From a Broadway Covid Safety Monitor

[BwayCovidSafetyMonitor]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 2:01am

Please keep your mask on and all the way over your nose for the entire show. When you purchase tickets from telecharge you consent to doing this (and are sent multiple email reminders). We are not trying to be the mean people… we are are just their to enforce these rules to because we want Broadway to stay open.

A majority of us have worked in the industry for a long time and have not been able to find jobs (in our field) at the moment so we are strictly doing this because we love Broadway.

Please don’t call us names. The names I’ve been called by patrons are disgusting. We are humans with real feelings and emotions.

Again, We are just trying to enforce the rules, we need Broadway to stay open.

 

**Posted this on Reddit a few days ago, but also wanted to post here.

[bear88]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 5:06am

This is a disheartening, if unsurprising, thing to read. I feel awful for you.

[jlindsey865]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 10:33am

BrodyFosse123 said: "I hope this makes it to ALL the pre-show announcements. The COVID protocols is a team effort. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the women making the disgusting comments. This is why the name “Karen” found its new life. There never was a male name counterpart. "

Yeah - it’s Donald Trump.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 10:40am

all I can say is: whatever nastiness is directed at you is not intended for you. What you are doing is essential, critical, important. Don't forget that. [I hope we start to see stronger response from productions so this stops happening. It is hurting Broadway. Let's start kicking them to the curb promptly.]

I have been pleased with the level of compliance I have seen personally. I suspect that's a function of the type of show I have gone to see and the corresponding type of audience at those shows. 

[BwayCovidSafetyMonitor]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 11:34am

Actually, the meanest comments towards me come from older men surprisingly. 

[BwayCovidSafetyMonitor]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 11:35am

BrodyFosse123 said: "I hope this makes it to ALL the pre-show announcements. The COVID protocols is a team effort. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the women making the disgusting comments. This is why the name “Karen” found its new life. There never was a male name counterpart."

 

Actually, the meanest comments towards me have come from older men surprisingly.

 

[BwayCovidSafetyMonitor]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 11:38am

HogansHero said: "allI can say is: whatever nastiness is directed at you is not intended for you. What you are doing is essential, critical, important. Don't forget that. [I hope we start to see stronger response from productions so this stops happening. It is hurting Broadway. Let's start kicking them to the curb promptly.]

I have been pleased with the level of compliance I have seen personally. I suspect that's a function of the type of show I have gone to see and the corresponding type of audience at thoseshows."

Thank you! I know not to take it to heart, it's just upsetting after seeing our industry go thru so much over the past few years.  I don't understand why wearing a mask correctly for 2.5 hours is so hard, but I digress.

I wish we could start to see a strong response from the theatre/productions as well - however, I don't think the higher-ups would spend a show doing mask checks.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 11:40am

Saw the Lion King last week and as my partner and I were taking our seats in Orchestra Row D House Left (6 seats in the row), we noticed that all four people that shared our row were not wearing masks. I’d say they were in their 60s. They were just hoping to get away with it. An usher finally told them they had to put their masks on and they complied, but seemed annoyed. I looked around and spotted random people throughout the house who had their masks around their chin or not covering their nose. I really felt for the ushers and Safety Monitors who have to babysit these people.

It’s a tough job and I thank you for doing it. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 11:51am

Actually, the meanest comments towards me have come from older men surprisingly.
 

Oh, that's not surprising at all. Just like on this website and the whole world, older men honestly think they can say whatever they want to younger people, especially females. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. I'm sorry you have to deal with assholes who don't care about rules. Mostly, I'm sorry about the higher ups that made these rules but expect others to enforce them. You are not security, you are not a bouncer. You don't deserve to be verbally abused by men just for doing your job. 

These rules exist for a reason. If you're reading this and thinking of going to the theater but don't plan on following the rules? Don't go. I'd hate to run into someone like me because the last person I called out ran out of the theater in tears. She fu*ked around and found out. 

I'm so sorry Op, as a patron I will follow the rules and treat all staff with respect. I will also report, call out and when necessary have people removed as I've successfully done before.

Most of us here are on your side and care about other people. 

Updated On: 9/26/21 at 11:51 AM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 2:02pm

BwayCovidSafetyMonitor said: "I wish we could start to see a strong response from the theatre/productions as well - however, I don't think the higher-ups would spend a show doing mask checks."

What I am referring to is having a presence of force backing up those like you who are on the front line. (I don't expect Jordan Roth to be that show of force.) And I think we will see this subject addressed because it is actually very important to producers and theatre owners. Word of mouth making our theatres seem to be less than safe havens is bad for business. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 3:24pm

When I saw HAMILTON at the Pantages last week, the ushers were up and down the aisles with big signs and quietly and politely pointed offenders out (of which there were few) and it never interrupted the show. They had it DOWN

[BwayCovidSafetyMonitor]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 3:44pm

HogansHero said: "BwayCovidSafetyMonitor said: "I wish we could start to see a strong response from the theatre/productions as well - however, I don't think the higher-ups would spend a show doing mask checks."

