Could COVID-19 Eventually Be Good For The Industry?

Before you come after me with your pitchforks and torches, let me say one thing.

This sucks!

COVID-19 has taken out the live entertainment industry at the knees. Concerts, conventions, sporting events, and festivals are all getting cancelled or postponed. My friends and colleagues have lost gigs and their jobs all around the globe due to this pandemic. Earlier today, Ellen wrote in her Monday Musings “Survival Mode,” recapping where we stand now and some resources available to help us all get through this. We also spoke at length with Bob Bonniol on the state of the industry due to COVID-19 and where freelancers can look for help during these trying times.

I am, however, excited for how the coronavirus will shape the future of how we experience live event experiences. With various reports stating that we are in this for another eight weeks on the short end to the spring of 2021 on the long end, I am curious to see how live events evolve from this.

Plato said that “necessity is the mother of invention,” and we are already seeing that come to fruition. Adam Hall Group withdrew their participation from Pro Light + Sound before it was cancelled and will be showcasing their Virtual Trade Show. It’s an interesting concept since the best part of a trade show is being able to see the equipment, programs, and tools in action. We’ll see if AHG is able to bridge that gap of showcasing their products in the ways that we are accustomed to by physically attending a trade show.

Dropkick Murphy’s will be performing their St. Patrick’s Day show virtually and for free on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook Live. This isn’t a new concept. Festivals and concerts have done this in the past for people that can’t attend live, and there are also companies like Fathom Events, that take live theater productions and bring them to movie theaters all over the world.

I also look at the esports landscape, as it is an entertainment platform that went from being played online to being played offline for the spectator and live event factor. Hours before opening, Intel Extreme Masters in Katowice, Poland lost their ability to host their live event at SPODEK Areana. The tournament, however, continued on with players competing in an empty 22,000 seat venue. In leiu of this, they acheived record-breaking viewership numbers for the event. Maybe this is an opportunity for niche performing events, smaller music groups, or D-league games to be broadcast on a larger platform.

So, what does the future hold for live events? Will we be experiencing live events via the Oasis, like in Ready Player One? Probably not, but I do think that with the rise of 5G and other technological advances, we won’t always have to attend in-person to get a fully immersive experience. Companies like VNTANA are working on holographic projections. The Void is building hyper-immersive VR experiences. What other changes are on the horizon as technology continues to evolve?

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing that will replace face-to-face interaction, the rumble of a stadium on gameday, or the chants from crowds as they sing along with the words to their favorite band. I am looking forward to the days when we can return to celebrating together, in person. Until we can, stay safe, be smart, and be kind to one another.