to deserve this?” What have we done? No one knows. But this begs the next question, what will entertainment look like in the future?
Some thoughts.
- We’ve heard about potential comeback back of drive-in movies. Cool. I don’t own a car. What about folks like us? They’ve spoken about doing the same for concerts. Can’t see how this would be fun? Don’t you wanna be singing “Blue Monday” in unison with Bernard Sumner at the Garden?
- They are talking about baseball without fans in the Stadium. Imagine that? The Red Sox would come town and not hear the Bronx cheer. Maybe the Yanks can play it over the sound system. No need for them to play much else between innings. On that note, I did prefer when they didn’t make the two minutes and five seconds between innings a show. Although I didn’t mind the groundskeeper’s “YMCA” routine
- How will we attend events at Broadway theaters, Lincoln Center and elsewhere? Will each get half of a row to ourselves? How much will they jack up ticket prices? Will people go? Will we able to afford it? Will we feel safe to attend?
Don’t forget to get to and from any of these entertainment options, most of use NYC Transit. Pre-virus meltdown the service was shoddy. Will we feel comfortable riding it? How much crazier will it be?
Let’s jump to the next series of entertainment.
I’ve been listening to some great new bands. I first heard Brewster Moonface at the Coney Island Brewery after the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge. Loved ‘em. Went home got their album from iTunes. Saw them at Desmond’s Tavern, NYC a few weeks later.
I discovered the Austin, Tex.-based Weird Wolves. Great band. So dark. So lovable. I chatted with them and asked them to come to NYC to perform. They said they hope to. Then came the virus.
Both bands have been performing regularly online. They’ve been releasing some new music and chatting online with fans. They’ve mentioned during their jam session how much they miss performing live in a bar or club. But are trying to make things work online. They get decent visibility online. No matter the time zone, people are tuning into their shows. It is worth it. But it’d be so more worth it to see them somewhere in the City or at Coney Island.
What about live theater? Will it become drive-in, too. A guy I went to camp with runs an improv theater in the Bay area. It has been shut down. He’s been doing some online shows. Fun. But akin to live music, theater is meant to be in person. You want to feel the performance.
Next, when we can return to these venues will we be forced to sit in our seats with masks and gloves? How uncomfortable. How will we eat our hotdogs, peanuts and ice cream at the Stadium? Or Sip our Coney Island Mermaid? We will be pulling our masks on and off all night.
Now that’s entertainment. Or is it?
Other posts can be viewed at:
“Pandemic Watch: Communicating via video,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/03/pandemic-watch-communicating-via-video
“Single Life,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/02/pandemic-watch-single-life
“Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times,”
“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember.”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/pandemic-watch-there-are-places-i-remember
“Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement,”
“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/pandemic-watch-sitting-on-your-stoop
“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”
“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”
“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”
“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/14/pandemic-watch-we-live-in-interesting-times
“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”
“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/pandemic-watch-yes-it-is-monday
“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “
“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”
“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime
“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”
“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608
“Trashy Parks,”
https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/trashy-parks
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