2020 IGUIDB WALKABOUT - SILVER BEACH / OCEAN DUNES

(CLICK on any of the pictures in the blog to make them larger)

Each year, members of our Facebook group "I Grew Up In Daytona Beach" meet on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to take a walk.  The purpose of the walk is not necessarily a docent led tour of the town, but to get out of our cars and walk through an area of town that you might THINK you know, but to see it as a pedestrian and take in the details of things you would not see driving past.  We take note of the changes, how things used to be, and what will be in the future, and share stories along the way. 

THIS BLOG is an accompanying text covering what we saw, and posting historic info and pictures of what may have been there before.  This is a great read for those who went on the walk or those who missed it entirely but want to know more about the history of the area.  While my historic contexts should be correct, I do not necessarily guarantee the exact accuracy of certain dates, but share this info to the best of my knowledge in an informal vein.   

After some consideration, the Silver Beach corridor made a lot of sense because of the new bridge which was completed this year...finally.  It was a great opportunity to explore our investment.  I thought it might be tame, but the more I thought about it, the more historic significance I found in that corridor.  This led me to decide to take everyone to the Ocean Dunes neighborhood, an area I fell in love with many years ago, and learned significant historic details about that I wanted to share.  

This blog may end up lengthy and very image heavy, but I will do my best to break things down into separate sections/chapters. If you see an image you wish to inspect closer, you should be able to click on it to open larger.  I have broken the blog down into 8 parts:

Chapter 1 - Beginning at City Island

Chapter 2 - Courthouse Annex

Chapter 3 - Jackie Robinson Ballpark

Chapter 4 - The Island South of Orange Av

Chapter 5 - The New Bridge

Chapter 6 - The Gamble Property to Ocean Dunes

Chapter 7- Ocean Dunes and Charles Wilder

Chapter 8 - The Last Leg of the Walk     

CHAPTER 1:  Beginning at City Island

We met at the Courthouse Annex parking lot on the west end of the bridge, congregating while distancing before our 10 a.m. departure. We did not take time to actually walk all of City Island, as it is pretty familiar to most in it's current incarnation, but I did take a few minutes to point out how the island has evolved.  It was not always that size, most of the island is man made, built up from dredge spoils from the river.  Most of the land making up the park space on Beach Street is all dredge spoil as well.  The water used to be right about up to the road, hence the name "Beach St.".

Historically, the corner of Orange Avenue at Beach Street, and on to the island has always had a municipal usage.  The city hall, police departments, fire departments and a train depot were all located on that corner.  The first public library appeared on the shore of the river at the base of where the bridge would eventually land. 

As more land mass was added to the island, more thought was given to the usage of the land.  As the land is deeded currently, the state has control of it, and it must be maintained for municipal use.  The city HAS been quietly involved with talks in regard to paying off the state to change the deed restrictions, and allow the city to do what it likes with the land, meaning, they could liquidate parts of it to private development.  There are other sections of the island that are controlled by county usage.  The county is deeded the annex land and the library land, and the city holds the deed to all the rest, including the land south of Orange Avenue.  There have been talks over the years of having private development on the island, as well as south of Orange Avenue on the land behind the Yacht Basin.  Time will tell how that all plays out in the future, and whether or not the local residents have any say about it at all. 

Back in the 60s, there were radical ideas coming in to play on several fronts.  Plans were submitted to make the island a government complex, basically stretching the downtown area east of Beach St for office complexes.  Another plan called the Regatta was submitted.  It would have been planned and anchored by J.C. Penney with a layout of new shopping outlets, retail and office space and motels, apartments, and more.  It would have been a "riverwalk" style community.  Those plans and others were obviously not approved.

A takeaway observed by some was the lack of facilities...IE, restrooms.  There are many things to draw you to the area...the Sweetheart Trail, the parks, the playgrounds, recreation courts, piers, and the bridge itself which was trafficked heavily by walkers and the curious.  There was nowhere for them to get a drink or use the bathroom.  I can see where people would be tempted to pee in bushes or try to poop under a bridge, either by emergency or for homeless or those who have nowhere to retreat to.  The only facility on the island for the public is by the library, and it was padlocked on the day of our outing.  I arrived at the courthouse early and thought to void my bladder before the walk, and had to drive away to look for facilities...and ended up at the Wawa on US-1.  That does not seem like a great plan for an area trying to attract people to it and is something the city or county should address.