What I am referring to is having a presence of force backing up those like you who are on the front line. (I don't expect Jordan Roth to be that show of force.) And I think we will see this subject addressed because it is actually very important to producers and theatre owners. Word of mouth making our theatres seem to be less than safe havensis bad for business."

Ah yes. I see what you mean - I've talked to people who are higher up (like work for the theater owners), the issue is unfortunately no one seems to care what I think or my safety.  The amount of disrespect we get from the higher ups is insane, nothing has changed since "Broadway is back". 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 4:33pm

jlindsey865 said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "I hope this makes it to ALL the pre-show announcements. The COVID protocols is a team effort. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the women making the disgusting comments. This is why the name “Karen” found its new life. There never was a male name counterpart. "

Yeah - it’s Donald Trump. 

 

If not for him you might not have the vaccine by now.You can deny it but it is true.Taking the vax makes you a hypocrite. By the way while we make sacrifices a Biden official admits thousands of Haitian refugees have been released without Co Vid tests.Prayers go out to those American citizens living by that Border. 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 5:45pm

God, you are insufferable, Roxy. And delusional. Argue til your lips turn blue, Trump made the pandemic worse than it had to be and he didn’t do a damn thing for the vaccine - SCIENTISTS DID. The same ones you continue to ignore.

Go. Away.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 7:23pm

If not for him you might not have the vaccine by now.

He literally did NOTHING after October when he got the virus. Absolutely nothing. He was vaxxed in private. He did NOT promote it. He did not tell his terrorist supporters to get it. Stop being delusional. Thank you.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 9/26/21 at 8:02pm

They should play celebrity recorded announcements constantly about mask wearing before the show, at intermission and afterwards.

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 9/27/21 at 12:41pm

Thank you for this post and for doing what you do. I've only been to 2 shows so far but I thought Hadestown had a pretty good handle on it so far. Someone was walking around with a handheld "Masks On" sign during intermission and and ended up standing right in front of the stage. I also saw an usher tell someone to pull up their mask during the show.

I'll have to do a better job of paying attention next time but I also thought both shows I saw had pre-show announcements about masks.

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 9/27/21 at 4:15pm

I saw this past Saturday matinee of Hadestown and was reasonably pleased with how safety protocols/mask wearing were handled. I did take mine off a few times for a brief break or to have a drink but never had it off for more than maybe 5 minutes at a time. (Plus stepping outside for a few minutes at intermission). From what I could tell pretty much everyone kept theirs on other than to eat/drink and I didn’t see any ushers say anything. I did miss the pre-show announcement though cause my dad was mistaken about what street the theatre was on, so we were a bit later in getting there than we intended, so we only made it into the theatre like 5 minutes before the performance began. All in all a good experience and the show was absolutely unreal, one of the absolute best I have ever seen.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 9/27/21 at 4:28pm

stoptheworld38 said: "I saw this past Saturday matinee of Hadestown and was reasonably pleased with how safety protocols/mask wearing were handled. I did take mine off a few times for a brief break or to have a drink but never had it off for more than maybe 5 minutes at a time. (Plus stepping outside for a few minutes at intermission). From what I could tell pretty much everyone kept theirs on other than to eat/drink and I didn’t see any ushers say anything. I did miss the pre-show announcement though cause my dad was mistaken about what street the theatre was on, so we were a bit later in getting there than we intended, so we only made it into the theatre like 5 minutes before the performance began. All in all a good experience and the show was absolutely unreal, one of the absolute best I have ever seen.

"

No more than 5 minutes at a time? Multiple times? I’m sorry but you’re part of the problem. 
 

I’m not sure why it’s so hard for people to keep their masks on over their nose and mouth for 2.5 hours. If you can’t handle it, don’t come to the theatre until they lift the mandate.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/27/21 at 4:34pm

Hairspray0901 said: "No more than 5 minutes at a time? Multiple times? I’m sorry but you’repart of the problem.

I’m not sure why it’s so hard for people to keep their masks on over their nose and mouth for 2.5 hours. If you can’t handle it, don’t come to the theatre until they lift the mandate."

You are wrong. Ask an epidemiologist. PS the mandate contemplates brief interludes such as that described. 

I know some of us want to be extra cautious, as a personal matter, and that's great, but you should not chastise someone for doing what the protocol provides. And if you are concerned, you can keep your mask on for 2.5 hours, and you have a further layer of protection from a very very low risk.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 9/27/21 at 4:58pm

HogansHero said: "Hairspray0901 said: "No more than 5 minutes at a time? Multiple times? I’m sorry but you’repart of the problem.

I’m not sure why it’s so hard for people to keep their masks on over their nose and mouth for 2.5 hours. If you can’t handle it, don’t come to the theatre until they lift the mandate."

You are wrong. Ask anepidemiologist. PSthe mandate contemplates brief interludes such as that described.

I know some of us want to be extra cautious, as a personal matter, and that's great, but you should not chastise someone for doing what the protocol provides. And if you are concerned, you can keep your mask on for 2.5 hours, and you have a further layer of protection from a very very low risk."

