Get your vaccination card or negative COVID test proof together if you want to go hear live music in more than a dozen of Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown music venues, as well as Akron’s independent film venue, the Nightlight.
With the spread of the Delta variant and explosion of positive cases and hospitalizations in the state just in the last week alone, as well as deaths around the country, due to widespread refusal to get vaccinated, venues such as the Beachland, the Grog Shop, BOP STOP, Jilly’s in Akron and Youngstown’s West Side Bowl will now require proof that you’re not a spreader. The policy will be in place across all the venues no late than September 7 and remain in place as long as community spread makes them necessary.
“Many national touring bands are now requiring that venues have a policy of only vaccinated staff members on site during their show and that patrons also prove they have been vaccinated or are COVID negative,” says the Beachland’s Cindy Barber. “And some are going to require masks. As Northeast Ohio venues, we all want to have the same base policy so our fans can understand and feel protected when they come out to support live music.”
Patrons will need to either show a vaccination card or a negative test taken no more than 48 hours prior to entry. We’d like to point out to those who might complain or be trying to think of ways to dodge the requirement, that you’re putting your favorite venues in danger of having to close again — something many of them barely survived the first time. Just don’t.
Northeast Ohio venues participating in this initiative include the Agora, the Beachland, the BOP STOP, the Foundry, the Grog Shop, the Happy Dog, Jilly’s Music Room, Mahall’s, the Music Box, Musica, the Nightlight the Rialto Theater in Akron, Westside Bow, and the Winchester Music Tavern.
“Venues locally and across the country just re-opened after over a year of being closed due to COVID safety concerns, says Sean Watterson of the Happy Dog. “We need to do what we can to operate safely and realize these are imperfect solutions to problems that are largely out of our control. We are working with local partners on solutions to continually improve safety for audiences, performers and staff, and we recognize that, as conditions change, we will need to adapt and adjust our efforts.”
REGIONAL VENUES IMPLEMENTING THE NEW POLICY INCLUDE: Policies may vary slightly. Please consult venue websites for more information & requirements. The Agora/AEG (CLE) http://www.agoracleveland.com Beachland Ballroom and Tavern (CLE) https://www.beachlandballroom.com Bop Stop at the Music Settlement (CLE) https://www.themusicsettlement.org/event-rentals/ The Foundry Concert Club (Lakewood) http://foundryconcertclub.com Grog Shop (Cleveland Heights) https://grogshop.gs Happy Dog (CLE) https://happydogcleveland.com Jilly’s Music Room (Akron) https://jillysmusicroom.com Mahall’s (Lakewood) https://www.mahalls20lanes.com Music Box Supper Club (CLE) http://www.musicboxcle.com, Musica (Akron) https://www.theofficialmusica.com The Nightlight (Akron) https://www.nightlightcinema.com The Rialto Theater (Akron) https://www.therialtotheatre.com Westside Bowl (Youngstown) https://www.westsidebowl.com The Winchester Music Tavern (Lakewood) https://www.thewinchestermusictavern.com
FAQ – NORTHEAST OHIO VENUES ANNOUNCE VACCINATION POLICY
HOW DO I SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION WHEN I ARRIVE? Acceptable documentation may be a physical or digital copy of a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, or other proof as permitted locally that can be matched with your Driver’s License or State ID.
WHAT IF I FORGET MY PROOF OF VACCINATION OR NEGATIVE TEST RESULT? You will not get in, so please don’t forget.
WHAT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED ON THE TEST RESULT? A test result must be in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy and must include: 1. Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test) 2. Entity issuing the result (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service) 3. Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected within 72 hours of entry. 4. Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number) 5. Test Result 6. Please also be prepared to show your Driver’s License or State ID
WILL I STILL HAVE TO WEAR A MASK? No. However, guests are strongly encouraged to wear masks regardless of vaccination status except while actively eating and drinking. REFUNDS Refund policies vary by venue. If you intend to request a refund, please email the venue directly, as soon as possible.
HOW TO SAVE YOUR VACCINATION CARD ON YOUR PHONE: Take a picture: If you go this route, consider placing it in a hidden album so it can’t be viewed from your library. This also avoids the awkward scenario of having to scroll through the abyss of your camera roll to pull up your vaccine card. On an iPhone, after you take a picture of your card, go to the Share button on Photos, then select Hide. The image will be placed in a Hidden album you can find by tapping Albums, then scrolling to Utilities. If you use a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you can create locked folders to store your COVID-19 vaccine card. Scan it to your smartphone: If you’re using an iPhone, scanning your COVID-19 card using the Notes app adds a little more security. To do this, start a new note, then tap on the camera. Go down to Scan Document and add your card with the built-in scanner. You can then choose to lock it with a passcode. Any time you tap on the note, it will ask you to type a passcode to view. Pass options: If you own an Android device running the Android 5 operating system or later, you can store your vaccine card as a pass.
TESTING LOCATIONS: CVS https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/clinic-locator/ WALGREENS https://www.walgreens.com/ To schedule an appointment by phone, call your local pharmacy or 1- 800- WALGREENS (1-800-925-4733). RITE AID https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/services/covid-19-testing VACCINATION LOCATIONS https://madetosave.org/find-out-how-to-get-covid-19-vaccinated/