Here are some varying images of the island over the decades: 
  

Regatta plans, 1968:

1970 dredging plan to expand the size:  

    

CHAPTER 2 - COURTHOUSE ANNEX

The existing courthouse annex building is an iconic landmark structure in the area.  It has only been there since around 1971.  It was the first building of what was to be 3 identical structures, complementing other municipal buildings to appear to the north.  The other buildings never appeared.  The surrounding area has been used for recreational activity such as a boat house for rowing teams, tennis courts and park space. 

The current annex was built to replace the aged out county offices that had been serving the area.  The original site was at 2nd St and Riverside, at the Holly Hill State Market area that was for some time known as the Law Center.  That was where you went for county services like the Clerk of Court, automobile tags, and more.  As room there got tight, they expanded to a house on Beach Street that was donated to the county by the Rawlins family.  In 1950, an annex was constructed onto the back of the house and that was used until 1971.  The Rawlins house then became used for other county facilities, notably the health department.  The building still stands today. 

The future of the current annex is uncertain.  Most theories suggest that a new county complex will appear on the lot where the current County Admin bldg is (the old Sears store).  They are suggesting that complex will eliminate the need for the current annex which most people feel is not adequate for its current usage, in regard to safely transporting prisoners to court, ADA compliance, etc...  If it is rendered obsolete, there is no telling what will happen to the building...if it will be scrapped, or retooled. 

In the area of the annex, to the southeast, there is now a beautiful line of docks for congregating and fishing.  They stretch under and around the new bridge.

There is a veterans memorial planned for the river shore area east of the annex.  Time will tell if that comes to full fruition, or funding, in light of the current "new normal". 

 

CHAPTER 3 - JACKIE ROBINSON BALL PARK            

AKA...City Island Ball Park, or Radiology Associates Field...depending on your age.  The ball park has been there since 1914.  The grandstand and pressbox as we know them were added in 1962 after the park took a hard hit from Hurricane Donna in 1960.  

One reason the stadium is named for Jackie Robinson is the fact that Daytona Beach was the first Florida city to allow Robinson to play during the 1946 season's spring training. Robinson was playing for the Triple-A Montreal Royals, who were in Florida to play an exhibition game against their parent club, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Both Jacksonville and Sanford refused to allow the game due to segregation laws. Daytona Beach permitted the game, which was played on March 17, 1946. This contributed to Robinson breaking the Major Leagues' color barrier the following year when he joined the Dodgers. The refusal by Jacksonville, previously the Dodgers' spring training home, led the team to host spring training in Daytona in 1947 and build Dodgertown in Vero Beach for the 1948 season. A statue of Robinson is now located at the south entrance to the ballpark. 

CHAPTER 4 - THE ISLAND SOUTH OF ORANGE AV. 

We took a walk south of Orange Avenue to have a look at the current state of the city property there.  There are still docks and boats using that area. 

The historic building that once housed the library before they built the current library is still standing, and being used as the home office for the Daytona Tortugas.  The original library in the small building north of the bridge appeared around 1909.  It had high windows installed so readers would not be distracted by folks passing by.  in 1920 the library moved to the 2nd floor of the city hall building at Palmetto and Orange.  In 1946 it moved to the historic building on City Island until moving into the modern facility built in 1977.  

The building east of that is currently vacant.  For many years it was the City Island Rec Center.  The city feels that it is in disrepair and not worth preservation.  Some organizations have attempted to lease it from the city or have made claims that the cost to restore the building is less than the city is claiming.  The likely reality is that soon, the building will fall with little notice or fanfare.  South of that is the current Chamber of Commerce HQ. 

This corridor is still quite beautiful, and clearly, underutilized.  The history on the land is remarkable if you think about it.  All of the municipal activity since the beginning of the city. 

If you would like to see the marina/library/ballpark area in it's 1960s glory, watch the episodes of Route 66 that were filmed in Daytona, as they are featured prominently.  The 1961 Cesar Romero movie "We Shall Return" was also filmed here.  You can find a link to the movie, and Route 66 info at our group page, on a file called TIME MACHINE.  Here is a link:  TIME MACHINE POST  

CHAPTER 5 - THE NEW BRIDGE    

Call it what you may...the Silver Beach Bridge, the Orange Av Bridge, the Memorial Bridge, Veterans Memorial Bridge...you would not be wrong.  The official new name is The Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge.  So named, as you walk over there are stations to take a break and enjoy the view that have memorial plaques in regard to different conficts the US has been involved in. This theme also ties in with the planned Veterans Memorial Park to be on the west base of the bridge at the eastern shore of the river.

Here is the artists concept of the park area intended to connect to the pier under the bridge: 

 

The first bridge connecting Silver Beach in Daytona Beach to Orange Avenue in Daytona appeared in 1888, just after the first bridge to cross the river appeared in Ormond at Granada in 1885.  Before then, the only way to cross was by boat or ferry, clearly separating the Daytona Beach peninsula from the city of Daytona.  Keep in mind, all of the area cities were separate until 1926.

