Features

The Beauty of Virtual Concerts

Kendall Dexter, Staff Writer
December 12, 2020

Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic many challenges have been presented to our communities, but it would be untrue if we were to think that we have gotten nothing good from this pandemic. I believe that we have become stronger and learned many things about ourselves and our surroundings. Something that has completely changed due to this pandemic is the music industry. Performers all around the world have been unable to do what they love, perform. However, they have not let this pandemic stop them. Although these singers and Broadway performers cannot perform live, they have taken advantage of technology to bring their performances and music into the homes of many. It may even be arguable that these virtual concerts are accessible to more people than live concerts and performances have ever been.

If you take a look at some of your favorite artists’ social media you may find that they have had virtual performances. On my social media, I have seen many of the singers that I follow doing performances virtually. I have, fairly easily, been able to attend some of these performances. I noticed them to be much less trouble than attending a live performance. The trouble of finding a place near you that your favorite artist is performing at or having to travel, possibly across the country, can be stressful and challenging. Not to mention the cost. These online performances, or at least those I have attended, are not nearly as expensive as live performances. They are, by no means, the same as live performances and will forever lack the feeling of being in the room with a crowd of people appreciating the same work of art, but I still found excitement from seeing my favorite performers virtually and it gave me something to look forward to.

For any Broadway fans, we know that theater has been shut down for the majority of the year and will be for most of 2021. It is not only devastating to think about the struggle of these performers who have lost jobs and their source of income due to this pandemic, but also to acknowledge the fact that seeing live theater is just simply not an option anymore. Through these virtual performances, we can gain a feeling of togetherness brought by theatre. There have also been many productions that can be viewed on platforms such as Netflix and Disney+. During the summer, a pro shot of “Hamilton” was released to Disney+ and an upcoming movie adaptation of “The Prom” is being added to Netflix on December 11th. These are only two recent additions to the collection of Broadway shows that can be found on your favorite television platforms.

The lack of live performances and theater has changed the way that we value the company of others. And although virtual performances will never be the same as live performances, they allow us to experience art to a certain extent and give many something to look forward to in these troubling times. Music and theater gives life and happiness to countless people and it is devastating that we are unable to have that this year, but like always we find a way to hold on to the things that we love. If you are finding yourself looking for something to watch or craving the feeling of an in person performance, below is a list of some virtual concerts and theatre productions to watch and look forward to that will bring the feeling of live performances to your home:

Live:

NBC “The Grinch” December 9th at 8:00 p.m. EST
“Jingle Ball 2020” December 10th on the CW app 9:00 p.m. EST (with performances from Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes, Doja Cat, Lewis Capaldi and more)
“Shawn Mendes In Wonder” December 6 live on Youtube 6:00 p.m. EST