Concert start times can be divided into two primary groups: The 7:30 and the 8:00 p.m. shows. Besides the supreme importance of curating world-class artists and engaging programs, venues must also invariably decide upon the start time of each show. It’s a high wire act for sure: set things too early and you miss those who can’t get there in time after work; set things too late, and you miss those who need to be up early in the morning.
It seems this is a question of finding the right balance, but according to a 2014 study by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), the thought of rushing to make a 7:30 start time may be more detrimental to attendance than we thought.
The study states that GTA residents have the longest daily commutes in the province, with an average of 65.6 minutes. The average for Ontario was 47 minutes, with Montreal and Vancouver clocking in at an average of 62 and 60 minutes respectively.
Since 2010, 20.5 per cent of Ontarians between 20 and 64 years of age have reported experiencing high levels of time pressure, which is up from 16.4 per cent in 1994. “This represents a 20-per-cent increase in the 17-year period.”
The effect of traffic and the recession on culture and leisure in the GTA has been significant. The study further suggests that the arts sector has fallen by 5.9%, and is the only sector in Ontario other than the environment to see an overall decline since 1994.
Concert attendance is a complex issue, and the stats vary – particularly throughout the 2000’s. “Between 2004 and 2006, average attendance per performance rose by over 10%, yet two years later it had fallen almost 12% below 1994 levels. The decline from 2006 to 2008 — before the recession even started — represented one in every four attendees to the performing arts. Attendance has started to rebound slowly, but it dropped by 8.1% overall between 1994 and 2010,” the study finds.
An 8.1% drop in general attendance over a ten-year period is worrying, but when you look at an everyday scenario for a GTA commuter, it starts to make perfect sense.
The TSO’s official website suggests patrons should plan to arrive 45 minutes before the scheduled start time. “This will allow time to find your seat, relax and read the programme notes.”
But arriving 45 minutes before a 7:30 show means arriving by 6:45. For those coming from surrounding regions, they are looking at up to an hour and a half commute, and leaving at approximately 5:15 to get to the venue within the suggested 45-minute window. Not likely – and here’s why:
For a weekday concert, the scenario requires a patron to race home after work (again in traffic), cook and eat dinner, get dressed, and somehow be out the door (depending on how far out of the golden horseshoe you live) between 5:15 and 6:00 p.m. For most, this simply is not possible, and makes attending a weekday concert out of reach.
The alternative is taking public transportation, which is a great option for those in the city and closer areas like Mississauga, but for those living in areas like Oakville and Burlington, the commute is nearly just as long. It involves getting a ride, catching a bus, walking or driving to the GO Train station and catching a commuter train, which can take as long as 45 min. Then you have to take a subway, city bus or streetcar to the venue, which can be as much as 30 min or more depending on where it is located. Of course you’d need to do this all over again to get back home, which in the sub-zero reality of a Toronto winter, is a deal-breaker for some.
Of course, the arts are not alone in offering 7:30 event start times. Taking a look at the Toronto Raptors’ season schedule and you will find a plethora of singular 7:30 p.m. start times. But again, why?
The TSO website warns, “…when coming to a concert remember that traffic, parking, and weather can affect your arrival time, so leave early to make sure you’re not late […] “The TSO assumes no responsibility for portions of any concert missed due to lateness and cannot make any adjustment in the ticket price.”
We asked a symphony concertgoer, who lives in Milton, what they thought of the TSO’s recommendation. “Believe me – traffic, parking and weather are all at the top of my mind when I commute into the city for a concert. But for me, a 7:30 concert is just not realistic unless I skip dinner and go hungry all night.”
So what are the arguments in favour of a scheduled 7:30 p.m. start time? It means getting home a half-hour earlier which is a plus for those who need to be up early.
According to The Better Sleep Council of Canada, Canadians’ average bedtime is about 10:06 pm.; BC residents are the night owls (10:53 p.m.) while Atlantic Canadians hit the sack at an early 9:11 pm.
This is certainly understandable, but when placed against the scale of population, it looks like a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. The 2011 census shows Toronto at around 2,615,060 residents. The GTA has about 5,583,064 residents. According to these statistics, setting a 7:30 concert start time risks potentially excluding a percentage of approximately 3.4 million people. No small potatoes.
Considering the overwhelming obstacles for many to meet a scheduled 7:30 p.m. start, perhaps the time has come for venues to focus on 8:00 p.m., thus giving everyone ample opportunity to make it on time without a sense of panic in tow. In this day and age of a special focus on the importance of concert attendance, accommodating the realities of our growing commute times just might make the difference arts presenters are looking for.
Editors Note: We’d love to hear thoughts by readers on this issue. Namely, if you live in the GTA , does a weekday 7:30 concert start time ever stop you from attending a show in the city? And if so, would a concert starting at 8:00 p.m. make a difference? Comment below.
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