 

The prominent residents on the eastern side saw the value in the bridge.  On the SW corner of Peninsula and Silver Beach was James Gamble, of Proctor and Gamble, who built his home there about 1860.  On the NW corner was Laurence Thompson living in Lillian Place built around 1884.  Thompson also owned land on the west side of the river along Beach St.  He had a general store in a home that still stands today, known as The Abbey, which was for sale recently.  It had housed a museum for a short time and the operators were attempting to purchase the property but could not raise the funds.  Thompson also owned all of the property where the Yacht Club is and donated that to them around 1896.

Seeing the need for the bridge, and no funds to build it, Daytona leaders of the day formed a corporation named Halifax River Bridge and Railway Company.  Investments were returned by collection of tolls for crossing the new bridge.  Storms wrecked the bridge in 1910 and 1926.  In 1954 it was replaced with the concrete bridge that most of us knew and remember.  

The current bridge finally opened to the public in August 2020, 4 years and two months and $46 million after it was started.  The stories of delays, mistakes and the remarkable timetable will remain local legend for some time, I am sure. 

BUT, all done and said, it suits the area nicely, is beautiful, and if it lasts and the quality does not diminish, should serve the area nicely for decades to come. 

The old bridge from the east side looking west, pre condo.  Gamble house obscured by trees.  

Current views in the area of the new bridge:

CHAPTER 6 - THE GAMBLE PROPERTY and to Ocean Dunes  

James Gamble was the son of the founder of Proctor and Gamble, in Cincinnati, and was an early northern snowbird to the area.  He built his winter retreat at the SW corner of Peninsula and Silver Beach on land he purchased from Laurence Thompson.  He was a notable area resident, and a generous philanthropist.  He funded many things in the area, including Bethune Cookman College. James Gamble befriended Mary McLeod Bethune who went to the Gamble House and made her pitch on a bicycle.  Gamble visited her school and was surprised to find a shack.  When he asked where the school was, she pointed at her head.  Gamble believed in her vision and he and Thomas White acquired and donated the first 6 acres of land she needed.  He was elected president of the board of trustees of BCC, and held that title for 20 years before being named Honorary President Emeritus.  He would be the largest long term contributor to the college.  Gamble had an account at Lawrence Thompsons store, and Thompson had orders from Gamble that if any worthy charity cases were in need, to contribute to them at Gamble's expense.

Gamble had copious holdings in the Spruce Creek area of Port Orange as well, which he used as a rural retreat.  After his death, his daughter Maude inherited  his local holdings.  She and her husband, Judge Alfred K. Nippert continued using the mansion as a residence.  Alfred created the Snow White house at the Port Orange retreat.  The Port Orange properties were donated to the city around 1999, and there has been various controvery about continued funding and accessibility to the public, and what the future would hold for that property.  It is currently operating and available to tour in cooperation with the Museum of Arts and Science.  The Port Orange retreat is located at 1819 Taylor Road. 

Mrs Gamble passed away here in DB in 1901, but was interred in Ohio.  James passed in 1932. Historically after James' death, the Gamble and Nippert families continued to have a dominant presence in the area, and nationally, socially and philanthropically.  


1932:

1969:

The main house was razed in 1969, leaving a couple of smaller buildings on site that were used until they ultimately fell.  The land finally left the Gamble family in 1972.  One of the turrets from the original house was moved to City Island to be used on the playground.  If you played in City Island Playground as a kid in the 70's and remember the castle, that is where it came from. 

Around 1961, a modern apartment complex appeared on the property south of the Gamble home, which became the Pendleton, the largest apartment complex in the area at the time.

 Here is a 2015 view showing the Pendleton on the right and the Riverplace 100 Condos on the corner.  This was shot from the old low bridge. 

The wall surrounding the corner condo's is the same stone wall that surrounded James Gamble's house.  It still looks strong and wonderful today.  Here is a 2014 view: 

 
Views from our walk: 

Walking past the wall, I could not help but wonder how it survived traffic on that corner, but I guess it did have it's share of issues with cars, such as this account from 1958: 

We continued our walk along Peninsula and enjoyed looking at the homes along the way.  The homes west of Peninsula are still very fabulous and well appointed.  There are great homes on the east side of the road, many in great condition, others in vary stages of remodel.  Very few are left to decay on the corridor, while some houses on side streets may have seen better days.  There is an overall feeling that in this area, there is an effort being made to keep things up, and that the home owners are taking some pride in their property.  Here are some random shots between Silver Beach and Ocean Dunes:

 CHAPTER 7 - OCEAN DUNES and Charles Wilder    
 
Ocean Dunes stands out as an exceptional neighborhood in Daytona Beach. When I discovered it years ago, it blew me away, and has always been impressive to those who I shared it with, so I was really happy to take the walkers there.  What is as cool as the neighborhood itself is the history of how it came to be.  That is thanks to Charles Wilder. Ocean Dunes is bordered by Wisteria to the north, Ocean Dunes to the South.  

