Concerts and Clubs and Corona

As nobody knows where exactly the current corona crisis will lead us and since official warnings change every day, I just wanted to copy the latest info from two of New York’s West Village clubs, the Blue Note and Le Poisson Rouge, about their precaution measures etc. I went to see Baby Rose in concert last week and Moonchild a couple of weeks ago and I also participated in the Berlinale, one of the world’s biggest film festivals, in mid-February. Both clubs had an attendance of around or less than 100 whereas the Berlinale drew much bigger crowds, obviously. How far the concert and club industry will be affected, we just don’t know. Cancellations come in regularly at the moment, like Abdullah Ibrahim not attending the Capetown Jazz Festival at the end of the month, or Santana cancelling their German tour dates.

Here is the info from the Blue Note (131 W 3rd St.):
To our valued patrons,

Blue Note Jazz Club is proud to be the venue for incredible live jazz performances every night. We understand that the recent outbreak of COVID-19 requires extra precautions in public spaces like ours. Based on the recommendation from the NYC Department of Health, the following are some of the measures we are taking to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience:

installing hand-sanitizing stations in restrooms and public areas
frequent sanitizing when cleaning all surfaces in our club facilities including bathrooms, kitchen, tables, chairs and the bar
ongoing staff training in proper cleaning and sanitizing techniques
ensuring all of our staff are healthy and able to be of service to you

There are legendary musicians performing at Blue Note and we know it’s hard not to ask for a photo or express your thanks. We ask that our patrons take extra precautions and opt for elbow bumps over handshakes and respect the wishes of artists who may not want to get too close.

If you feel sick, we ask that you please stay home to rest and recover. We promise we will be here when you feel better!

We wish you good health and thank you for continuing to support Blue Note Jazz Clubs and the jazz community at large.

Sincerely,

Blue Note New York

And here is the message from Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker St.):

Our mission at LPR is to show you a good time. Whether that’s through an amazing concert, an all-night dance party, or a bawdy bingo outing with your closest friends, we all got into this business to make magic happen. Of course, the prerequisite for fun must always be safety. We take the well-being of our customers incredibly seriously and in the wake of the emerging COVID-19 virus, we want to assure you that we are taking every measure possible to keep our venue clean and hygienic and our patrons safe. Like what, you ask?

Our bartenders and waitstaff all adhere to our strict protocol of regular handwashing and sanitization of surfaces, minimal hand-to-hand contact with patrons, and staying home if they feel ill.
Our porters and bussers maintain a regular schedule of sanitizing restrooms and other common areas, as well as tending to spills and messes as they occur.
Our glassware, flatware, and dishes are hot-water sanitized after each and every use.
Our HVAC ventilation system has been upgraded for improved air quality and filtration.
We have received consecutive A ratings from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and continue to maintain those high standards of cleanliness throughout the venue.

Public health is a communal effort. So as we do our part to ensure a hygienic environment, we ask that you help us, your fellow patrons, and all those around you by following those same guidelines. Please wash your hands often and, if you need to cough or sneeze, do so into your upper sleeve or a tissue that is promptly disposed of.

Meanwhile, here at LPR, we are going to continue to do what we do best: put on amazing concerts and events. Whether it’s political turmoil, a viral outbreak, social media overload, or being burnt out at work, we are living in stressful times. 158 Bleecker has been an escape for New York City for over 60 years; a place to get away from it all for a few hours and enjoy some art and alcohol. We depend upon the support of our local community to keep doing what we do. Now just as ever, we need and appreciate that continued support.

Sincerely,
Team LPR

Wash your hands and stay healthy!