Turning The Lights Back On

    This weekend there was more then just the ghost light on. The house lights were lite and the marquee called out once more and the smell of fresh popcorn filled the air. In my state we received a notice on Memorial Day weekend that theatres we permitittes reopen. However since we hadn't been previously been list in that phase of reopening so we had a lot to do to get ready. 

    Our state only gave us very little guidelines. They mandated we reduce our max occupancy to 50% or 250 people; whichever number came first. For additional guidance we looked into the guidelines for social distancing spacing given to restaurants to serve food in order for the concession stand would be allowed to still sell snacks. Taking all this into account I did some calculations and measuring of the auditoriums I figured I could be allowed as many as about 70 in one room and 50 in the second room. By doing all of this patrons could sit at least six feet away from the next group for everyones safety. Any seats that weren't able to be used wrapped in plastic making them easy to wipe clean. We also extended our normal admissions time from thirty minutes to a hour before the show so that customers wouldn't be stuck in a crowded line and could safely space themselves out with social distance markings on the floor. The restrooms were on a strict schedule to be shutdown and deep clean every thirty minute from ceiling to floor, as well as someone on staff went in and wipe down any commonly touched surface with disinfectant wipes as much as possible in between users.

    We had over stocked on cleaning supplies so that every surface could be properly sanitized for everyone's safety. For the staffs protection we installed plexiglass barriers. I took extra care on designing and making a custom one that would go in the ticket window. My goal was for it to blend into the original ornate box office that had come on a train from NYC 92 years ago. And spent six hours carefully hand painted it and chose a accurate font to write the word "TICKETS" as they would of original done if it had been there. We also followed the executive order given by our state governor that ordered all employees and customers were face masks.

    With the film industry changing on a almost day to day basis, most new films have either being delayed or switched to online streaming. Because of this it has become increasingly hard to find something to book. So we pulled out list of classic films from various studios, and after talking with several of them we ended up securing a booking for Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark for three evening screenings this weekend.

    We weren't however overly busy for the first two shows. On Friday night we had thirteen people come; which for my comfort level was perfectly fine with me. The next evening however only attracted four people, and with that low of a number you ask yourself if it is even worth it to be open. Both of these evening we didn't receive any arguments over masks which I had been bracing to deal with since I have heard from so many people in my area that they don't believe that covid-19 even exist and that the whole thing is just made up. Not to mention how wearing masks in general has become so politicized on a national level.

    Night three however made my stress level skyrocket. We had several people who were problematic throughout their stay that evening over their masks, as well as no one was even trying to social distance themselves from each other let alone show respect for the staffs personal space. We ended up having 34 people who all came at once right at show time. This number may not of sounded big in the beginning of even this year, let alone when I think back to when I'd dealt with over a thousand people during a single day for just one movie. However in our new normal this felt like one of worst shows I have ever worked.

    All weekend we ran the facility with only three of us on staff; my sister sold tickets as normal, my mother was at the concession stand, and I received a new job of ushering people to their seats they chose according to the seating chart when they purchased their tickets. So for the most part my mother and sister were still able to stay safely back thanks to their plexiglass barriers, however all I had for my protection was my mask and a bottle of hand sanitizer.

    The confirmed cases have doubled in under one week in my county. In many ways I feel like I have been in a bubble for over three months and now I am letting the flood gates open. I don't think it is selfish to feel this way and want to keep myself and my family safe. The local hospital put out a statement that there are only five ventilators in the county, and sadly some of the immediate neighboring counties don't even have a hospital let alone ventilators. This all worries me tremendously as numbers continue to increase. My sister has what she feels is a mild asthma and my mother has high blood pressure as well as scared lungs from years ago when she had walking pneumonia. I am can't stop asking myself if perhaps would closing again be the responsible thing to do so that is becomes that much harder for the virus to infect my community. Last time we opted to close two days before my state ordered it, and I am wondering where we are heading now? With this upcoming weekend being the Fourth of July and the town still holding its big fireworks celebration we have decided to postpone finding any bookings for this weekend. What we plan on doing now it regrouping in a week from now and still continue to watch the numbers to decide how to move forward.

Yours truly,

Nicklas