The Wilder family came to Daytona from Cincinnati in 1877, when C.M. (Charles) Wilder was 12 years old. (Can you see the trend of how important Ohio was to the founding of Daytona? Matthias Day, Thomas White, James Gamble...the list is long...). The Wilders bought a large chunk of the Bethune Grant, which was the land west of the river from about Shady Place to Beville Road, and extending west of the railroad tracks about 2 miles total.  They were using it for various things, homesteading and citrus groves included. 

The Wilder family story is long, but I will digest it here by saying that Charles returned to Ohio for schooling and had settled in there.  The elder Wilder drowned in 1885 and Charles became an heir to his fathers property.  He had gotten married around 1897 and started a family in Ohio.  Charles felt that the area was better for the health of his children than Cincinnati, so he came here to build a Florida home for his family.  He chose a plot east of his father's property, 1716 S. Peninsula Dr, which would today be on the western end of Ocean Dunes road, on the east shore of the river.  That road today west of Peninsula is a cul-de-sac of very modern and large homes.  I do believe part of Charles' home there still stands, but you cant see much of it from the street, and a large home has been added adjacent to it. 

As a child, Charles would take a boat from his fathers land, and cut over to the other side of the river and walk to the beach.  The path that he took thru the Botefuhr property at the time is still there, now called Old Trail Rd.  There are stories of the kids encountering bears in there and going to the Botefuhr house to be safe. 

As an adult returning to town, Charles acquired the land between his plot and the ocean, where the Ocean Dunes neighborhood is now.  Charles also built a cabin on the ocean for his family to enjoy days at the beach in comfort. 

In the 1920's Charles intended to develop his fathers plot on the mainland into a fantastic concept called Country Club Harbor.  This concept would encompass a golf course and high end residences and commerce areas to serve them...much like Rio Vista to the north in Holly Hill.  He had Frederick Law Olmstead come from Boston to lay it out.  The Olmstead family are responsible for the development and layout of some of the most fantastic properties in the USA, including Central Park in NYC, keeping in mind keeping nature intact as much as possible.  Olmstead was also active in 1927 trying to convince the city to preserve the trees along Ridgewood Avenue.

The plans were made, but the depression came and it never fully came to fruition, other than the layout of some roads and opening of the sales office to take orders for homes.  The area behind Tzadik Bay apartments is still known as Wilder's Cut, and that of course is how Wilder Boulevard got named. 

By 1929, the Country Club Harbor site was platted much more like we know it today: 

In 1969, the Pepper's bought the tract of Wilder property from Wilder Blvd to Beville.  

Land on the Peninsula was selling in bulk, and people were just scraping the land and using it for farming, or during the boom, flattening dunes and building houses in a row.  This frustrated Wilder who saw the value in preservation.  Taking his cues from Olmstead, he laid out the subdivision of Ocean Dunes, taking care to keep the natural topography intact whenever possible.  Several of the homes built in the 1920s are still standing there today.  The neighborhood is a great mix of original vintage, 1940s, and mid century homes.  There is plenty to see in the heart of Ocean Dunes which is generally bordered by Wisteria to the north, and Ocean Dunes to the south.  

In 1939, the Ocean Dunes Club was formed as a private corporation and operated by area residents.  The corporation was dissolved in 59 and the club sold to private developers, but many still remember this facility. 

  The Wilder cottage on the ocean in the Ocean Dunes area...    

I encourage everyone to drive or walk thru Ocean Dunes, or as a minimum, use Google maps street view and have a look around.  Here are a few snapshots from our Walkabout thru that neighborhood:

CHAPTER 8 - THE LAST LEG OF THE WALK              

When we got to the north end of Crescent Ridge, we decided to cut back east to A1A, in hopes of possibly finding a place where people could use the rest room or buy a drink, but we had no luck.  We started to head west on Bostwick, but I checked to see if anyone wanted to cut up to the Sunoco mart at Silver Beach, but everyone was ok so far. 

