Read on Twitter
Lotta DMs with excuses and interestingly, all of these responses come from dudes who don’t make a living doing comedy. Working comics whose livelihoods have been ruined? Diff story — they’re writing, zooming, adapting. It’s hubris/delusion driving these indoor shows. 
https://twitter.com/soberfurious/status/1357967626702639107
https://twitter.com/soberfurious/status/1357967626702639107
Worth mentioning: I’m in a different position. My husband’s immune compromised. My tour, conference show, club weekend in Detroit *in March 2020* was canceled overnight. I closed the door on March 10. So I had to come to terms with it all *fast*.
At the beginning of the pandemic, people were trying to do outdoor shows and mics and trying to make it work. I respect that! Even now, some smaller clubs are doing all that they can to try and stay afloat. I’m so worried for my friends’ businesses. It’s crushing.
But I am *specifically* angry about people who are traveling (from major, COVID-covered cities) to do indoor shows because they can. Just bc a state has rolled back rules doesn’t make any difference about COVID infection rates.
And beyond the comedians themselves getting sick? Servers, bartenders, bouncers, and anyone they come in contact with is at risk. All because you gotta joke about how dating is weird??? So many friends are long-term sick, have lost loved ones, and are at risk at essential jobs.
So if you’re gonna do it, do it. It’s your money and your health. But if you aren’t doing it to put food on the table, WHY DO IT AT ALL? I’m not working with anyone later who is doing shows now. All I can do is draw my boundary w/ it and be sad others think differently.
I’m proud of my friends who canceled gigs bc they realized it set a bad precedent and bc they personally felt unsafe. It feels surreal to turn down work, when we’re all so thirsty for it. If you’re on the fence about doing live shows, look at the clubs and comics “being safe” —
Most of the *famous* comics consistently doing shows rn have gotten sick, or people in their orbit have. Some of them have done shows *after* being exposed. Think about the non-celebs who could die from their negligence — your family, mine. If you can? Stay home.
Last thing. If you want to help struggling venues and clubs and restaurants who can’t reopen or choose not to, donate to their staff relief funds. Donate to the GoFundMe campaigns. I don’t want to see them go either. It’s an awful time for the arts & artists. I hope you’re okay.
