Last week, during a meeting at work, someone asked me if I will go back to a concert when California allows it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I said…
NO, not until there is a vaccine!
I based my decision on facts about the COVID-19 virus is affecting others where I live in San Diego, California.
As you can see, in my area, mostly white people are contracting the virus and I am in the biggest age group that will contract it! I’m also in the second biggest age group that makes up the total deaths in my area. All of these factors lead to my decision.
The other thing that helped me in my decision was what is happening in meatpacking factories. In some of these factories, over a third of the workers are contracting the virus. As I am writing this, 45 of those workers are now dead. So if these workers can’t be protected, then how the heck can a concert be safe when we are packed so close together? The answer is, they can’t!
I’m Really Sorry Bands and Venues
Those people who know me, know that I LOVE going to concerts. It’s one of my most favorite things to do! There have been times where I have gone to three shows in a single week! Now, I go to even more shows since I do photography for many tribute bands and well-known bands such as Queensryche, Geoff Tate, Buckcherry, and many more. So this was a hard decision to make. Since I didn’t see any concerts before the virus hit, for the first year since I was about 15 years old, I won’t see a live show. For me, this is very depressing.
So I’d like to say I am sorry to the bands I would have loved to see this year. I’m sorry Queensryche, Geoff Tate, Sevendust, Cheap Trick, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, and more along with all the bands I do photograph for. I’m sorry to venues like the Belly Up Tavern here in San Diego (my favorite venue where I even got to play to a sold-out show once).
To all of you, I REALLY, REALLY want to come back, but not this year.
How You Can Help Bands?
As I wrote in this article, bands make most of their income from performing at concerts these days. So how can we find ways to help our favorite bands? Well, buy their CD’s (not from iTunes or other streaming services). Navigate to their website and pick up some merchandise.
The band Disturbed is trying to help out their crew by selling t-shirts and face masks on their site. So, bands if you are trying to make up lost income for yourselves or your crew, please let me know and I will add them below.
The Cult is trying to help their peers in the music community affected by the Coronavirus pandemic by selling these featured products.
Summary
So please, before you think about going to a concert in 2020, take a few moments to think about the safety of your fellow concert-goers, band members, and support staff! You can wait until 2021. It only takes a single person to infect an entire venue!
Contact Form
Bands, please use this form to let me know how your fans can help during this world-wide pandemic.
HeavyMetalDave 