Folks – I read last week that “better non-profits send out about 66 emails to subscribers over the course of a year.” Wow, that works out to about an email every five days. It’s now February, so I’m already 7 or 8 in the hole for this year. I clearly need to catch-up on my email distribution. I’m not a procrastinator by nature, and as much as I love sending out optimistic thoughts and getting supportive notes back from our subscribers and volunteers, I may not have that many good, thoughtful morsels to contribute to the current situation.
However, having now learned that good non-for-profits implement a well-planned communication strategy, I needed sit back down, get my fingers on the keyboard, and try at least to wing it. Believe me, not communicating is not for lack of thinking about things. Re-opening of the theatre and welcoming patrons back into the “fold,” is in my thoughts most of every day. But in the time of COVID, planning out an effective strategy is daunting at best. I feel like a lone survivor on the desert tropical island. There are oceans of information everywhere, but none that we can drink – or use – to develop realistic story about the return of live theatre. (note to self, that metaphor didn’t really work)
I mean, yesterday marked exactly one year, to the day, since I stood in front of our stage for opening night, welcoming an enthusiastic audience to a wonderful show – “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” That was last time in a whole year I have had that sincere pleasure and honour. And, that’s the part of being President I really enjoy! Anyway, back to the email …
Without question, it’s been a lousy year by anyone’s metrics. The weirdness of the virus in the Spring, the hopes for new beginnings over the Summer, the crushing second wave(s) through the Fall; not to mention: the “loneliest” Christmas ever, the New Year’s bash that wasn’t, and the daily dose of failing democracy from our cousins south of the 49th parallel. (BTW that’s a Western Canada reference point, since almost 70% of our population – big cities like Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and most of Atlantic Canada – live below the 49th). But I digress.
Ideally, when one is faced with a tough question – like, “when are we going to see the last four shows of the great 2019/2020 season we left behind” – and, complex information to process, one should carefully and calmly examine the available evidence for and against, and make a reasoned, rational decision. But interestingly, more often our brains tend to take shortcuts. We are all subject to something called “confirmation bias,” and we look for things that support our own beliefs and desires. This “cherry picking” tendency is why two people can look at the exact same evidence and come up with diametrically opposed conclusions, i.e. “sending my kids to school is the safest option” and “sending kids to school is way too risky.”
As president – duly elected and yet to be impeached – I am often presented with tough questions about the state of the nation (the theatre nation that is). Well, my personal “confirmation bias” jumps right to the most optimistic “We’ll be back applauding a show, wondering the lobby enjoying the history of the theatre, or sharing our favourite beverage at the bar before the leaves fall.” Which is often met with a chorus of “Really?” Uh, no, really I just don’t have enough information to make a reasoned and rational response. The better answer is “it depends.”
Unlike football – wait, quick aside, wasn’t that a great Super Bowl, don’t’ you just love the story where the old, supposedly washed-up guy (or girl) ends up with the trophy in hand, eh? Well, unlike football, the pandemic game doesn’t have set rules or a time limit; nor a clear declaration of victory, or a trophy to hoist!
Also, I actually don’t think the decision is up to me, or us here at the theatre. Your favourite volunteers are always ready and willing to get back to work. Really, I do think it is up to you. Once we get some level of COVID immunity, once we get the green light from the health authorities, it is going to be up to you – the folks who make the reasoned and rational decisions – to say when you are comfortable coming back. When will you be comfortable sitting in a dark theatre, with 350 other people for two hours, coughing and blowing noses like they always do, enjoying the entertainment we so love to provide?
So, next time we communicate, I’ll be sending out a short survey to get at some of that information. As a good non-for-profit, if we have to have something like a “communication strategy”, and email – 5 times a month – you folks need to help.
Until then, let me leave you with this a quote from one of our patrons. He sent these words along with a very nice donation to help us defray the ongoing operational costs – our building doesn’t know it’s a theatre, it just knows its old and needs care and nurturing!
“We have been subscribers for years and we both truly miss the OLT, along with seeing friends and all of those talented and dedicated volunteers. So, while I mulled about my donation budget for 2020 this morning, I realized that the OLT is an “essential service” for me, my mental health, my well-being, and that we truly miss live performing arts. So, I do hope you will be able to weather the storm and that the curtain will open again for another wonderful play in the near future.”
To which, I can only add that for the next year of this pandemic, we probably need to embrace the mantra of guru Jon Kabat-Zinn: “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf.”
Any and all of your thoughts are welcome, and we hope to see you all one of these days at your favourite theatre! Take care of yourselves and each other!
Geoff
P.S. By the by, if you are interested in making a donation to support the theatre while we wait this out, there are a few ways you can do that: Send a electronic fund transfer to president@ottawalittletheatre.com, send us a cheque (payable to The Ottawa Little Theatre), or CLICK HERE to make an online donation via CanadaHelps.org.