With the future of in-person concerts seeming bleak, artists have turned to virtual concert…but there is a catch. Unlike the free Instagram Stories concerts that we have become accustomed to, artists are now charging for shows for fans to watch online. I recently watched the Polo G and Chief Keef concerts and discovered the pros and cons of virtual concerts.
Pros:
Everyone has the same seat and a great view
Oftentimes at concerts, you either have to pay extra to get a good view or you have to show up very early to secure a prime spot in front of the stage. However, with virtual concerts, everyone has the same view. The camera is on stage and gives several different angles to the stage. There is never a bad view at a virtual concert and you don’t have to worry about a tall person in front of you.
The same format of a live show
When I’ve seen virtual shows on YouTube before, it’s usually focused on one artist with no opening acts. This Polo G and Chief Keep show offered what a typically expect out of a concert. Opening acts, including local artists, and a full set from the artists. While many artists have been performing live on Instagram or posting videos on YouTube, this was one of the first times I got the feel of a traditional concert structure.
Chat option
A feature that set apart this virtual concert from an in-person concert was the chat feature. Alongside the video of the concert, fans could chat with each other and talk about the show. It provided an element that you usually don’t get concerts due to the noise levels. It would be great for artists to use this feature in the future to receive song requests live from the audience.
Cons:
Price
Tickets for this show were $19.99, comparable to how much the show would be in person. I understand on the artist side how since they aren’t touring and playing shows are multiple locations, they are making way less money. But despite all the pros of a virtual show, it is not worth the same amount as a live show. I think only huge fans of artists would pay for a virtual show, compared to live shows where a more casual person might go to a concert for a night out or spend time with friends.
Let the same energy as a live show
What I love about a live show is the energy. The feeling that you get being in the same room with the artists and surrounded by people who are singing the lyrics too. My entire point of view has changed about songs, albums, and artists because of living music experiences. So far, I haven’t gotten that with a virtual show. And while artists are doing the best that they can and giving it their all on stage, I’m sure they miss that energy too.
Pros:
Everyone has the same seat and a great view
Oftentimes at concerts, you either have to pay extra to get a good view or you have to show up very early to secure a prime spot in front of the stage. However, with virtual concerts, everyone has the same view. The camera is on stage and and gives several different angles of the stage. There is never a bad view at a a virtual concert and you never have to worry about a tall person in front of you.
Exact same format of a live show
When I’ve seen virtual shows on YouTube before, its usually focused on one artists with no opening acts. This Polo G and Chief Keep show offered what a typically expect out of a concert. Opening acts, including local artists, and a full set from the artists. While many artists have been performing live on Instagram or posting videos on YouTube, this was one of the first times I got the feel of a traditional concert structure.
Chat option
A feature that set apart this virtual concert from an in-person concert was the chat feature. Along side the video of the concert, fans could chat with each other and talk about the show. It provided an element that you usually don’t get a concerts due to the noise levels. It would be great for artists to use this feature in the future to receive song requests live from the audience.
Cons:
Price
Tickets for this show were $19.99, comparable to how much the show would be in person. I understand on the artist side how since they aren’t touring and playing shows are multiple locations, they are making way less money. But despite all the pros of a virtual show, it is not worth the same amount as a live show. I think only huge fans of an artists would pay for a virtual show, compared to live shows where a more casual person might go to a concert for a night out or to spend time with friends.
Let the same energy as a live show
What I love about a live show is the energy. The feeling that you get being in the same room with the artists and surrounded by people who are singing the lyrics too. My entire point of view has changed about songs, albums and artists because of live music experiences. So far, I haven’t gotten that with a virtual show. And while artists are doing the best that they can and giving it their all on stage, I’m sure they miss that energy too. Polo G made that obvious in a tweet after the show.
fresh pair of iis 