Folk Audiences

Subject: Folk Audiences and Covid
From: Rasener
Date: 14 Apr 22 - 02:29 PM

I keep on hearing that audiences are down considerably these days due to covid and artists are going down like flies with it and I would assume many of the audience as well.
I just wonder if organisers do enough to protect the vunerable and older folkies and the performers.
I would go to concerts if I knew that people wore masks and test before going to a venue and people not feeling great did not turn up.
Am I the only one that feels that way?

Subject: RE: Folk Audiences
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 14 Apr 22 - 03:28 PM

In a folk club setting, people will often be seated a tables with drinks so masks would not be worn at that point. Also, folk audiences are often encouraged to join in chorus songs which could be difficult while wearing a mask. Now that lateral flow tests are no longer free, the additional cost could be enough to tip people with restricted incomes into staying in front of the TV.

DC

Subject: RE: Folk Audiences
From: Rasener
Date: 14 Apr 22 - 04:07 PM

I take your point Doug. Well I guess covid doesn't matter. My daughter is in a choir. They all do a lateral test and don't go to the choir evening if positive. They also do not go if they have slighest of illness. They space themselves out properly.
My wife does the same with her yoga evenings and her bookclub. They all care about each other.

Subject: RE: Folk Audiences
From: GUEST,JoeG
Date: 14 Apr 22 - 07:55 PM

Apologies for the above it posted before I said anything

I must admit we haven't been to our local folk club since the Covid first arrived. We are going to the occasional gigs where we can social distance but the idea of being tightly packed into a small room is not appealing and I suspect won't be until Covid rates go down a lot from their current levels. We are both vulnerable (diabetes & asthma for me - bronchial problems & fibromyalgia for Fiona) so are only taking limited risks to see bands or artists we like and may not get to see again very soon - we went to a Ukranian fundraiser headlined by, appropriately enough, The Ukranians at our favourite local venue, The Crescent in York but we stayed at the back of the room and Fiona wore her mask all the time apart from when drinking and I wore mine when going to the bar. The Crescent has air purifying machines and the staff are very good re sanitising etc so I feel reasonably safe in there.

I feel guilty about not going to smaller venues and have missed some of my favourite artists but we are taking limited calculated risks

Subject: RE: Folk Audiences
From: r.padgett
Date: 15 Apr 22 - 02:42 AM

Here in Barnsley and indeed Wakefield folk club and session it would seem we have decided to either stay home if any infection has been spotted by audience or participants

Testing is up to the individuals and no amount of testing is going to stop Covid and its mutants from spreading

Audiences continue to return and it seems all people are vaccinated or in the process

Time will tell, and the blessed bug has already taken couple or so of years of our lives and some livelihoods! Not to mention many many lives

Ray

Subject: RE: Folk Audiences
From: GUEST,Stringsinger
Date: 15 Apr 22 - 03:42 PM

Covid has cut down audiences here in the States. House concerts and club appearances don't proliferate as they did once before Covid. There will always be an interest. I think that people are finding that they can make their own music in personal groups or at home and this is a healthy sign that the folk star oxymoron may be on the decline.

Subject: RE: Folk Audiences
From: Rasener
Date: 15 Apr 22 - 04:26 PM

Zoom is a great example of folkies being able to keep up with each other. @Joe Offer's Monday meet up on Zoom works and people don't catch Covid.
I always prefer to see a live show becuase I don't get to watch anything on Zoom becuase my family is in the same room and they hate folk music. So we try to make the best of it as a family. Hope that makes sense.