After a year like 2020, it feels weird to feel optimistic about what’s to come with music. It kind of feels like we have to whisper about concerts coming back and tiptoe around the idea of maybe standing in a sea of people in front of a stage.
But I want to feel optimistic anyway. I miss standing next to strangers in a grungy space or fancy room while we nod our heads along to a really good song. I just miss it. And now that it’s 2021, and even though we don’t know what’s going to happen, I hope this year holds some version of that experience.
We all know 2020 wreaked havoc upon those who entertain us.
The musicians and actors, the music venues and theater companies. Jobs and gigs were lost. Shows were canceled. Entire seasons were slashed.
But was there some gold in the rubble? For artists, the urge to create can’t be dampened. So people found other ways to perform and present their work, including creating outdoor stages and learning the skills necessary to produce virtual concerts and productions.
Nobody knows the future, or when they might return to pre-pandemic performances on an indoor stage with healthy-sized audiences. It could be well into 2021 and perhaps not even until fall, or 2022.