Following outcry from fans and musicians on social media, the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma will accept a negative COVID-19 test result for entry to live performances, mitigating the previous requirement that attendees must provide proof of vaccination. The move comes as venues, theaters, and public events in the Bay Area struggle to strike a balance between safety and normalcy on the Phoenix Facebook page – that such requirements amount to vaccination segregation. The popular venue only recently reopened, with an appearance by Radium-X on July 16, followed by an appearance by rapper Lil ‘Bean on July 23. No masks were required for these first performances, but that has changed with the rising tide of coronavirus cases related to the highly contagious Delta variant. The Phoenix issued an announcement on Aug. 11 that, until further notice, all guests must wear masks or face covers when attending shows at the Phoenix Theater, according to new guidelines from the Sonoma County’s Department of Health. Politics was greeted with few negative reactions on social media. Then on August 14, the venue released an announcement stating, “The Phoenix Theater will require guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from September 1, 2021 when they attend shows at our venue.” Just two days later The venue has changed course after the ensuing uproar, with more than 500 comments on the Phoenix Facebook page denying both sides of the topic. “New guideline effective September 1, 2021: The Phoenix Theater requires guests to prove either a completed vaccination against COVID-19 or a documented negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours prior to the performance. “An email to the owner of the Phoenix Theater, Tom Gaffey, asking for a comment on the policy change, was not returned immediately. In some cases, the announcement said, the vaccination mandate remains in effect as requested by certain artists, such as multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Ty Segall, who is slated to perform at Phoenix on Sept. 18, have announced a similar vaccination requirement – including the Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma, which will reopen on Sep 10 with the comedy drama “Cry It Out” – the Phoenix appears to be the first to step back and accept both vaccination records and a negative test result. Cinnabar issued a statement Tuesday that in addition to providing evidence of vaccination and masking requirements, the venue will suspend food and drink consumption in the theater and move its concession sales area to a nearby rehearsal studio roughly twice the size of small Cinnabar -Lobby that traditionally sells wine and snacks. Petaluma’s other major venue, the Mystic Theater, will remain closed but will reopen on September 7th with a performance of Wynonna. The venue, managed by Oakland-based Ineffable Music, announced on its own Facebook page that proof of vaccination would be required for all attendees and staff, starting with the sold out Wynonna show. The announcement sparked a similar, albeit much smaller, spate of pros and cons, with 54 comments logged through Tuesday afternoon.
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