10 Tips for COVID-Era Concert Etiquette

[ad_1]
A crowded crowd at the 2019 M3F.
Jacob Tyler Dunn
The concerts have recently returned, and that alone has been a cause for vigorous celebration. But as more venues nationwide offer new shows and tours for the months to come, it’s important that everyone brush up on a concert’s etiquette. How do we deal with things like immunization cards and social distancing? What is still acceptable in large gatherings, and is there anything better at the time? Here are 10 tips, tricks, rules, and more. to ensure a safe, fun and socially responsible concert experience.
Know the rules
Some venues, like Crescent Ballroom and Rebel Lounge, will require masks and / or negative COVID testing for shows and events. Sites like Pub Rock Live and Last Exit Live, meanwhile, have opted out of these mandates. It is crucial to know the rules of the place you are attending; Not only will you be prepared in advance, but you streamline the entire signup process for everyone. If you are confused, you can always check the official site of a place for more details.
And speaking of being fully prepared, a big part of that can be having your vaccine card handy. Again, this isn’t required on all sites, but it is a convenient way to prove your status. A physical card, especially one that is already laminated, is often your best bet. But if you go the digital route, Apple users can store the information on their Health app (if you’ve since downloaded the recent iOS 15 update). Maybe you just don’t want to save the map among the 11,000 other photos on your phone.
The mask stays on
Even if you find yourself in a place where the mandates are not fully enforced, you should still expect to see a lot of people wearing masks. These have become the norm for some onlookers, and it’s often a way for people to feel comfortable with larger crowds after all of this isolation. If you don’t wear a mask, good etiquette is to ignore those who wear it and do your best to plan your night out accordingly. We can all have a good time when we make the right choices for our own health.
Maintain social distancing
It’s not just the masks that will remain a regular part of your average concert experience for the foreseeable future. Social distancing is not only a way to further control the spread of COVID, but also to help people continuously stay comfortable with large group outings. It will not always be easy to respect this spacing, especially since it is not completely mandatory on each site. Instead, it’s another chance to work together to ensure the right mix of access, comfort, and good times.
Patience is a virtue
For artists and spectators alike, the concerts of the last two months mark the end of a hiatus of almost two years. This means we’re all a little rusty, whether we’re working on the sound system or just here to hang out. So, as several local artists have advised, give yourself enough space and let people try to sort out the awkward social “dance” of attending concerts again. This means letting artists, promoters and the venue crew determine their place and avoid undue confrontation. Patience is a virtue, for the record.

A crowd sings with Circa Survive at a concert in 2019.
Lynn trimble
Losing the cell phone
The debate over cellphones in the scene raged long before COVID lifted its head. But several groups we spoke to explained that now seems like a particularly suitable time to leave these devices in your purse or pocket. Because, as we see our first round of shows since early 2020, maybe now is the time to fully enjoy the show and worry less about filming that grainy 40-second clip of your favorite song. . It’s time to celebrate live music again, which means a greater level of awareness and engagement.
Cut the chatter
Just like with cell phones, talking in shows has long been a nuisance, bordering on a problem. Since we are also deleting the awful photos and videos from the phone, shows chats should also be left “before time”. Sure, a little mid-point chat with friends is fine, but if you have full-fledged conversations, it’s best to take it outside or away from the actual crowd. Is it also about re-engaging in music? Of course, but now is also the perfect time to change some “standards” for the better.
Make it a group thing
The deaths at the November Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas demonstrated some important truths about live events. The first is that these outings are often a collaboration between the artists, the direction and the participants, and that means working together accordingly. This means regular communication between groups, helping other participants who might need help, and not putting fun above the well-being of others. If live shows have a future, it’s because we make them a whole.
Go to more shows
After more than 18 months of absence, going to concerts seems like an obvious decision for most of us. But as some local artists explained in more detail, it helps to attend shows that you might not otherwise have. Find out about this group that you have been interested in for a while. Or, go see a group at an unfamiliar club that is located halfway through town. The more people who attend a variety of shows, the better able we are to support local music, and this is extremely important in reinvigorating the scene as a whole.
The next few months, at the very least, will take some effort as you take part in various shows. But as several musicians have noted, there is a feeling that we are going to come up with something that looks like âpost-COVIDâ. (Even if that’s just what we already have in place now.) The most important point, however, is that artists feel that if people play by the rules it can become just another “thing.” that crowds get used to (whether permanent or not). This new process may simply be steps added to the same shared sense of musical appreciation.
[ad_2]