Though very sad, they are also very interesting times. I like to think of it as a little adventure get through. I try to focus on the positive that I see and the unusual and quirky stuff (did you see that video of rampant monkeys in thailand with no tourists to feed them? sad, but very quirky and who’da thunk?). My biggest fear though is that after this crisis my business model will be no longer relavant. Can I get some reassurance from some of you out there? An AMEN??? In the mean time, check out my videos about my new start up, my plan B.
My little adventure during this time is to keep you all up to date and hopefully a bit entertained from my doomsday farm while the Ronson’s is closed. Life hacks and offers from me to you for strange times. To be honest I have little faith in humankind when it comes to coming together to fix global problems, and we have not a very good track record. This problem is no different, but it is so urgent and happening to fast! I would so much like to comment and think about news but the next shocking news is thrown at us everyday making yesterdays news quite literally yesterdays news.
Why did we have to get a virus where the solution is to stay away from each other? Why can’t we have a virus that we can beat by all loving and cuddling together? Then again, maybe that is what got us in this pickle in the first place….. maybe this is Mother Nature’s karma account saying, “I told you to keep your room clean! and no friends or parties!”. I do hear my colleages speak of a new “singularity” among the humans to fight this. I’m really not a religious person, but I’d pray for that! I’ll certainly take action in that, so let’s all do this, OKeerrrrrrrrr?????
A Special Message from Your OG Karaoke Monster, Ronson:
The future of Ronson’s and Karaoke is very uncertain right now. I usually like to break things down into 3 different scenarios - really bad, really good, and somewhere in the middle. Let’s start with the most optimistic scenario- We all social distance ourselves and in 2 to 4 weeks the virus is isolated and under control and we open in time to host our own Berlin style Eurovision contest. Now for the really bad. Really bad is that this virus attacks quick and lethally all over Berlin and the world. The fatality rate is high, it sends the world into a deep economic depression and the people have no money to do things like go out party and Ronson’s has to keeps its doors closed forever. Dead with no goodbye party. I supposed somewhere in the middle is our last and best option because I believe we all know it is just too late for the best possible scenario and the worst case senario would be just too freaking sad.
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE. Since we’ve been closed I understand members of the team have been hosting and organising karaoke parties online somehow. Is the future of karaoke in cyberspace? I don’t know the answer to that, but I hope not! For those of you who don’t know me personally, I have never owned or even operated a smart phone. I am so far behind in the technology department I cannot even wrap my head around what a “virtual” karaoke party could look like or feel like or sound like. Just last night I tried to stream Pansies show online. Couldn’t figure it out.
Maybe karaoke looks very different in a socially - distanced world. This is also hard for me to imagine. First of all, I went into the nightlife and karaoke business because it is so much about getting people socially and physically closer, not farther away! There is a reason our singing boxes are so small! I suppose in the new socially distanced world where everyone needs 2 meters distance between them, our capacity will be much less than it was before. Will it now be only 2 persons to a karaoke box? Will the ordnungsamt come around at night and check out the queue in front of the club to make sure people are adhering to the rules? Will I get fined if they don’t? Will you get fined? WIll we have to wear PPE to disinfect each box after each guest? Maybe the minimum rental time for a box will be a 14 day quarantine period. 2 weeks of party actually sounds nice, no? If I don’t have the space to receive all my singing friends and guests, how do we decide who gets to get in the club? Should I do as other clubs are doing and sell expensive VIP passes for free entrance? Well, then I might have a club full of rich assholes. That doesn’t sound so nice either.
It is said that during dire times people show their true colors, show who they really are, and this crisis is no different. I never thought I would be quoting this person during and about such a serious and dire time, but here it goes: “Seeing people buying up toilet paper in this crisis just goes to show you how many assholes we have in this world.” - Heidi Klumm. Are those the only futures for karaoke? In a cyber world I have no access to? A socially distanced room of rich assholes? A karaoke bar with no hugs?
YES, WE WILL PROBABLY NEED HELP. The good news is right now, the last time I checked, all of the Ronson’s team is safe and healthy and safe, we have enough money for our April rent. What is more worrying is how karaoke will be different from now on. Are we going to need 2 sets of microphones for every box? Are we going to have to change our ventilation system in the boxes? Is there going to be an expensive “corona virus” filter we will have to install? What if we have to stay closed so long I run out of money for the rent. For these reasons we will need help. Please be sure to check out our fund raising campaign on our website.
In the mean time join Ronson and his team in exhile as we give you helpful life hacks for getting through doomsday safe and healthy.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
COVID-19 update:
Wir sind ab sofort (14.3) auf Anordnung des Senats bis auf weiteres vorübergehend geschlossen. Die Bäraoke x Mic Hunt Party die am 9.4 stattgefunden hätte, wurde wegen der gegebenen Situation abgesagt.
We are closed temporarily effective immediately (14.3) until further notice, in accordance with the senate's mandate.The Bäraoke x Mic hunt party that was planned for April 9th has been cancelled due to the given situation.
For now,
+ + + Sing at home, fight the virus! + + +
Liebe Grüße, die Karaokemonster
THE SHOW MUST GO ON! We miss you Monsters like mad! Until we meet again, please support your local drag scene and keep it alive and well by tuning into Twitch for your weekly dose of drag! Please read PANSY's message below:
Hello Lover,
What a weird simulation we are living in. I hope you are handling isolation well. I've got some great news that will hopefully help a little!
Each week The House of Presents moves into your bedroom. Tune in to Twitch EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT to see all the drag you know and love from the safety of your socially distanced apartment.
Gieza's Pokehouse will start at 21: twitch.tv/giezapoke
Pansy Presents will start at 22: twitch.tv/pansypresents
Pansy Presents will start at 22: twitch.tv/pansypresents
These times are SHARP, not drag time. We want to make sure as many people can see the show as possible. We've set it up so that if you are watching Gieza's show first it will automatically forward you to my channel after!
If you can't spend any money at this time, don't worry...we get it! We want you to be able to enjoy the show anyway. If you can, please consider making a 10€ donation in lieu of the entrance fee and tip you would normally spend in person to paypal.me/pansypresents. You can also pay with bank transfer or credit card on our Twitch pages. Twitch is open to anyone to watch, but you will need to sign up for a free account to leave live comments and make tips.
As freelance artists, most of whom come from non-EU backgrounds, we have no eligibility for government support and are facing months without income. Our goal is to pay each performer their usual fee and to pay our rent at Monster Ronson's so that we still have a stage to come home to when all this is over.
Thank for your continuing to support us during this time. Your love and generosity has been overwhelming!
XOXO,
PANSY
PANSY
