Illustration by Ainsley Christofferson
Part III. Entertainment
No, you can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometime you find
You get what you need
And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singing, "We're gonna vent our frustration
If we don't we're gonna blow a fifty-amp fuse"
1969, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
As we approach the end of the rabbit hole year known as 2020, in order to better cope with the inequity, unfairness, and incongruity that is our current normal, we can channel the inspiration behind Rolling Stone icons Jagger and Richards, and countless other entertainers to write the lyrics of our reality.
Ask local musicians, comedians, theater dwellers, and ticket-takers about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their industry, and the word frustration will likely erupt in one form or another. Cancelled performances, closed, or restricted venues, and reduced revenue lead many local performers and venue operators to emphatically shake their heads in despair.
Andrew Coss, bassist for the Sleepy Truckers (founded in 1995):
How has the pandemic affected the Sleepy Truckers, how difficult has it been to schedule gigs, given social distancing mandates, and other Covid-19 restrictions?
This pandemic has been, to this point, about build-up and subsequent frustration/disappointment. There have been several opportunities for this unit to play, only to have Covid-19 case numbers rise, resulting in many a cancelled show mere days before gig time. It’s simply been very difficult to trust that a show will actually happen before a shutdown occurs. Like so many other musicians and projects, we tried the “virtual” approach. While a novel idea, it doesn’t make up for the direct crowd reaction and interaction that inherently drives Sleepy Truckers. For us, no amount of “thumbs up” or “heart” emojis gives the same feeling as being there.
What changes have occurred during these past few months that you think might be permanent for Wichita's music and bar scene? For your band?
I expect to see shortened and/or earlier hours for shows for quite some time. I’m also fairly certain that in-person attendance will remain scaled back.
What role, if any, do you see for local/state government in helping with Wichita's entertainment business recovery?
This is where it gets a bit “dicey.” The politicization of mask wearing has had a drastic impact on how or even if clubs can remain open. Personally, I believe that if someone just doesn’t care about live music or a healthy and safe local economic recovery, they will keep throwing the mask on the ground. I don’t understand the seeming incredible difficulty of negotiating the temporary wearing of a mask now in order to facilitate a faster, more solid rebound later. I have a feeling that, as cases explode again, we are headed towards another several steps backward; many venues simply won’t survive another frontal loss of revenue assault.
At the same time, I have heard some club owners say they are tired of being the “mask police.”
So . . . accountability for the various outcomes of this issue lies in the hands of many.
A couple of points to ponder: If the Flaming Lips can orchestrate an entire concert, band AND audience, enclosed in plastic bubbles, then how can wearing a mask be such a momentous thing to ask? AND, it occurs to me that if a chimpanzee can manage to extract termite larvae out of a rotten log with nothing but a stick, this mask or no mask dilemma shouldn’t be such a tough obstacle to overcome.
Emma Russell, Operating Partner, Mort’s Cigar Bar
What has been happening at Mort’s during the “pandemic months?”
Our business model has changed, we’re booking musicians differently: singles, duos, trios at most, and we require masks for all of our performers, some even wear theirs while singing. We have fewer tables, 50% capacity, social distancing . . . we’re playing the long game, we want people to be safe until we can open up to full capacity. Right now, it’s not about profit, we just want to be able to pay our employees and our musical talent. We’ve been able to keep all but a couple of our employees. Being able to serve alcohol and cigars to go has been helpful.
Which changes in your business model do you think will be permanent, even beyond the pandemic?
Sedgwick county just announced that we can stay open until 1 a.m., and we may keep that policy, even if the county decides bars can stay open until 2 a.m., our regular closing time. I also think that this pandemic will lead to growth of new bands gaining the opportunity to perform and be heard.
In spite of all of the difficult challenges you are facing, what provides hope for your business, and for the entertainment industry?
People love our industry, they love to gather, to listen to great music, drink a martini, eat our popcorn, smoke a cigar, and we expect people to continue to want that. We’re very fortunate to have an outdoor space to make that happen. We’re offering music seven days a week, twice a day for three of those days. People want a “piece of normal,” and we’re providing that part of their routine.
Zack Manuel, lead singer and guitarist for the Zachary Spencer Band
As a relatively new band in Wichita, how is the pandemic affecting your attempt to rise in the music scene?
We’ve probably had 15 cancellations since March, and it’s very frustrating, especially when you’re trying to get your music out there. In these past several months, the band has recorded original tunes, created some videos, and performed some limited capacity indoor and outdoor gigs, but it’s just not the same exposure as when you perform before bigger crowds. Our band was gaining momentum in 2019, then these cancellations had a domino effect on us. People can’t as easily follow you when you’re not performing live – we’re very fluid and spontaneous, each of our performances is different. You can’t capture that in a CD, or even in a video. It’s hard to keep the band excited about playing when things are not moving forward.
What will be different about the Zachary Spencer Band, or the area music scene, after pandemic restrictions go away?
In many ways, there is a stronger sense of community, and the opportunity for less known, local bands to perform, since the bigger bands can’t tour. We’ll probably see some of the newer bands more often after they’ve established themselves with local venues.
Given all of the negatives you’ve cited about the music entertainment industry right now, why continue?
Because it’s something that feels normal at a time when nothing else does. These past few months have allowed me to spend more time with things that matter, it’s been good for song writing, and for honing my craft.
What about Drama and Theater in the Wichita Area?
Movie houses, and live drama venues are a mixed bag, with the Regal Warren movies closed indefinitely, while the Hutchinson’s B&B Theater is open, with social distanced seating. Roxy’s, the Crown Uptown, the Kechi Playhouse, and the Orpheum are all open, but also with limited seating.
Because of this pandemic, we want to get out of the house, have a drink, listen to our favorite local band, watch a movie, and simply partake in all that constitutes the pleasures of disposable income and leisure time, with all of our friends, and with others we don’t know. Yet, alas, as Messieurs Jagger and Richards explained to us in 1965, sometimes, we can’t get no satisfaction, either.