Into the Unknown: What Comes Next for Performers, Crew Members, and Venues?

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As COVID-19 cases continue to serge in the U.S., the return date for live concerts, musicals, and other experiences is getting pushed back further and further.

In light of this, musicians have turned to platforms like YouTube and Facebook to stream virtual concerts to their fans. Even after live entertainment makes a return, I believe livestream entertainment will remain a major player in the way people perform and attend concerts and other live performances.

In early October, Broadway announced that its stages would remain dark until at least June 2021. This means that shows like The Lion King and Wicked, which normally bring in millions of dollars each year, won’t be entertaining audiences or financially supporting casts and crews any time soon.

Staying Connected With Fans

When lockdowns and shutdowns spread across the country as fast as the pandemic, many performers, myself included, turned to the internet to stay in touch with their fans. The practice evolved quickly, and we went from propped-up iPhones in bedrooms to professional quality audio and lighting setups in a matter of weeks. Many of us became overnight “experts” on streaming technology as we searched for the easiest and most reliable way to connect with our fans.

What started off as free jam sessions has turned into another revenue source for bands like the Foo Fighters and Maroon 5. Though ticket prices are nowhere what they used to be to sit front row at a sold out show, artists are bringing in some money thanks to digital ticket sales and tip jars.

Breaking on Through to the Other Side

The question artists, financial analysts, and music lovers alike are all asking is “what happens when the pandemic is under control?”. We’d all love for concerts and Broadway shows to pick up right where they left off, but that just can’t happen. Many performers and crew members have been laid off from their companies, and it’s no guaranty that all or even most of them would return to their pre-pandemic roles if given the opportunity.

On top of the personnel issue, an AOL news article reported that Live Nation, one of the biggest giants in the live entertainment industry, reported hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses for 2020. It also predicts that a lot of companies in the industry will consolidate to cut down on costs.

I predict that live-streaming is here to stay in some regard. While artists and fans will jump at the chance to get back into places like Maddison Square Garden, others may opt to pay a digital ticket charge and save themselves the travel and hotel accommodations.

Additionally, in academia, colleges and universities could build livestreams into their production processes permanently so that students’ parents would be able to watch them perform without having to travel across the country or around the globe.