“Where do we go from here? This isn’t where we expected to be.” (Evita)
In some ways it seems far to soon to be thinking and considering where we go from here or how does the show go on? Many are still going though various processes and emotional responses from sadness to anger to grief. I myself find that often I have no words to define how I am reacting to events. I know, me without words is a rare thing, but this situation often leaves me with the inability to define my own reaction.
That aside I find that I am trying to look forward and I am having conversations regarding what may happen in the future; short term and longer term. I find that the solution of just moving performances onto platforms like YouTube and others provide a healthy solution with some glaring errors for those of us who create the physical environments that these events, experiences and plays take place in. On one level I find the prospect of what options there might be daunting and overwhelming, on the other hand I am intrigued and fascinated.
With the looming unknown of how we can and will be allowed to proceed for the vast majority of 2020 both professionally and academically (yes, I also teach, on occasion). I have seen many companies cancelling their summer seasons and postponing their fall seasons. Professional I still have very little understanding of exactly how this is going to affect corporate live events and other experiential projects. I must assume that their responses will be much the same. The remainder 2020 will likely be a very empty time for those of us who thrive off audience-based events activities.
Empty but not completely void. There are other avenues available we just need to be the commensurate innovators that we are. Much like our performance-based counter parts we look to media and technologies in video, graphic and technology solutions. I might even say that look to another sect of the industry and see what is done in increasing amounts in Film and TV. There are so many fascinating things that we can tweak and reinvent to work for our purposes. It just may mean that we all must be quick studies for things that we have little to no experience in. But let’s be honest, every time we do a new show, we end up doing the same thing, we give ourselves crash courses in something that we have limited to no experience in. This time, however, we have many things going for us. There are people and resources that have been offered up in this time of trouble. Training, discussion panels and social media networking.
Technology - This is out here and can support the elements of production and events that we may not be using for the next foreseeable future and are good options to check into and will up our “game” so to speak in future live space events. More and more of this has been used in live production in the last decade or more but often is lauded as too expensive and unnecessary for smaller events/production. Well, at this time I beg to differ, it is exactly the time to have these discussions and see how they can be integrated and help tell the stories that we as visual storytellers do. And we do help tell those stories in ways that are more impactful with us than without us. Please have these conversations, see where we all fit in this “New World”; though I beg to differ that this is not new but a very long overdue conversation for the live industry to have.
I have long been fascinated by the integration of technology and digital media being integrated in live events and spaces. As of late have I been exploring more and more how elements like VR, Augmented Reality, Green Screen, LED tiles and screens are valuable as integral into more than just the corporate sect of live events. Projection is an element that has been more easily accepted on to the stage because of its nature and similarity to lighting. But if we lean on that as a potential starting place for ideas and discussion then we have already started to innovate and move forward. As I am writing these ideas keep cycling through my head of how live events might function and who I should reach out to. I have so many ideas; this is just how my brain responds to stress it tries to spin up solutions to the problems causing the situations. I am sure there are many like me out there with ideas abounding, please reach out to those you work with and maybe new contacts to have these discussions and start making plans. Depending on how we are allowed to move forward I see many possibilities from live production, pretty much as we are used to (limited cast/production crew size to accommodate regulations) that could then me live streamed with interactive components that are monitored by a newer type of Stage Manager or Media Producer. Or I can see events done much like modern news casts where there are some physical elements that are there for the performers backed with Green Screen and edited in digitally then broad cast live via various media platforms.
Most importantly don’t be pushed out of the discussions with your collaborative and creative teams be part of it and be present use the vast powers of creation that we all possess to find new solutions. Don’t be afraid, this is not the time to be timid it is the time to be pioneers. Be fearless.