Have we turned into a nation of recluses? Attendance is down at major league and college sporting events. On Broadway. At churches. At concerts. At theme parks. At business trade shows.
Last week, the 11th Annual Adult Softball Tournament in Spur had to be cancelled or maybe postponed due to teams dropping out.
Events around the region report similar fates.
Earlier this year, The New York Times had an in-depth piece on the decline in attendance at in-person events.
One Broadway producer summed it up. “There was a greater magnetic force of people’s couches than I, as a producer, anticipated,” said Jeremy Blocker, managing director at the New York Theater Workshop, the off-Broadway theater that developed “Rent” and “Hadestown.” “People got used to not going places during the pandemic, and we’re going to struggle with that for a few years.”
The Great Resignation of 2022, during which more than 50 million people quit their jobs, along with the pandemic-sparked phenomenon of increased telecommuting, has moved people from businesses and downtown offices to their homes to work, and it’s just easier to stay put.
But what do we miss from not coming together to socialize and have fellowship?
As someone who works at home about half of the time, I can say it’s not all upsides. Getting out of bed then sitting at your desk/ couch/bed all day are isolating situations that offer little exposure to new ideas and new ways of looking at the world.
The best thing about coming to the office, or going to church/community gatherings, are the jokes, humor, warm and empathy of other people. Being around others puts every little hangnail that you have in your life into perspective.
In small towns, one area never seems to lag for attendance, and that is any sporting or school event that involves youngsters—and that’s great. But there are events for just the grown-ups we could all benefit from if we would just turn off the remote, put on our shoes, remember our manners and head out the door.
One event is coming up where you have a delicious opportunity to have fun. The 7thAnnualBigDogBarbecue Cookoff, June 23-24, is looking for tasting judges. It’s easy just email the link on the event’s Facebook page to sign up, and enjoy some yummy barbecue and have a good time.
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