I disagree. If everyone starts taking their masks off for “no more than 5 minutes”, multiple times throughout a performance for a “break” as the OP said they did, we have a problem. They are one person but 15 people see 1 person take their mask off for this long, they’ll also think it’s okay and a domino effect will come into play.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/27/21 at 5:11pm

I agree, Hairspray. I emailed all three theater organizations and heard back from two today. They both said they are aware of the problem I stated (people eating and drinking the entire time at their seat so they dont have to mask up) and employees safety is important and blah blah blahhhhhhhhhhh. They don't care. 

This is so awful. Ushers are not bouncers and Im deeply concerned for their safety and mental health through out this time. 

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 9/27/21 at 5:15pm

Hairspray0901 said: "stoptheworld38 said: "I saw this past Saturday matinee of Hadestown and was reasonably pleased with how safety protocols/mask wearing were handled. I did take mine off a few times for a brief break or to have a drink but never had it off for more than maybe 5 minutes at a time. (Plus stepping outside for a few minutes at intermission). From what I could tell pretty much everyone kept theirs on other than to eat/drink and I didn’t see any ushers say anything. I did miss the pre-show announcement though cause my dad was mistaken about what street the theatre was on, so we were a bit later in getting there than we intended, so we only made it into the theatre like 5 minutes before the performance began. All in all a good experience and the show was absolutely unreal, one of the absolute best I have ever seen.

"

No more than 5 minutes at a time? Multiple times? I’m sorry but you’repart of the problem.


I’m not sure why it’s so hard for people to keep their masks on over their nose and mouth for 2.5 hours. If you can’t handle it, don’t come to the theatre until they lift the mandate. 
 

I said not more than 5 minutes in a time but in reality it was really probably more like 2 or 3 minutes. In nearly every occasion I briefly took it off it was to have a drink which IS allowed. (And I saw multiple people do the same thing). The other time was after the show when my dad took a photo of me with the stage in the background. (At this point most people in our immediate vicinity had cleared out, plus I had it down for not more than like a minute). Also as politely as I can I will point out that some people (of which I am one) actually do have legitimate, documented medical/sensory issues that interfere with mask-wearing for an extended period. You say you don’t understand what’s so hard about keeping a mask on continually for 2.5 hours, but for some people, it’s much harder than it may be for you/the average person. To completely dismiss that is kind of rude, to put it simply. My family originally had tickets for spring 2020 that obviously got cancelled so by the time we finally went it was a year and a half later than planned. We also had bought the new tickets (plus accommodations) multiple weeks before the vaccine/mask requirements were announced. We go to Broadway pretty rarely so it is a special experience. Plus we were coming from out of town, several hours drive. With all those factors we weren’t about to cancel again. If I didn’t care or was trying to purposefully disregard the rules then I would’ve taken my mask off for the entire show as soon as the lights went down, or sat there with an open drink/food container to avoid wearing it. I did not do either of those. I had it to on for the vast majority of time I was inside the building. I bet there were people there (although I did not see them) who you really should be policing instead. I always take water with me to any performance (pandemic or not) but wearing a mask causes me to get significantly more thirsty than not wearing one, so I am not about to go for the length of a show without taking a mask off for a minute or 2 now and then to have a drink and a minute of air. I made the point of finding a balance between being physically and mentally comfortable while also doing the best I could to keep myself and everyone else safe. These mandates have their pros and cons and people just have to make compromises and do the best they can. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/27/21 at 5:29pm

Hairspray0901 said: "I disagree. If everyone starts taking their masks off for “no more than 5 minutes”, multiple times throughout a performance for a “break” as the OP said they did, we have a problem. They areone person but 15peoplesee 1 person take their mask off for this long, they’ll also think it’s okay and a domino effect will come into play."

You can disagree but I am inclined to go with the scientists rather than you, just as I am when it is anti-mask/vax people on the other side. As I said above, I am not trying persuade anyone to change their personal risk calculus but it is important that we not spread anti-science on either side. PS and we are not talking about Sutton's red herring of people using eating and drinking as a pretext for keeping their mask down. 

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/27/21 at 5:44pm

First of all, if you bring a water to the theater in a bottle, you can bring a straw. If you use a straw to drink your water, you don't ever really have to take off your mask, you just slip the straw underneath. 

5 minutes? 2 -3 minutes? It's all the same. To take a drink from a cup even without a straw should take 5-10 seconds. You raise your drink to your mouth, you move your mask, you take a few sips or gulps and put the mask back on until the next sip. It does not mean you are allowed to keep your drink in your hand on your lap with your mask off while deciding when to take the next gulp. This is not rocket science. 

I'm happy to be back to work and I'd like to stay there. I find most patrons so far are highly cooperative. The 5 drunk women who "pretended to limp" (all 5 of them) so they could use the handicapped bathroom and not wait on the regular line were not the most cooperative mask-wise. But they have been the exceptions. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution. If I can run up and down the aisles for 40 minutes seating people wearing two masks (with three layers of fabric and one filter) and still manage to keep breathing - it should not be that difficult for people who are sitting down for goodness sake.

Updated On: 9/27/21 at 05:44 PM