If you are on this website, I’m guessing that you like live music.
The fact that live gigs have had to be postponed or cancelled due to the Coronavirus has probably annoyed you as well.
Well I have got some news: Gigs are back!
Well, sort of.
They’re back in a minimum capacity, socially-distanced way.
What does this mean? How long will it go on for? Are socially-distanced gigs even worth it?
Well let’s find out as we see how some of the first of these gigs have started to take place.
Why?
Okay, so first let’s discuss why its happening. You may be thinking:
“Can’t we just wait until the coronavirus is over and then go back to proper gigs?”
Well, yes. We could do that.
But live music makes up part of the entertainment industry, something has been one of the biggest hit by the coronavirus.
If gigs continue to be postponed or cancelled, it would have a ripple effect on all the people working in that sector, affecting up to 1 million people.
That’s people who aren’t working, getting paid and putting money back into the economy.
And aside from a purely financial view: gigs are a social thing, something that the coronavirus has also had a significant impact on.
For some people, going to gigs are a big part of their life. Maybe it’s when they see friends, or maybe they don’t have anyone around them and gigs are their way of being social.
There is a good article written by Jim Webster about how he uses live music to help battle depression, something I also do.
The effect of the Coronavirus lockdown on loneliness is a serious issue, though not talked about as much as the other effects it has had.
So, the quicker that we can put live music back on, even if socially distanced, then the better it’s going to be for everyone.
How do they work?
Socially distanced gigs mean that each ‘bubble’ of people needs to be able to stay 2 metres away from the other bubbles.
This mean that for outdoor gigs, they have started creating small separate seating squares for each bubble of people.
Where are they?
The biggest gig recently has been the Sam Fender concert in Newcastle on 11th August.
The concert was for up to 2,500 fans (up to 5 on each of the 500 platform) at the Virgin Money Unity Arena.
The venue also has plans to host other live acts later in the year following similar social distancing rules, including bands like The Libertines, Maximo park and comedian Jimmy Carr.
Issues
Obviously this system is going to mean that the capacity for these concerts will be greatly diminished, meaning that the possible income from these concerts will be lower, with the NME reporting that 2/3 of venues in the UK will not be able to reopen in a way that is financially viable.
To combat this and the extra man-power needed to set up each viewing platform, attendees were charged an extra £20 surcharge for the platform.
Benefits
Obviously the first, and best aspect, is the reduced risk of catching the Coronavirus through these measures. The 2 metres rule is actually based on some outdated research, but is obviously a better solutions than nothing at all.
This new system is also basically giving everyone their own little viewing platform, which I think is pretty cool.
As much as I like mosh pits, if I’m just trying to get a good look at the band, being crammed into a small space with a bunch of people ALSO trying to get a good view, it’s the worst.
Also, the platforms for the spaces rises more as they go back. The first few rows of spaces have no platform, and the ones at the back have the highest platform, so help give everyone the best view available.
What’s the opinion?
Some articles have a very negative bent to them, like this one from dazed digital, flat out saying that these gigs are awful.
And while these concerts definitely do seem be more time-consuming, less financially viable and less interactive: I don’t think they’re awful.
Your own space to watch a gig from seems pretty cool to me.
The Metro also wrote something just before Sam Fenders gigs, and their article seemed worried, but less downright negative, instead focusing on the details of the gig, like how each platform will also have its own fridge.
Is this the future?
Quite possibly, yes, socially distanced gigs will be the ‘new normal’ for some time to come.
As I said, the entertainment industry has been really badly hit from the Coronavirus, and bringing gigs back as soon as possible is going to help limit the long-term effects of this.
Socially-distanced gigs are probably not anyone’s first choice, but if it means that live music, stand-up, theatre and all other kinds of entertainment can start up again in a safe way, then I am all for it.
