It's hard to argue with socially-distant guidelines and in the UK, the initiative was finally taken to create a venue that was well within those rules. While normal concerts fall well out of the bounds of what new laws are requiring, the Virgin Money Unity Arena redesigned an outdoor space that allowed not only a large crowd but also kept them safely six feet apart at the same time. The lucky concert-goers had quite the experience, as they had access to something that would have looked to be a VIP area if you didn't know any better.
While the world continues to search for its new normal, it's not surprising to see that many countries are striving to find ways to return to routine things, such as concerts. Towns and cities with drive-thru movie theaters have become increasingly popular and outdoor festivals have started limited capacity and allowing guests in with masks. Some places have even taken concerts to a new level by broadcasting live shows on a projector screen and creating a drive-in concert experience. Similarly, drive-thru festivals are also becoming popular, especially in places where crowds couldn't otherwise be corralled.
While this won't last forever, the UK venue wasn't factoring waiting into their list of concerts for the year. Rather than allow the venue to fall by the wayside, the venue came up with a plan that was, well... rather brilliant. Footage from the concerts afterward showed that the vibes and energy were still the same as any other concert, only with an increased distance between parties and a limited number of entries. There were other rules that applied as well, which helped to even further the safety measures taken by the Virgin Money Unity Arena.
What The Future Of Concerts Looks Like
The concert had a total of 2,500 attendees, each separated by a smaller total of 500 platforms. These 'viewing platforms' were constructed from metal material and were spaced out just enough to provide a six-foot distance between parties, but also close enough to where the stage was still visible. Some might even argue that this method of concert-viewing is better than your typical, cramped seating style... and hey, there's no one around to elbow you in the face, either.
The first concert was for Sam Fender, and the venue has other similar concerts lined up through September, including those by Two Door Cinema Club, Van Morrison, and The Libertines. In an interview with The Rolling Stone, Carl Barât, of The Libertines, said, "The lack of human connection has been hard, and we wanted to be at the forefront of finding ways to safely go around to let people do what they love. The fact that we’re at a place where people have to sit in their own bubbles to go to shows is mental. Like everybody, we didn’t really understand how it could work at first, but if this is the first thing we can legally do, then, yeah, sign us up."
It seems that the overall response from both the band and the crowd were great, as fans can be seen clearly enjoying and engaging in the new-normal concert atmosphere. As far as food and drinks go, the venue had a plan for that, too. Rather than wait in line and watch chaos ensue (we all know how much of a challenge it is to be patient in a concert line), the venue had set up a preorder system prior to the concert's start. Guests could plan what they needed and order it ahead of time, which would then be picked up by the guests as they arrived at the concert venue.
Booking confirmations were all required to be shown to staff digitally, and every guest was escorted by a staff member to their platform. While the venue still had an open bar, it was encouraged that guests avoid making trips in groups. Rather, it was encouraged that one person from a group go at a time in order to avoid crowding, and the system seemed to have been successful. In response to the National Health Service, the venue is making sure that they remain in line with the guidelines set aside for the country. So much so, that they've reserved a set of tickets during each concert specifically for National Health Service workers.
While the UK is not the first to attempt a socially-distance entertainment venue, they are the first to follow through with such a well-thought-out setup. Time will tell whether or not it's efficient enough to maintain distance between people, or whether it will catch on with the rest of the world, but for now, it's a great way for concert-goers to have a social experience again.