Innovation in Time of Pandemic
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » What do you do when you can’t do what you do?
For many theater artists, musicians, and the communities they serve, the answer is to adjust to the resources available and innovate to find safe ways to gather. Sometimes it means adjusting your entire mission
And for many, the best answer is to be there for your neighbor in their time of need.
An example of an organization adjusting to technology to survive and help others is Caffe Lena, the historic coffeehouse in Saratoga Springs. It has long been one of the few area clubs to already have streaming capacity in place when stay-in-place orders went into effect. They immediately started booking local performers offering them a small stipend and a generous 50% of all donations given the night of the performance, which was almost every night.
The first two months of streaming resulted in over $ 50,000 of donations. A great windfall for Caffe Lena and the needy performers. The venue is preparing to go back to audience shortly. Even at the mandated 50% capacity, it is, hopefully, an opportunity for more people to perform and earn a living, doing what they do.
Another generous, supportive group is Quarantine e-Theatre. During the early stages of the shutdown, three theatre friends, Evan Jones, David Rook, and Brian Sheldon passed time reading plays aloud to each other. Someone got the idea to expand and reached out to local actors and playwrights.
They began a Monday Zoom play reading series and would ask for donations from viewers. The donations were designated to a specific not-for-profit local theater company. The plays were all original works, so no copywrite laws were broken. During the months of April, May and June they raised over $ 50,000 for about a dozen theater companies. It’s an example of good people doing good things in bad times.
Most summers musicians usually earn income by performing at community concerts that are sponsorship funded. Not this year. In order to help those unemployed musicians local promoter Greg Bell of Guthrie/Bell, one of the biggest suppliers of musicians to local clubs, joined forces with Curbside Concerts in a unique way to offer neighborhood concerts.
How it works is going to curbsideconcerts.rock and finding what musicians in your area are registered. (And there are many, and most are well known locally). They offer a price for 60, 90 or 120-minute performances. They arrive at your home and perform in your driveway or yard, for an agreed upon price. Masks and social distancing rules are stringent and, obviously single performers or duos work best. Acoustical and simple tech set-ups are the most functional. Have your own home concert or join with some neighbors for a block party. Just stay six feet away from each other and use masks and other safety methods.
Universal Preservation Hall is known as a music venue, but in times of a pandemic you can still appeal to your base of music fans without an instrument performed. From July 26 to September 26 the Saratoga Springs venue will be hosting an exhibit from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
It’s an interactive pinball exhibit devoted to the icons of rock & roll.
Pinball and rock immediately conjures image of The Who and their rock opera “Tommy.” A special exhibit at UPH will be Peter Townshed’s acoustic guitar on which he composed “Pinball Wizard.” Other rock stars that will be celebrated are The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Guns & Roses, Beatlemania and others.
Tickets are $20, students $10. The exhibit is open for 90-minute intervals with a half hour between sessions to sanitize the interactive exhibits. Entrance times are 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday will also have 6 and 8 p.m. times. Masks and social distancing are mandatory within the building. Capacity is limited to 20 people a session. For tickets and information go to universalpreservationhall.org
One of the more popular activities in most local cities is a Night Out event. It’s a one night a month event. Stores stay open, music entertainment is everywhere, craft and food vendors add to the fun.
Troy is trying to do something similar this summer. But instead of one Friday a month it is every Friday and Saturday and instead of roaming the city there will be three areas all either at or near Monument Square downtown.
Summer Square is a joint venture between the City of Troy and the RenssCo Pandemic Response Committee. There will be stages in front of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and another in Monument Square that will also have seating. A third stage is yet to be announced. These socially distanced spaces will offer entertainment, arts programs and creative spaces. Food and shopping opportunities will also be available. No event will go past 9 p.m.
Performing Friday, July 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Court Yard is As Iz ( Izzy Singer), while The O-Tones is slated to perform from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 at Monument Square.
Programming on the stages will be done by the Troy Cultural Alliance. If you would like to perform or be a cultural participant, offer your qualifications, a brief bio, your skill, and a sample link demonstrating what you choose to perform. Include technical requirements and availabilities.
There is a $250 stipend per artist or ensemble, per event. Send to submissions@troymusichall.org