Virtual Concerts: Are They Worth It?

With the Rolling Stones, and many other acts, postponing their tours due to the Coronavirus outbreak, a new means of enjoying your favorite acts has recently emerged - virtual reality concerts.


What's it all about?

In recent years, VR hardware has become readily available. I don't need to list all the options, but there are many. In fact, for the 2017-18 holiday season, Axe unvealed a package with VR goggles supplied with a 2-pack of deoderant. Quantities were limited, but it was only the beginning of a new, forthcoming world.

Today, VR is used for many facets - most noteably gaming and streaming, but VR travel is also becoming popular.

Take a read at this article on Wired.com. In short, it summerizes the many benefits of VR shows. In 2016, LiveNation teamed up with Citi to deliver select shows through VR, and many more came in the following years.

There are plenty of benefits to this live VR shows folks. In reality, all it takes is an Oculus.

They're free: Everyone's favorite four-letter word. You never have to scour for the right ticket, right seat. After all, if you're at home, you HAVE the right seat, don't you?
It's like a DVD: You can get a forward-stage view with VR - even better than if you sat in the center of your local stadium. Also, just like how the cameras pan on DVDs, you can control the panning yourself - even more control. Best of all, no having to get up just for people to pass.
Social Media: The author of the above article writes about how from her San Francisco home, she was able to see some of her own friends at a multi-band concert in Boston.
Backstage! Although limited, LiveNation had teamed up with Citi, in 2017, to offer viewers a backstage perspective. As such, viewers can see the artists coming onto the stage and leaving the stage, as well as moving around, all in VR.

With coronavirus, would they be appropriate?

I'll get straight to the point folks. The pandemic is serious as it is. Since many shows and events are being postponed, would VR be appropriate?

To that I say yes and no. Yes, if you can isolate yourself from others and keep at least a 3-feet distance. Otherwise, even VR may not be appropriate; however, as previously stated, it does allow our fellow artists, rockers or otherwise, to avoid postponing their tours.

Here's one last thing to consider, also a double-edged sword. A VR concert does not have the sound level of a live, in-person concert. While this may not impress many, it can be beneficial as concerts, especially rock, tend to get very loud - about 115-120 db. In short, the compromised sound comes with its benefit - reduced likelihood of hearing loss.

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