Amid the outcry from fans and musicians on social media, the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma is accepting a negative COVID-19 test result for entry to live performances, mitigating the prior requirement that all attendees must provide proof of vaccination. “We came out with this original statement after one of our artists asked for a pure Vax environment,” said Tom Gaffey, longtime manager of the Phoenix. “It felt like there was no other choice. A government mandate mandating vaccinations seems inevitable, so we’ve decided to do whatever we can to ensure everyone’s safety and our artists’ welfare. ”Gaffey said his move to change the policy will allow attendees allowing a negative COVID-19 test to be presented as an alternative to vaccination records is a reasonable adjustment that should allow more people to visit the Phoenix. “Look, we didn’t change the policy to give in or give in to anyone or anything,” he said. “I got calls from promoters and artists and some ticket buyers. I had face-to-face and person-to-person conversations. And I decided that ultimately it was more complete, and possibly safer, to accept evidence of a negative test than our original guideline. So we did what you have to do when everything is changing all the time. We have changed. We changed to adapt to what was happening. ”The steps come as venues, theaters, and public events in the Bay Area struggle to strike a balance between safety and normalcy, with several counties continuing to see soaring infection rates, as all vocal vaccine objectors claim – like some of the more extreme comments on the Phoenix Facebook page – that such requirements are tantamount 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 those first few performances, but that has changed with the rising tide of coronavirus cases related to the highly contagious Delta variant. The social media turmoil began when the Phoenix announced on Aug. 11 that new guidelines from the Sonoma County’s Department of Health require all guests to wear masks or face covers when attending shows at the Phoenix Theater until further notice. 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 , in the wake of the excitement that resulted, with more than 500 comments on the Phoenix Facebook page arguing both sides of the issue, the venue changed course. “New guideline effective September 1, 2021: The Phoenix Theater requires guests to provide evidence of either a completed vaccination against COVID-19 or a documented negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours prior to the performance. “We don’t want to lose anyone, really not,” said Gaffey. “Either the decision – that everyone needs to be vaccinated, or that everyone must either be vaccinated or show evidence of a negative test – is going to upset someone. A lot of the people who are hurt by this decision are people who grew up here in Phoenix, people I really love, that makes it even more difficult. ”In some cases, the Phoenix announcement said, the vaccination mandate remains in Kraft, as requested by certain artists, like multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Ty Segall, who is slated to perform at the Phoenix on September 18, who have announced a similar vaccination requirement – including the Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma, which will host comedy on September 10 -Drama “Cry It Out” is about to reopen – the Phoenix appears to be the first to step back and accept both a vaccination record and a negative test result. Cinnabar issued a statement Tuesday that in addition to providing proof 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, which is managed by Oakland-based Ineffable Music, announced on its own Facebook page that proof of vaccination would be required for all attendees and staff as of the sold-out Wynonna show. The announcement sparked a similar, albeit much smaller, spate of pros and cons, with 54 comments logged as of Tuesday afternoon. “I know I’ve let some people down,” Gaffey admitted. “But we’re on the front lines here, those of us who run performing arts venues, and we make the best decisions we can with the information we have. The decision to have a vaccination was a good one, but I think it’s even better to give people a reasonable alternative. ”
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