Are Virtual Events Here to Stay?

As we Navigate the New Normal: Are Virtual Events Finally Here to Stay?

Life is resuming in phases. Wuhan, the epicentre of the pandemic is alive with activities. Other countries of the world are in different stages of the epidemic and the strategy on how best to open the economy is a subject of discourse as important as finding a cure/vaccine.

Several debates are going on and no matter what side are you in, decisions are being taken. The United States despite recording the highest number of cases is slowly reopening. African countries especially pose a different question given the poverty level of majority of the population. Ghana took the bold step of opening up having provided adequate infrastructure for testing. Nigeria is following suit after the President announced that the economic hub of the country, Lagos, alongside Ogun and Abuja will be subject to opening in phases with an imposed curfew and ‘aggressive contact tracing’.

Do I have my reservations about the guidelines countries like Nigeria are implementing? Most definitely, but detailing that will drag us away from the aim of this post.

Since the pandemic started, there have been industries that have seen unequalled and unusual boom while others have had to deal with loss of income, foreclosure, staff furloughing among other issues. This year was supposed to be the year of the Olympics and Tokyo had prepared hard hoping to welcome the world. However, the new dynamics have left a huge question mark on the future of live sports. Infact, live events generally have taken a huge blow.

There are new social rules which isn’t in line with what many live events such as musical concerts, sporting events, big tech seminars /expo etc. are able to promise.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Interestingly the solutions that are coming to save the day may really define the nearest future of events. People are turning to virtual events relying on Apps like YouTube , Instagram, Houseparty,Facebook and Zoom. It is worthy of note that a trend, Verzuz started by Timbaland and Swizz Beats quickly built up a cult following that at its peak recorded a staggering attendance of over half a million people on Instagram live- this almost crashed the app . Many people including Michelle Obama were logged in to witness a face-off between Babyface and Teddy Riley.

Half a million people pale when compared to 12.3 million people that were tuned in to catch the Fortnite battle royale event that featured Travis Scott. Picture that for a moment, some countries are not even as populated.

About 350,000 people watched the Australian Formula 1 virtual event. Tecno, a mid and low range cell phone company organized a virtual event to launch the latest additions to the brand.

The Olympics has been postponed till 2021 and so many other big live events have suffered the same blow. Non-Mainstream and less popular musicians are struggling. Spotify and Soundcloud have created options within their app which allows fans to directly support their favourite acts with money but even that can’t substitute for the rush being on the road and having thousands/hundreds of screaming fans give.

Houseparty has replaced friendly get-togethers.

 Even when life finally creeps back to a semblance of what it used to be, it will be one inundated with the need to interact with tact and observance of high levels of hygiene which crowded events do and can not bring.

SO WHAT NOW?

Thankfully, virtual events take way lesser to set up and the experience can be heightened by introducing more elements. Perhaps this may mark the period when virtual reality finally enjoys the popularity it’s been seeking. It will be nice if there is a virtual reality headset that can integrate well with YouTube or some of the other popular applications. Or maybe concerts can be held within other supported apps like the collaboration between Fortnite and Travis Scott.

Whatever the case may be, it is safe to presume that virtual events are only going to get bigger. This is our new normal and it may be long before a musical enthusiast visits Broadway or for brands to converge for another big event like the CES.