Photo: Simone_ph
Live performance venues are trying to endure these especially difficult times as the COVID-19 pandemic means locked doors and shuttered windows. As the crisis continues, musicians, club owners, and everyone who depends upon a thriving live music culture for economic survival is left wondering what the future of live music is likely to be.
Let’s look at some of the models that have already been tried during the pandemic. Each comes with its own set of drawbacks. It’s not the same as the live music of yesteryear, but then again, very few things are anymore.
Drive-in Concerts
For a while, it appeared that the drive-in concert would become a staple of adolescence as drive-in theaters did for kids in the United States during the early days of rock and roll. However, changes to local restrictions have made it challenging to mount an enduring program of concerts.
With pandemic laws differing seemingly from city limit to city limit, it’s difficult to organize and plan a financially-viable strategy. In addition, drive-in concerts work best in moderate temperatures. Bands would still be idle during cold weather months and inclement weather.
Rooftop Concerts
Rooftop concerts have several things in their favor—good sight lines to the stage, novelty, and nostalgia. Even music fans born during this century have probably seen footage of the Beatles in the waning days of the group, serenading Londoners atop their music headquarters.
But how many municipalities would allow rooftop concerts? Hey, the police even shut down the Beatles.
Though the band would be a safe distance from its fans, there’s no certainty that fans will socially distance themselves from each other. It poses the same risks as supposedly socially-distanced music festivals.
Indoor Venues With Social Distancing
Perhaps the most problematic of the attempts to keep the live music scene off death row has been the attempt to hold concerts in the usual venues but expect owners and operators to enforce safe behavior.
For example, this summer in Nashville, downtown venues were packed with crowds not wearing masks. Not surprisingly, a new surge of COVID-19 was traced to those concerts.
Fortunately, some venues around the world have improved their air ventilation and insist on keeping audience members from getting too close to each other.
Live Streaming
For the foreseeable future, the easiest way to spend an evening with your favorite band is via a live stream. However, to make it a viable business venture, it wouldn’t be free streaming. Bands would earn their money from selling virtual tickets to the events along with official merch.
Live streaming offers the chance for a band to increase its fan base as curiosity seekers can sample the band from the comfort of their living rooms thousands of miles away.
Sadly, this option is not going to be available to everyone. The logistics and technology involved are going to be beyond the reach of most of the up-and-coming performers that are the lifeblood of local venues.
Live Music: Where We Are Now?
The real test for America’s live music venues will likely occur this winter. Health forecasts still point toward a somber season with the annual appearance of the flu compounding efforts to deal with COVID-19.
It’s doubtful that cities and towns will lift any major restrictions until we’re safely into the warmer months of spring. Yes, it appears that promising vaccines will soon be available, but it will take time before the level of immunization makes government officials comfortable with large gatherings.
For these reasons, it appears that your favorite downtown live entertainment space will remain silent a little longer. But that doesn’t rule out a comeback—you know, like your all-time favorite band does every few years.