Bostwick is an interesting road, and there are some fantastic homes there as well, but the star of the area clearly is Gamble Place, the street, not the attraction in Port Orange, HAHA.  There are well preserved beautifully landscaped homes in the area that are worthy of looking at.  If you are whizzing by in a car, you cannot appreciate them properly. That is what the walkabout points out.  

Yes, this is the old gas station property at the corner!  It has undergone many different uses.  It is currently for sale.   

From Gamble Place, we returned to Silver Beach.  From that area east it is not spectacular due to progress, but, there are still some great historic homes.  That block could stand to be gentrified some as some of the homes are being used as apartment/rooming houses and it would be awesome to see them restored to single family homes. 

The eastern end of Silver Beach back in "the day": 

At Silver Beach and Peninsula, we took a slight jog to the north and walked down the driveway toward the historic Hotchkiss House and Lillian Place.  On that corner, there are still several privately owned residences on the corner, bordered in by the Hotchkiss and Lillian Place which are now owned by The Heritage Preservation Trust.  In times of no COVID, the Hotchkiss house is available for booking events.  Tours of Lillian Place and their gift shop are indefinitely cancelled for now.  They are taking advantage of that to do some remodeling and upkeep on the property, so you can see work in progress. 

Lillian Place was constructed in 1884 and was the Laurence Thompson residence.  The Hotchkiss house was constructed in 1905 for E.H. Hotchkiss of CT.  Hotchkiss was the maker of the world famous Hotchkiss stapler, at one time the best known stapler in the world.  The Japanese word for stapler is "hotchikisu". 

You can visit the Heritage Trust site at this link:  HERITAGE TRUST 

After leaving the historic corner, we concluded our voyage by heading west over the north side of the bridge and returning to the annex. 

IN CONCLUSION:
                    
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  If you would like to join our Facebook group, click this link:  I GREW UP IN DAYTONA BEACH FACEBOOK GROUP .

The info offered here is considered to be generally correct to the best of my knowledge.  If you see any glaring errors, have any comments or just want to say hi, shoot me a message here or you can visit my website at www.harryoke.com where all of my contact info is posted.

At the Facebook group you can also find the Time Machine file linked, that has links to other area videos, and blogs from past Walkabouts.  Here is a link:  TIME MACHINE.

Until next year...stay safe, and will see you online!  If you have any requests or suggestions for the 2021 walk just let me know. 

Harry

  

REGARDING YOUR HEALTH: Karaoke, Harryoke and COVID-19

This week I am putting a toe in the water to return to doing karaoke at Finn's.  They have more square footage for our crowd than some smaller venues still limited by the state phase one reopening.  Some of you are anxiously awaiting the return of karaoke, others may feel it is too soon.  Many want to know what will be different and what protocols will be in place in "the new normal".  This has been a CONSTANT subject on my mind since the quarantine.  I have read up on the science, studied the CDC protocols and recommendations, and networked with other karaoke hosts in regard to placing protocols upon the return of karaoke. This is the plan I have come up with, based on your questions:

IS IT TOO SOON?:  That is up to each individual to decide.  Some people are more diligent about social distancing than others.  Some folks are more susceptible to illness and germs than others due to situations that may affect them such as having a compromised immune system, pre-existing issues, age, etc..., so one rule will not fit all.  Basically, if you are worried or feel it is too soon, you may not be a candidate to return to social public karaoke.  

IS IT SAFE...WHAT PRECAUTIONS ARE YOU TAKING?:  The venue will be following state protocols at the time, so when phase two arrives, things will open up further.  Until then, for phase one, the venues will be adhering to phase one state protocols.  SAFETY IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GUARANTEE...YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WELFARE.  Do not rely on others to protect you.  Based on your individual needs, conduct yourself accordingly.  If that means wearing a mask, or carrying hand sanitizer, or visiting the rest room regularly to wash your hands, that is incumbent upon you to do.  While the host and the venue take steps to limit infectious contact, it is not guaranteed.  The venue will have certainly stepped up cleaning methods, as has the karaoke host, but these are not guarantees. There ARE steps YOU can take to put the odds solidly in your favor.   

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO AVOID GERMS AT KARAOKE?:  The best way to avoid germs is to really understand, scientifically, how they spread.  There are methods that some people recommend that are NOT effective, and in fact, more dangerous than not using them.  These include the usage of foam mic covers or other microphone covers.  They look like they are doing something, but the science does not agree.  Ground zero for potential infection at karaoke will be:  In the atomized breath of someone yelling, laughing, sneezing, singing or talking loudly close to you, on the microphone, and on any surfaces that may be holding bodily fluid such as spittle, saliva, mucous, etc...  The safest thing for you as a singer to do is to limit your exposure, but even if exposed, take 2 simple steps.

