The music industry has been affected greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many facilitators relying on live streams for survival- a single artist with a webcam performing. However, some festivals have slowly resumed where some artists are bringing audiences together in live performances.
Some of the major festival brands are releasing their event details and this means that they are more concerned with adapting to the pandemic. The big issue that remains is how music festivals can adapt to a pandemic.
Maximum Capacity to be Stopped
Outdoor and indoor events, including a techno Christmas, need various approaches to maintain and manage social distancing. Some states are already lifting restrictions regarding the maximum capacity during the events.
Initially, there were specific restrictions for both indoor and outdoor events, but these have since been relaxed over time. The pandemic has led to some twists leading to unprecedented cancellations of events across the States.
Festival and event organizers are looking to see if the government can underwrite insurance if events happen over the summer. Local and international demand for events and music festivals is unlikely to be the same as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Travel restrictions are expected to favor regional and local travels, which could mean that people will need to be focused on local festival experiences. Local music festivals are good because they can boost local economies and foster community pride.
According to music assignment writing services, bringing people together for local festivals is good for the economy, so organizers should encourage more local cultural event attendance. The event organizers who are yet to resume fully are looking forward to doing so after the intensity of the pandemic in the coming months.
Social Distancing and Vaccine Passports
Queuing during festivals is also a major concern because it may lead to compromise of social distancing rules. Contactless ticketing and timed entries could help to manage the crowd and enable organizers to manage contact tracing.
Event venues will require adaptation and information regarding hygiene and COVID-19 symptoms, as well as hand washing stations. Wearing masks may also be mandatory for all event participants, whether they are vaccinated or not. This may, however, change after the whole population has been vaccinated and it is deemed safe to interact closely.
Organizers must establish whether they need to hire more staff to maintain hygiene and social distancing. There have been innovative ideas where the audience and the entertainers come together in inflatable balls. The event organizers are expected to come up with more innovative ideas regarding social distancing and maintaining hygiene.
Music festivals are becoming viable, thanks to the vaccine administration across different states. In 2020, it was difficult to adhere to social distancing protocols, so festivals remained a big challenge and some participants opted to cancel the events.
Vaccine passports are seen as a possible way to overcome the challenges. The authorities are looking to see if people will be required to produce proof of vaccination before events. The vaccine passport requirements at music festivals may help to adapt to changes, although it may sound controversial.
Taking Advantage of the Archives and Running the Events
The idea of online music festivals was born out of preparedness and necessity. In 2020, major music festivals had to be canceled as a result of the COPVID-19 pandemic. Some event organizers were looking forward to in-person experiences but these seemed to be taking longer than expected.
Some organizers started leveraging the strategies that their rivals were using to ensure continuity. Major events such as the novel fests in East Europe are seeking a comeback because the fans are looking for rich culture exposure within their locality.
The music festival organizers are getting to the archives to pull stuff and understand what is available in the collection. This is proving to be a practical way to create new ideas on how best they can bring the events to life.
When major events were canceled, the organizers started looking for possible ways to broadcast the events based on archival performances. The theoretical events were designed to mimic the experiences of being at the actual event.
Some organizers are already leveraging the archives to bring exceptional experiences among the fans. The theoretical events can span genres and allow the attendees to have a better understanding of their local culture. Some fans can appreciate such performances and could look forward to similar ones, even post-pandemic.
Leveraging Hybrid Models
The music festivals are expected to return in phases with hybrid models featuring digital elements to compensate for what was “lost” in the year 2020. The phased return could normalize in 2022 or 2023.
Failure to deliver was not under the control of event organizers. They can adapt to the pandemic by being the fleet of foot to reshape the festivals within a desirable framework. The major challenge being faced by many event organizers in 2021 and beyond is uncertainty.
Music festivals can embrace technology to enhance safety, including the use of interactive wristbands that vibrate in case of close human interaction. The government can use music festivals as a way of trying certain safety procedures and products.
Some organizers have postponed bookings a few months before the event to adapt to any restrictions that have been put in place. Other festivals have taken place in different approaches and more so digitally.
Major music festivals have opted to continue with the events instead of refunding their customers, which is an indication of ongoing event adaptation. They are giving their customers as much information as possible to enable them to plan accordingly.
A New Season
The enthusiasm among fans was not completely lost as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some organizers have called public radio stations and community participants inquiring on the best ways to proceed with the events.
The world-renown festivals can adopt the blueprint that other organizers have used in the past to ensure continuity. If the events become successful, the organizers and the fans can always look forward to future events.
Virtual events can be considered a better option during the pandemic and beyond, owing to the continued appreciation from fans. Instead of mimicking the loyalty of a festival, the event organizers can expand the scope of the event to attract more customers.
They can listen to numerous hours of sets from various organizations, including thongs recorded at different venues to adapt to the changing environment. Instead of running the festivals in the same way, the organizers can adopt new strategies to ensure the safety of their fans. They can design new rules as long as they fit within the general framework of maintaining safety.
Conclusion
Music festivals can adapt to a pandemic through the participation of the event organizers and the fans. The objective should be to ensure the safety of the participants and ensure continuity of the events during the pandemic and beyond. Adapting to the pandemic in phases is the most effective way to meet the desired goals and objectives. Despite the uncertainty, the organizers should keep the customers informed about the happenings in the industry.
Article Written By Tiffany Harper