How Music Is Surviving and Thriving Through The Pandemic

Many musical events were shut down at the start of the pandemic. Concerts, all live shows or performances, and meetings, all coming to a screeching halt. Music was not inaccessible, not by far, but the experience of live music was a thing to remember, and a thing of the past, for the time being. Musicians rushed to find ways to continue what they love to do, even during the sweep of the virus. Later in the pandemic, they got their wish. You can watch shows at specific clubs websites, or look at websites that have lists about what is happening around town. This includes websites like Time In NYC and Mommy Poppins. One other show I would like to mention is Kids Rock For Kids, a benefit concert with amazing teen bands from around the world, raising money for kids in need. The show happened on November 22 at 6:00 at Kidsrockforkids.com. Some notable ideas were the bubble concert held by the Flaming Lips, where each person in the audience, and on the stage, were in big encompassing plastic bubbles.

 Another instance, worthy of mentioning, is a concert that, later got canceled, due to traveling of the staff with the band Sofi Tukker. The band would have been standing on a live stage, and each audience will have their own screen, where the audience would be normally. The concert would have taken place on December 4th and where the band will be standing is in Nashville, but all of you would l been at home. The band can talk to, dance with, and generally interact with the online audience. Here is the link to the ad for it, even though it was canceled: https://www.facebook.com/sofitukker/videos/366378378125257/  These are great work-arounds for big stars, but for people who just like playing small gigs and jamming, they will have to find another way. One of those ‘other ways’ is porch concerts. Now these shows specialize not in an audience that chose to be there at a specified time and place, but an audience of people walking by, who decide to stay and watch for a bit. This has been used countless times over the pandemic for all different kinds of music, and for all different people. You could take a walk and see one happening around.

 It is a chance for people to express their music, without coming up with some expensive complicated strategy, like we mentioned earlier. 

But, if you don’t have a porch, here is another way. Music permits are generally no longer being issued, so people have been taking their chances without one, but that doesn't mean that you can’t get caught. One example is a Tompkins Square Park concert of teen bands that was shut down by the police after it had barely begun.

But on the other hand, a concert with some of the same bands, last week in Fort Greene park was a huge success!

But if you are really interested in doing it, pick a place and do research about street music prohibitions and permits for that area. The reason I mentioned this, for which you have probably guessed, is playing in the park/street. Parks are better because there is more room, and more people are walking by. 

In conclusion, even though the pandemic has made accessing music harder, music is still going on. Keep listening to music and keep your hopes up!