THE COMMON THREAD IN ALL PROTOCOLS is that if you are a singer concerned with germs of any kind, it is INCUMBENT UPON YOU to sanitize your hands or wash with soap and water immediately following your performance, before contacting food, phones, or face.    

FIRST:  Always just assume the microphone is dirty even if it has just been cleaned, has a cover etc...  That is not a deal breaker, but what you NEED TO LEARN TO DO now and forever is to NEVER ALLOW THE MIC TO TOUCH YOUR FACE, LIPS, MOUTH, NOSE, etc...  Have no contact with the top of the microphone. 

SECOND, always assume at the end of your song that YOUR HANDS ARE DIRTY.  Once you return the microphone to the host, IT IS INCUMBENT ON YOU THE SINGER to use a hand sanitizer or otherwise head to the bathroom to wash using soap and water before touching your food, face or phone or other personal belongings.  That will effectively handle any germs you have come into contact with.  Now keep in mind, these protocols are born of the COVID-19 coronavirus issue, but, germs have been around as long as people, and people have been doing karaoke, and eating, and touching other people, kissing, inhaling air in close proximity...etc...for DECADES.  Karaoke did not just suddenly develop germs, it is just the effort of trying to avoid this one particular NEW germ that is causing the panic reactions. GLOVES could be effective if used properly, meaning throwing them away and washing your hands afterward...but in that regard, save the money on gloves and just wash/sanitize your hands anyway. CDC guidelines have been fluid, changing as research reveals more information.  There are mixed reports regarding transmittal of COVID-19 from hard surfaces, as well as discussions about when and how masks do or do not work.  Do your research and take your actions according to your personal needs.      

SHOULD I WEAR A MASK?:  Again, a personal decision based on your needs.  Singing on a PA system will not work with some to most masks, as the amplified sound would be muffled.  If your level of caution requires it, we can try it, but it may be too soon for you personally if that is a deal breaker. (Each Halloween I deal with people singing in costume, and it does not sound good with a masked voice).  If you are in the crowd as a spectator, a mask may be prudent if you are at a table or group talking loudly or breathing in each other's space.

CAN I BRING MY OWN FOAM COVER AND PUT IT ON THE MIC?:  If you want to yes, but, not only will this not be an effective deterrent to infection, it may also increase your chances by carrying mic germs back to your table via the infected foam you are now putting in your pocket, purse or case.  They do not work in this manner, they are designed to stop wind pops, not germs.

WE WENT TO ANOTHER SHOW WHERE THEY GAVE EACH SINGER A LITTLE COVER FOR THE MIC THAT THE SINGER TOOK WITH THEM AFTER EACH SONG:  And they make singers feel safe, but they do not work effectively.  Your hands are still contacting the mic, even with a cover on it.  There is no guarantee that the cover has no germ on it, and certainly, when removed, could have germs on the interior.  Even with covers, you would need to wash or sanitize your hands afterward...so, save the money on covers, and simply plan on washing/sanitizing your hands. A false sense of security keeps you from cleaning your hands, and that is the key at karaoke.    

CAN I BRING MY OWN MICROPHONE?:  Maybe.  I may be prepared to accept singers microphones on my cable provided they are XLR connected, NOT 1/4" or any connector other than an XLR.  You cannot bring your own wireless mic as it would be too cumbersome to connect and dial in between singers.  There are no guarantees your microphone will be compatible with my system either, depending on quality, specifications, and what shape of a pick up pattern the cartridge has, which all affect sound, and feedback, etc... 

Here is a link to a blog entry, State of Harryoke. I put this up earlier in May during quarantine and it covers some of this and delves a little deeper.:

STATE OF HARRYOKE BLOG
   

The takeaway from all of this is...be safe, be responsible for your own safety, be smart, know the enemy and come back and have fun when you are personally ready!!

Hope to see you all soon.  State protocols will dictate whether this is a short term return or permanent, but I am hoping for the best.  

All the best to you all!  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND FRIENDSHIP!   

THE STATE OF HARRYOKE May 2020

Hello everyone!  I hope my note finds you all well.  I am just checking in, and wanted to say a few things about the state of Harryoke in the face of the new reality.  There is a lot to say, so warning, this will be a long essay, but I will attempt to keep topics categorized as best as I can.  I do have a ton of things on my mind, but will try to condense the topics most asked about here, in a FAQ type of format.  

HOW ARE YOU DOING?:  I am doing great compared to some.  I have been biding my time, doing stuff around the house and largely trying to stay safe, healthy and sane.  I have been trying to stay active by walking, biking and using the exercise station at the park.  Been organizing the office and house, and using online auctions and sell sites to sell off some excess stuff.

