Just Go See A Show

by jadin manipole

director of marketing, bardavon presents

Community means something different to everyone. It can be as simple as your local barista remembering your name (or fellow Stewart’s Shops team member, icons), or a neighbor holding the door for you when walking into the building. It’s helping a stranger work their way out of a tough parking spot from the sidewalk, or gathering with your friends for dinner once a month. Whatever community may look like to you, one thing remains constant: connection.

Humans cannot survive without connecting with others. Even the most introverted of folks still need community. We find ourselves in these pockets of life, existing in different niches together while simultaneously carving our own path. That can feel isolating. But rather than retreat into our own respective caves, it’s on our own accord to put ourselves out there to gain human connection.

Being in the digital age, finding community can be daunting to start. When I moved to Kingston by myself at 22 years old, away from college (go Hawks) and my home three hours north, I was overwhelmed with possibilities. So much so, it scared me into hiding in my cave for the first two weeks until I got a call from a friend asking to go to a concert. From there, I knew how I was going to find community: through music. And if music ignites your soul, the Hudson Valley is for you.

Thankfully I had easy access to music because I began working full-time at Bardavon Presents which owns and operates two theaters in the Valley: the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie and Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston. The people I met through this job all had one thing in common - their love for the arts, especially music. My bosses encouraged me to go and experience other venues in our area because the talent that exists within our world is unfathomable. From local artists to national touring acts, there is something for everyone here. We have venues that can fit over 25,000 people outside,

to small house shows and all the beautiful local theaters in between. Regardless of size or who it is - I encourage everyone to just go see a show. Even if you are by yourself, because with the music, you are never alone. It is the common denominator within so many of us and is one of the greatest ways to bring people together. My challenge for you: take yourself out on a date to a concert and make a new friend. Music is nourishing, and one of the best forms of community that can exist within the human experience (whatever that may be). See you at a show,