Although technologies allow people to enjoy their favorite songs via smartphone or computer, live concerts are still very popular. In addition, many people are even more eager to spend months at home in quarantine. However, Covid-19 has stopped many large-scale concerts and festivals around the world and made musicians look for new formats to share their music. For example, some Italian performers staged small performances on their balconies to entertain their neighbors during the lock (Taladris). Now the situation is much better and performers can be on bigger stages, but the fight against the virus is not over yet. I think that instead of planning one big zone for music festivals that could close anytime due to another wave of Covid or another virus, it might be wiser to organize smaller ones. Their capacity is certainly minimal, but so is the risk of their closure. Therefore, I believe that the design of an outdoor music venue should focus on small-scale objects.
Although technologies allow people to enjoy their favorite songs via smartphone or computer, live concerts are still very popular. In addition, many people are even more eager to spend months at home in quarantine. However, Covid-19 has stopped many large-scale concerts and festivals around the world and made musicians look for new formats to share their music. For example, some Italian performers staged small performances on their balconies to entertain their neighbors during the lock (Taladris). Now the situation is much better and performers can be on bigger stages, but the fight against the virus is not over yet. I think that instead of planning one big zone for music festivals that could close anytime due to another wave of Covid or another virus, it might be wiser to organize smaller ones. Their capacity is certainly minimal, but so is the risk of their closure. Therefore, I believe that the design of an outdoor music venue should focus on small-scale objects.
Another argument in favor of smaller outdoor music venues is their accessibility. First, large festivals can have a limited number of artists. Since a small music show is easier to organize than a large festival, the frequency of possible performances is higher. Small places can work every day and at any time of the year, weather permitting. Thus, smaller venues provide more opportunities for a larger group of musicians to showcase their talent. Second, not all speakers and listeners have the opportunity to travel far due to financial reasons or the risk of spreading the virus. However, local outdoor venues are always available to them.
As small venues serve a greater number of artists and groups, it increases the variety of performances in terms of performance types, music genres and artist popularity. Unknown bands have a better chance of performing in a small venue than at a big music festival. It also benefits the audience as people get tired of global mainstream trends and are always looking for something new. Way et al. noted that since 2019, interest in local music has increased. Its supporters and fans have formed a cultural movement that influences global music habits and the choice of live music performances. At the same time, large music performances can also include local music, and small concerts and shows still seem more suitable to present an authentic local sound.
Another cultural movement affecting outdoor music venues is informality. This is expressed in the communication of the people there and in the design itself. Modern outdoor music venues like Coachella or Dora Park, where Kappa FuturFestival takes place, have a very simple structure: a stage and a large square for the audience (Derrick May @ Kappa FuturFestival 201). The proscenium arch separating the stage and the audience is quite narrow and sometimes not strictly defined. For example, Sugar Mountain is very thin and almost non-existent, so the audience is closer to the performer (Honey Dijon Boiler Room x Sugar Mountain 2018). People do not have strictly defined places and freely surround the DJ. While this makes it easier for the artist to interact with the audience, it may not be the wisest choice when it comes to safety. So in my ideal, I would not remove the distance between the stage and the audience.
During a pandemic and even in the post-pandemic period, designers of outdoor spaces must consider safety factors such as social distancing. To make this possible and to increase the number of performers and audiences, the usual size of festival venues can be expanded. However, it seems more reasonable to focus on smaller areas where it is easier to maintain a safe social distance. In addition, in places with hundreds of listeners, the risk of infection is definitely lower than during a giant festival with thousands of people.
It should be remembered that people who visit outdoor performances come not only to listen to music, but also look for new communication opportunities. After the closure, the need for communication and interaction with other people increased significantly. Therefore, designers of new outdoor music venues should recognize this. It may seem paradoxical, but according to Westermark and Donovan, experts at the Gensler Research Institute, it is a small place that provides more opportunities for healthy communication. They also recommend that outdoor spaces should include social and charging areas. I would follow this suggestion and include a social space in the design of the ideal outdoor music venue.
Various clubs, restaurants, hotels, parks and breweries can open their venues for music performances. They can be temporary and organized for specific events or mini-festivals, or they can operate throughout the year and host concerts and performances by various local music groups. Some organizations have already adopted this trend temporarily or permanently. During the pandemic, the nightclub Jammin Java gave musical performances (Dalphonse) in the parking lot. Virginia’s official travel blog also offers several outdoor music venues located in hotels, breweries, restaurants and parks (Winfree). I think sites like this are great for enjoying music and safe dating.
Finally, I recommend that designers of outdoor music venues focus on smaller event venues. First, they provide more opportunities for unknown local artists and bands to share their music and audiences with new and original acts without having to travel far. Second, this form is optimal for keeping people safe during and immediately after a pandemic. These small live concerts can be arranged by hotels, clubs, restaurants, breweries, parks or various establishments that provide a venue for the musicians.
I am not saying that big festivals should not be organized and that such websites should not be developed. I think nowadays they can play a secondary role next to local concerts, giving more opportunities to enjoy the music and interact with other fans safely.