I used to joke about alternative jobs, and would always say "...if there ever came a day when karaoke was either illegal, outlawed or prohibited, I would...".  That seemed like an outrageous enough scenario that would never occur.  These days, I am not so sure.  Mentally it weighs on me that what I have built up over so many years has stopped, virtually overnight, and while I am cautiously optimistic things will normalize one day, I also worry about the new reality, and how it will affect people and their social habits. 

I have always planned for a rainy day, and am currently living under my umbrella.  Many who do what I do for a living are in a similar pinch, and as an industry, we are networking ideas to prepare for the new realities of the future.  Hopefully the new normal will allow me to pick up where I left off.  If not, I will be open to Plan B's if you have one to offer.        

WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK TO WORK TO DO HARRYOKE SHOWS?:   My last show was on Monday, 3.16.2020 and was show #5670 since May of 1999. I am just short of my service anniversary which will see me finish my 21st year of Harryoke shows, and start of year 22!  My start back date is very ambiguous, and will be based on state guidelines and regulations, as well as some common sense.  Although closures have been loosened in phase one of the state reopening, the guidelines are not loose enough to effectively allow karaoke and the crowds that result at karaoke shows. 

My weekly return will be based on when crowds can come back safely and when it makes financial sense for the venues that hire me to have me back to attract crowds for them as best as I can.  Ultimately, THAT is my job description.  It could be some time down the road before social distancing measures make sense to those who hire me.  Stay tuned.   

WHY NOT DO ONLINE KARAOKE?:  Lots of reasons...largely and most importantly is that, while I understand the outlet of online "karaoke",  I do not feel it is the same as what I offer as traditional karaoke.  I personally think the karaoke experience is more than singing...it is the crowd, the live interaction with an audience, the applause and laughter and reaction...and even more importantly, it is the human interaction off stage.  It is the conversation and joking, the clink of glasses and sharing of a drink, or a hug.  It is the interaction and listening to each others life experience and offering a compassionate ear or shoulder.  It is meeting new people...or meeting old friends.  It is the silliness happening off stage, as much as the singing and performance on stage. 

While I can post videos of singers, or of myself singing, I cannot recreate the experience of true karaoke, virtually, and have had little desire to try.  The variables of meet up times, poor connections, inferior sound or video connection, and the fact that video karaoke is SO visual, while real karaoke does not rely as heavily on the visual element.  There is also the issue of the sound on a stage, compared to singing into a phone or computer.  It does not compare.  While I miss those interactions with the public, I do not think a virtual karaoke environment fills the void well enough. 

There is also the realistic matter of how one would replace their income doing it.  For someone like me who relies on karaoke performance to make a living, it would be difficult to create a virtual presence online and figure out a way to, or to justify monetizing it.  If there came a day when I was FORCED to do that, I would consider it...but I am more optimistic some level of normal is coming back.  I enjoy standing in front of a crowd and winging it...and cannot bring myself to sing into my phone or sing into the computer.  It just feels unnatural, and acoustically foreign to a live stage.  I have toyed with the idea of doing a live mini concert for fun and live streaming it, and that would be closer to reality if I had my sound system set up...but, that is performance, more than karaoke.

I think how I feel about karaoke is best expressed in how I run my live shows, and by those who attend them, who need that outlet on my stage, and that outlet cant easily be replaced virtually online.  It can substitute, but it fills a different void.  I am thankful to FaceBook for keeping us all in touch, despite not being able to meet or sing in person in public.  

HOW WILL HARRYOKE BE DIFFERENT WHEN YOU RETURN?:  That is the million dollar question.  Much will depend on what the state guidelines are, and if and how it makes sense to comply with them, if possible.  I will say this...and I offer this candidly and with full honesty:  There is a discussion among karaoke hosts about what to do to protect ourselves and our singers upon our return.  MUCH of what is suggested is an illusion.  Things we can do to MAKE IT LOOK like it is safe, but in reality, it is an illusion.  There are suggested hygiene steps that, not only are ineffective, but could actually increase transmission of germs. 

SO HOW WILL HARRYOKE SHOWS BE DIFFERENT?  I am hoping they won't be.  There will be steps I can take in regard to microphone cleanliness that I can be more diligent about.  That will be the biggest thing.  There is no way to do karaoke in a mask.  Spit guards...hands free microphones...foam covers...fabric mic condoms...plastic mic covers...UV or ultrasonic sanitizers...all ineffective voodoo as helpful as just wishing.  They LOOK like you are doing something...but they are not.  That is just being honest, folks.  

