In order to prevent a potential super spreader, some concert venues have established precautionary protocols due to COVID-19 for attendees and performers this fall following the cancellation of concerts the previous year.
In 2020 many big artists announced early in the year their intention to perform full international tours.
However, with the coronavirus pandemic, many concerts of that year were cancelled or postponed.
As numbers settled down this year, venues are reopening and many artists are hopping right on the opportunity to return to live shows.
New Jersey residents Barbara and Steven Petrillo, had gone in early September this year to see Satana at The Borgata in Atlantic City.
Steven described the location as a huge auditorium and that the “vast majority” of people were unmasked.
According to the Petrillos, the concert did not seem all that prepared to handle a potential super spreader event.
Barbara was “shocked” about the lack of COVID-19 precautions at the show.
This included no proof of vaccination or mask recommendation.
“I think out of 24,000, I would look out to the sea of people and you would see one or two people wearing a mask. There weren’t many people wearing masks,” Barbera said.
Their daughter, Sarah Petrillo, had gone to see two concerts recently, with two very different experiences.
Sarah Petrillo said that the first concert she had seen was Maroon 5.
According to Sarah, attendees had to bring a vaccine card for entry to see the show.
At the other concert she attended, Quinn XCII, fans didn’t have to show any proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Both concerts were mask optional.
“I felt more comfortable at the Maroon 5 concert because it was spaced out, ” Sarah Petrillo said. “At the Quinn one, it was supposed to be outside but it rained so they moved it, and I tried to get a seat that was separated, but I definitely felt less safe at that one.”
Some students also attended concerts recently. Junior Ciaran Byrne saw Phoebe Bridgers in Pittsburg in the middle of September.
The concert had certain protocols in place. “Event staff just checked to make sure you were vaccinated,” Byrne said. “They also recommended having a mask on though most of the people around me did not have one on.”
Bryne said that the overall reaction to COVID-19 ranged by venue.
“At this point, Venues just want to get back to normal so they’re going to try their best to to keep concerts going,” Byrne said.
Byrne also believes that if conditions worsen, people and venues will back out of holding concerts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Popular artists like Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Fall Out Boy and Stevie Nicks have all pulled out of shows or cancelled tours because of the risk of the coronavirus this fall.