Concerts are back! Or so it seems…
With new COVID-19 guidelines spreading across the country, many are unsure about the impacts of public health precautions on large events like concerts.
Among a host of other high and low profile in-person events, music fans are left wondering how the concert culture may evolve with the pandemic. Meanwhile, the average concert-goer is left wondering what happens behind the scenes. Tour bookings, vaccination records, social distancing, masks, and mosh pits— how has the pandemic changed these internal processes?
For many concerts, mosh pits are integral to the experience. Unfortunately, social-distancing protocols are incredibly difficult to follow in a sweaty hole of jumping fans.
There are persistent conflicting views on the safety precautions necessary for concerts, so how can the Roosevelt community stay safe while also enjoying a pre-pandemic experience?
Roosevelt sophomore Maddie Linton attended the Pitbull concert on Sept. 28. In describing her experience, she says, “I felt safe because I was vaccinated, and the people there were old enough to get vaccinated, so I mostly trusted that most of them were, but there was no spacing of people at all.” She says it was mostly the same experience as going to a concert before COVID-19.
In terms of regulations, Linton says, “I think concerts play a big role in the spike of COVID-19 [cases] because the majority of people weren’t wearing masks.”
In a Roosevelt News Instagram poll, students were asked about their comfort level with concert attendance, considering the current status of the pandemic. The poll found that 20 of 79 students reported comfort attending a concert at this time. These results are striking, but not without precedent; many students here are desperate for a return to normalcy regardless of the health risk.
Some positive poll responses included, “Yes, because I’m vaccinated but I would wear a mask and social distance as much as possible,” and, “I’m vaccinated and I took all the precautions before so now I’m just gonna live life.”
Other students were opposed to concert attendance at this time, explaining it might be a tough decision, but ultimately that they were leaning toward no. Many students and families have to be mindful of germs and poor immune systems. A few respondents included criteria such as required vaccinations in order to feel comfortable attending a concert.
Some of the largest, most popular music venues in the country will soon require proof of vaccination to enter. This means that a negative COVID-19 test taken 48 hours prior won’t be enough to grant entry— these organizations are now taking stricter precautions.
With the Delta variant contributing to COVID-19 restrictions, concerts and festivals such as Coachella, Firefly, and Day N Vegas have been either postponed or cancelled.
According to Variety, some booking services are allowing individual artists to make decisions about regulations during their performances, but others are left with few choices short of cancellation.
Although life after the pandemic may never be the same, individuals in a community can invest intention and precaution to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Concert safety regulations will allow many to see their favorite artists. Live music builds community and supports a vibrant culture that isn’t worth losing. By working toward health-conscious behaviors in the present, the Seattle community can work toward a thriving future of music.