WILL IT BE SAFE TO DO KARAOKE IN THE NEW REALITY?:  That is entirely up to YOU.  There are steps YOU can take to protect yourselves, over and above what I can do, and effectively, regardless of what I do on stage, there are steps you all can take off stage that will be far more effective.  The key is...that YOU understand how germs are transmitted, that you determine your tolerance for exposure to germs (based on health history, age, level of compromise of your immune system, etc...). 

SO FIRST...if you are concerned about germs, understand how they transmit and take the appropriate steps based on YOUR personal tolerance.  For some folks it wont make sense to come out in public...for others it will. 

THE MOST IMPORTANT SUGGESTION I CAN MAKE FOR EVERYONE IS FOR EACH OF YOU TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH AND HYGIENE AND NOT RELY ON OTHERS TO DO IT FOR YOU!  That is the MOST important thing I can say before continuing.  If you are simply an audience member, the rules will be different than those for singers, who have a greater exposure.  I would say the greatest topic in regard to exposure to germs at karaoke, aside from human contact, is MICROPHONE CONTACT.  There is no magic wand to wave to guarantee safety, and anyone who claims their mics are safe or sanitary is lying.  You must always assume, correctly or incorrectly, that the microphone is NOT SANITARY, and handle yourself, and the microphone, accordingly.  This is not new news...it has always been this way, and people have been singing karaoke and carelessly using no hygiene protocols for years!  We are all just hyper aware now in the face of COVID-19.  Karaoke will be just as safe now as it was before...and actually more safe in the face of heightened protocols and awareness.  Your reaction should be commensurate with your tolerance.   

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GERMS, you can safely survive exposure to germs on a microphone or elsewhere on stage by following some protocols.  Most importantly are the following:

1) do not touch the top of the mic...the wind screen, and especially, do not touch the mic to your lips, mouth or face in any way.  Keep the mic about 3 inches away, minimum.  
2) only touch the body of the microphone, and after touching the microphone, do not put your hand on your face, mouth, nose or eyes until you wash or sanitize.
3) immediately following your performance, sanitize your hands...ideally with soap and water in the bathroom, or in a pinch, with an alcohol based hand sanitizer...do this IMMEDIATELY after leaving the stage before returning to your table, or touching your food or drink or phone.
4) do not stand in close proximity to the host or other singers while they are talking or singing to prevent any droplets from falling on you or into your breathing space.     

If you follow THOSE simple guidelines alone, you will be exponentially safer.  The microphone and stage area are not the only places germs will be an issue in public...but we are talking about being safe at karaoke.  There will be common sense things to think about, such as touching doorknobs, common publicly touched areas like jukeboxes, ATM's, menus, and more.  BUT for the topic of this discussion, I am keeping it to my responsibility in regard to germ transmission and karaoke. 

I am hoping to have plenty of aerosol spray disinfectant available before my return, and will do my best to stay on top of that, as well as trying to rotate mics during the show, and also by trying to identify singers who potentially may be sick or showing symptoms that cause concern, and either limiting their presence on stage or being sure to properly disinfect afterwards. 

BUT EVEN IF I DID NOT DO THAT...and I will...BUT IF I DIDN'T...the recommended protocols above will still largely protect you if you implement them...not just against COVID-19, but common colds or any transmitted germ related malady.  

There is some discussion about singers bringing their own foam covers or other covers.  If you feel better about that, you are more than welcome to do it.  The science however is NOT on your side.  Bringing a porous item up and placing it on a microphone, you are just transmitting any potential germs to it, then carrying it back to your table or purse or pocket.  Scientifically, handling the non porous mic as described above, and then washing your hands would be far more effective, but I will allow singers to do it if they like. 

There is discussion about singers bringing their own microphones.  There COULD be some merit to that, and it is something I am willing to adapt to if necessary.  It is still not a guarantee, and there would be issues with the varying specs of different mics and how they would sound, or how their pickup patterns would affect feedback, etc...but I would be willing to adapt to trying that.  I am currently 100% cordless.  I would not allow people to bring their own cordless as that would be a nightmare for hooking up, etc...but I may have a cord with an XLR connector available if requested and let people try to use their own XLR connected mic on a cord.

THAT IS ALL FOR NOW...that is a lot to unpack, but it is part of what has been on my mind, and the most frequently asked questions from folks contacting me.  If you have any questions, comment or concerns, reach out to me and I will be happy to hear them and address them.  Looking forward to seeing everyone on the other side of all of this.  I hope you all are faring well.  ALL THE BEST TO YOU...and thank you for your years of friendship and support.