For many music fans, concerts are the epitome of the listening experience. They are a chance to hear and see their favorite artists live, all while feeding off the high-energy the artist and the other fans bring. And for the artists, concerts are an integral part of making music. Concerts provide them with a live, exciting platform to perform their music, as well as an essential revenue stream. According to an article from TorrentFreak, live performances typically account for 28% of a musician’s income stream.
Given the current global situation, many concerts that were meant to happen this year have been either postponed or canceled. With the guidelines we need to follow to ensure everyone’s safety, the typical concert experience does not seem very feasible. So what does the future of concerts look like?
On May 18, the first socially distanced concert in the US occurred in Arkansas. Travis McCready performed a set at Temple Live in Fort Smith. The venue has a usual capacity of 1,100 people, but it was reduced down to 229 people. Additionally, the concert attendees had to wear face masks during the show and they had their temperature taken before they could enter the premise. Once inside, the separate groups were arranged in clusters with a safe distance between them and other groups.
Another option for hosting concerts during the current pandemic is drive-in concerts. These concerts have the same premise as drive-in movie theaters, which have been seeing a resurgence in popularity recently. Essentially, concertgoers would drive into the venue and watch the performance from inside their cars. One musician, Marc Rebillet, has already announced a drive-in concert tour for this summer.
It’s going to be a while before concerts go back to the sweaty, mosh-pit experiences we are all accustomed to, but for now, we can at least try and support our favorite artists in other ways and enjoy the alternative concert experiences everyone is working so hard to create.
Make sure to listen to your favorite artists right here on Dash Radio!