The global pandemic was something none of us expected from 2020, and aside from the clear challenges this has placed on our national health service, many other industries have suffered and had to adapt too. The music industry is one of these, with all live and in-person concerts, gigs, theatre performances being entirely off the cards.
Virtual concerts have always existed, but the lockdown has forced them to take the spotlight. What first was a substitute for live events and an effort to keep the live music industry going during the pandemic, has now arguably become the new norm. Not only do virtual concerts benefit musicians, producers and venues financially at a time when people are unable to spend money face-to-face, but they have also helped to keep a large portion of the UK population sane during a scary time.
On top of this, virtual events and concerts are not what they used to be. Constant advances in technology mean that artists can push boundaries and offer an entirely different yet refreshing live music experience for people no matter where they are.
If you’re a music venue, musician, producer or merely an individual who is looking to stream music or theatre live from a venue or your home, Zidivo have put together a simple guide to hosting a virtual concert and some key reasons why virtual events are so crucial in the current climate.
First things first, whether you’re an independent artist looking to stream a performance from your living room or you are going down a high production route, hiring out a large venue and working with professional producers, you need to decide whether your virtual concert will be pre-recorded or live.
There are pros and cons to doing each, with pre-recorded offering you room to make errors or for aspects of your performance to go wrong. Pre-recorded events also allow you to add visuals and make edits to ensure your concert is as entertaining and visually appealing as possible.
On the other hand though, at a time when we are all missing the atmosphere and ability to go to concerts or the theatre, live virtual shows allow you to achieve a certain level of spontaneity and unpredictability that live events bring. To offer a live virtual concert that doesn’t let your audience down though, you will need to have a robust and highly reliable internet connection and sufficient equipment to offer your stream at professional quality.
Billie Eilish is one artist that has set the tone for virtual concerts in 2020, with her ‘Where Do We Go?’ live stream blowing people away and pushing the boundaries for what a live virtual event can offer. The live stream offered visuals to transform the backdrop for each song and show the audience an authentic experience that, while it doesn’t compare to live music, changed the live streaming game. Keep in mind, though; your live streams don’t need to be high-production events that involve a large investment, all you need is a smartphone or HD camera to offer a high-resolution image quality.
Your virtual concert can be high-brow or minimal and straightforward, depending on your purpose and goals. If you want to offer a professional, attention-grabbing live stream that you plan to monetise, you will need multiple cameras to provide a range of shots like close-ups, wide shots and various angles.
Alternatively, you can offer a more intimate concert online using a simple smartphone, tripod and well-lit setting.
Before going live or recording a video, it's important to consider where your virtual concert will be shared. With all social platforms now offering the ability to go live, you can share your event to your existing audience and following on a specific platform for free.
For artists wanting to generate revenue from their stream at a time when funding is limited for independent artists and musicians, you may want to opt for a more professional live streaming platform to share your content. This way, you can monetise your stream on a pay-per-view basis, where only those who pay a certain fee can have access to the concert.
There’s no good hosting a virtual event or concert if you don’t have the budget or time to invest for promotion. People need to know about your event if they are to consider tuning in at a particular time or parting with their money.
In the run-up to your virtual concert, be vocal on all your social channels and even use paid advertising to make sure your target audience know where to find it when to tune in, who is performing and what the concert will entail.
Even in a pandemic, people are busy and have lots on their mind. Make sure to set up reminders and send out regular updates beforehand, or you can end up with a limited audience and a wasted investment.
Virtual concerts and events, in general, have been a saving grace for many people during the pandemic, and the chances are they aren’t going to disappear anytime soon with many big names offering live streams. They allow artists, venues and merchandisers to generate revenue, increase the accessibility of events and go hand in hand with the constant advances in live streaming technology.
Zidivo now offers a complete virtual events package, including all artists need to launch a successful event online. Depending on your needs, equipment and experience, you can build your package. Whether you need a complete package including a website, restricted access features, custom domains and support with live streaming, or you simply need Zidivo to be a helping hand should anything go wrong during your event.
Get in touch with the team today at hello@zidivo.com to find out more about hosting virtual events!
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