How Some Gigging Musicians are Surviving the Pandemic
Tags: Covid Safety, Musicians, Music, Restaurant, Covid 19

I would do anything to play live again. In pre-COVID times this would be my busy season. My roommates and I, during our junior year at Syracuse University, opened our doors, and our living room floors, each weekend to hundreds of our neighborhoods’ most fervent live music fans. Charging a cover at the door solely to pay the bands we booked, we learned a lot from these shows, but most of all we were able to, firsthand, witness the power that music has in bringing people together and celebrating every imaginable moment in life. Nowadays from a musician’s perspective, there is nothing more discouraging than receiving a Snapchat or Facebook memory from the beautifully chaotic and decrepit basement show you played in Fall 2019, back when everything was simpler and mosh pits abundant.

Unfortunately for the vast majority of independent artists like me, live streams are the most accessible and far-reaching performance substitute, though do not reciprocate the energy and interaction of a true live show. One of the most thrilling parts of playing live- or even attending a live show- is the artist’s connection with the crowd: this sets the appropriate ambiance for the act’s performance and highlights the dynamic ebbs and flows of music performed in live rendition.

A shining light does exist, however, within the shuttered live space especially as the weather warms and we near the summer months: outdoor shows. Large, open spaces have always seemed, at least to my circle of future industry professionals, solid options for the pursuit of a somewhat normal touring cycle as the pandemic wanes. But smaller rooms in unsuspecting places are testing the logistics of these outdoor shows even during the winter. To educate myself on the inner-workings, in addition to the future, of these outdoor concerts, I spoke with a truly rare commodity during this pandemic: a gigging musician.

Matt Misser is a 23 year-old songwriter and musician currently booking and playing outdoor and socially distanced gigs across Long Island, NY with his duo, Matt and Kyle. I was incredibly excited to speak with Matt, as the lack of live shows has proved it harder to connect with musicians outside of those I live with. Needless to say, we were both immensely enthusiastic to discourse about safely rebuilding the live scene in the age of COVID, and Matt was generous enough to share the logistical and health-conscious planning it takes to pull off the shows in which he performs. He started by articulating that sometimes “[venues] have an outdoor tent, which is connected to the inside, but it’s not directly indoors, and they do capacity, so there’s usually a capacity threshold of, like, thirty-five people in these places I’m at. They space the tables out pretty decent; it’s usually ten people to a table,” he continued, “they have a couple security guards around there to make sure people are following guidelines.” In terms of keeping audiences safe when they’re standing or getting drinks inside, Matt explained that masks are required unless a patron is sitting at their table. If fans would like to stand closer to the stage, they must do so more than six feet from the performer, mask on. The artists themselves may choose to wear a mask while performing, but are not required to do so. Matt also noted that reservations are required for entry ahead of time.

I was especially interested in the shared energy felt between the performers and listeners at these rather intimate outdoor shows. As a musician myself, I find there’s truly nothing like the exchange of spirit when performing live music, and it can do wonders in improving the passion in one’s live sound. I spoke with Matt on this topic: “You never know who could walk in the door. I thought it was gonna be kind of weird, but it’s actually pretty nice because I’ve had people come up to me after the shows grateful for me giving them the opportunity to break what’s going on and forget there’s a pandemic going on. They’re like ‘alright- we’ll listen to music and then it’ll all feel normal’.” The crowds at these shows are also worth dissecting. How diverse a crowd can a bar venue pull with only thirty-five seats to fill? Matt even added “I mean, I’m torn between do I invite my friends and family? or do I want random people to come so I can get more exposure?” I too asked about the patronage of bar regulars at these shows, given that reservations are required. Matt explained that regulars do still pull through, though with such small crowds he wishes there were more room for visitors not yet familiar with his music.

Through looking at the ways in which local and independently owned venues have adapted and stayed afloat during the pandemic, I hope that we can utilize their techniques and routines on the larger scale to allow for larger acts to get back on the road safely and tactically. There lies a plethora of outdoor amphitheaters and concert pavilions in every corner of the contiguous United States. These venues have been more or less inoperative since concerts went from a trickle to a halt in February of 2020. My hometown amphitheater, Live Nation’s Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, has an enormous open-air pavilion and a sprawling grass lawn. It’s not inconceivable to imagine these larger outdoor venues employing reduced capacities and social distancing guidelines like sectioned or group seating in-house and on the lawn, or even more, appropriately distanced concessions, in order to continue earning and securing their livelihood. It is, though, important the music industry take this return slowly and methodically. It’s imperative we plan for each and every scenario to ensure the safest and most comfortable comeback possible.

As a lover of live music, a performer, and a student, I am all too aware of how stressful these times can become. Hope is a hard thing to retain, but these conversations are so integral to manifesting a future no longer defined or debilitated by this pandemic. Talking with Matt and learning about the ways smaller, local venues are fighting to stay alive and taking people away from the monotony of isolation was a truly heartening opportunity. I also think, as always, larger venues have a lot to learn from these local and independently owned establishments. Not only are they proving they can stay relevant and afloat in the face of an international pandemic while still maintaining proper health and community guidelines, but they’re forming a bond with their communities at a time when human connection is worth more than gold, and that should serve as an inspiration. I’m optimistic.