FF EXAMPLE| Concerts from the Couch: How COVID-19 Can Change the Way We Convene

Because of the repercussions of the highly contagious COVID-19, the concept of large social gatherings is in flux. Summer is the season of assembly. Emphatic fans dressed as cartoon characters flock to comic conventions and music lovers wearing flower crowns and half shirts dance as their favorite bands perform on stage so close, they can almost reach out and touch them. Now, the only places people can congregate are on the couch or in a spaced-out line at Walmart where they’ll wait for toilet paper and overpriced hand sanitizer.

For the time being, large gatherings have been prohibited, and small gatherings, although discouraged as well, are urged to host a capacity of 10 people or less. The biggest dilemma for organizations considering the reintroduction of large social gatherings is defining how large is too large, since ensuring the health of guests has become a top concern during this growing pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people avoid large social gatherings altogether and maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from other people. Such an endeavor Science News writer Dana Mackenzie believes science has not yet capped any specific number as the social gathering goal but thinks one too large could place people at risk of the virus.

To keep up with the uncertainties tacked to the crisis, most festivals, conventions, concerts, and the like have canceled in-person shows and moved to a virtual format. Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia has begun hosting virtual exhibitions in place of physical events, allowing fans to buy tickets and partake in an exclusive digital experience without leaving the house. Such a conversion allows for fans to have fun and keep safe. However, one criticism is how limited digital experiences can be. There’s a sense of connection and community within in-person events that digital conventions don’t seem to possess.

These computer-based interactions may be the new normal until a vaccine, herd immunity, or broadly effective treatment are achieved. Some, like Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti predict no large gatherings like sporting events and concerts until 2021. Even when large gatherings are hosted again, certain factors may remain changed. For instance, it is unclear if in-person meet and greets will remain an option, or whether ticket capacities per venue will reduce to enforce social distancing techniques. Its possible guests may undertake temperature checks, along with the usual bag checks and metal detectors, when entering venues. One thing is certain, COVID-19 will change how social gatherings work, but there is still hope for a sense of normalcy.