So, things are a little weird right now. The film, theatre, and music industries feel they are on their knees, and no one is quite sure how, or even if they will recover from it. This is bad news no matter who you are, and it’s easy for fans of such mediums to feel helpless.
However, while you can’t get onto the set to help out or watch your favourite bands play the way you always remember, you can still find ways to help out and support them through such challenging times. All you need to do is know where to find these opportunities.
Make The Most Of Social Media
Social media has plenty of negatives. It creates unattainable fantasies for millions, thanks to the posts of a few. It creates echo chambers of toxicity and confirmation bias, and it drains away your time quicker than you server thought possible.
However, social media isn’t all bad. You can stay in touch with friends and family no matter where they are in the world, and you can always find some niche that appeals to you. This can introduce you to people you never knew existed, but always had a hope that maybe, somewhere, they did.
Social media is also a fantastic way to keep your favourite acts and performers in people’s minds. It can be easy to forget about these people and places while they are out of sight, so retweeting, sharing, and passing news around to your friends and people who may never have heard of these acts until now.
Take Advantage of Offers, For Later
You might not be able to thrash around at your favourite venue or offer your congratulations to the lead actor after the show finishes right now, you can still look forward to doing so later on, once everything gets back to relative normality.
Just because you are unable to attend your shows and gigs doesn’t mean they will never happen. Purchasing tickets for these performances that will likely be postponed until a later date means you can lock in your attendance and ensure there will be some sort of audience once the show can finally go on.
Furthermore, you can look at places like Net Voucher Codes, which will help with the travel side of things, allowing you to get cheap accommodation if you need to stay overnight. There is little doubt that the hospitality industry will also need a leg up once things start to clear up, so it’s essential to find a way to support these, too.
Buy Merchandise
There are, generally, two types of fans. There are the fans who will enjoy music and performance from a distance, liking the occasional Instagram post, or listening to the album on repeat as soon as its released. But, there are also the fans who are much more involved in the fortunes of your performer, or performers.
These fans love to get their hands on every piece of merchandise they possibly can. They want every version of the new album, including vinyl even if they don’t have a record player. They purchase t-shirts, mugs, scarves, and badges,k and they use and wear them with pride.
Even if you’re not a merch-person, it might be time for you to start now. What’s more, you can take it even further and provide direct support by purchasing this merchandise from the official website rather than through a vendor. Yes, it may cost a little more, but the benefits for the artists and performers are priceless.
Get Engaged With Something Different
The creative industry is considered creative for a reason. When roadblocks come up, they will still find a way to perform and share their talents with the world. Virtual gigs and performances are a fantastic way for you to do something different while still trying to match the entertainment you can get from the real thing.
If you still can’t get into such performances, don’t worry. The likes of Sam Fender have shown us that an in-person gig is possible, as long as the proper measures are adhered to. It isn’t the same as being in the middle of Worthy Farm with your beer and face paint, but for the time being, it’s as close as you’re going to get.
If such alternatives are to succeed, though, you need to go into them with an open mind. There’s no point in saying that it isn’t the same, so what’s the point? This is the point. While it might not be anything you’re used to, it’s still something for you to look forward to and engage with your favourite performers.
Listening Parties also gained plenty of traction during the initial lockdown thanks to Tim Burgess of The Charlatans. Most people used it to check out their favourite albums, but it also opened a brand new world of music for many who happened to stumble across them each evening.
Download or Stream
One of the big hits of the lockdown era was when Disney decided to release Hamilton on its streaming platform. Even people who weren’t huge fans of stage musicals (or even musicals in general) lapped it up. The music, the performances, and the fact that it was easy to understand even for non-Americans with no idea about the Founding Fathers made it a huge success.
Making movies and performances accessible via streaming platforms is a must if people want to watch the latest releases from the safety of their home. However, there is some debate on how to approach this. While Hamilton was available for free, you may find some productions take the Mulan route, forcing you to pay, even if it might be a little cheaper than the cinema.
Still, you could put this down to the anticipation of Mulan’s release, and there are likely to be many other productions coming out over the next few months that may still be affordable. If you want to support the movie and theatre industry, you should show streaming sites you are happy to indulge.
Cancel Subscriptions
While downloading and streaming is an excellent way to support your favourites, there is the other side of the argument. You probably think you can’t live without your Spotify, Tidal, or Apple Music account, but this isn’t the case, and cancel your subscriptions, or at least juicing the free versions, means you have more money to deliver towards your favourite artists.
We already know the pittance that artists receive per stream from Spotify, so while it is convenient to hear the latest albums or surprise single releases, wouldn’t it be better focusing your money elsewhere, such as virtual tickets or merchandise as mentioned above.
By freeing up these funds, you can start justifying putting money down for gigs and performances without busting your budget. While you will miss the ad-free experience (who wouldn’t), you might get to the point where you don’t even hear them anymore, or at least that’s what you can hope for.
Crowdfunding Opportunities
As soon as we were told that performance venues were closing for the foreseeable future, a variety of crowdfunding pages popped up to make sure the entertainment business continued to live. This included everything from gigs to theatre performances, and it allowed fans to put their money where their mouth is when they tell [people how much they love the industry.
You might not think a small donation will make much of a difference, but if enough fans donate to a wrought cause, it is possible to reach targets. Of course, this isn’t to say you should put all your savings to the fundraiser. You should only put in what you can afford, as you need to keep afloat just as much as the industry does.
Crowdfunding won’t solve all the problems, but it will certainly help to relieve financial pressure on the industry that has seen gate receipts and sponsorships eradicated over the past few months.
Work With Independent Vendors
Suppose you’re like anyone else who was a teenager during the late 90s and early-to-mid 2000s. In that case, you’ll likely have fond memories of browsing through new CDs at HMV or Fopp, or Virgin Megastores or any of the wide range of corporate media outlets that you found on the high street.
There’s a reason these shops were so popular. They were convenient, they stocked just about everything, especially from a mainstream-to-slightly-underground perspective, and the prices were reasonable. Even so, many of these stores have gone the way of the Dodo; people just don’t purchase physical copies of albums or movies any more.
Unless they do, that is. However, the soulless arenas of commerce arent the place you need to look. Instead, consider your local record shop and vendors that need this sort of engagement to survive the bumpy roads ahead. Not only will you do your bit for local business, but you might also uncover some absolute gems.
A Few of Your Favourite Things
Could you imagine how miserable you will be the day your favourite things disappear forever? It’s not something you even want to entertain, but failing to provide the proper support for entertainment organisations means you cannot complain once they close for good. Whether it’s keeping them in the consciousness with regular tweets and re=tweets or taking part in fundraising drives to help keep them afloat, there is always something you can do. Otherwise, you will miss it once it’s gone.
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