The speaker, Alexey Shcherbakov, is hosting an event and is addressing a masked audience. He talks about the unusual situation of everyone wearing masks and the difficulties of interacting with the audience when he can't see their smiles or reactions. He tries to engage with the audience, asking them questions and making jokes, but it's clear that he's struggling to connect with them due to the masks. He mentions that the event has been a long time coming and that everyone has been waiting for it to start. He also talks about the importance of support from the audience and how it's needed to make the event successful.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Alexey Shcherbakov is the host.
2. Everyone in the audience is wearing masks.
3. The event has a limited capacity of 150 people.
4. The venue is mostly empty, with only 150 people attending out of a possible 700-900.
5. Some people in the audience are wearing masks that cover their entire face.
6. The host mentions that it's difficult to see people's reactions when they're wearing masks.
7. The host references a "transition" but doesn't specify what it is.
8. Someone in the audience is mentioned to have paid 20,000 rubles to be in the front row.
9. The host mentions that the event is being recorded and will be shown on TV.
10. The host asks the audience if they are ready to participate in the event.
11. The host mentions that some people in the audience are over 70 years old.
12. The host asks an audience member, Evgeniy, about his age and occupation.
13. The host mentions that some people in the audience may have vision problems.
14. The host asks the audience about their thoughts and experiences.