3 Reasons Artists should still do Virtual Concerts

Artists should still do virtual concerts – even post lockdown. Discover the benefits and challenges, how they offer a new way connect with fans worldwide, and their impact on the future of live performances.

3 Reasons Artists should still do virtual concerts

by Philip Kinsher of Disc Makers Blog

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, artists around the world turned to livestreamed concerts as the best way to perform for fans while flights were grounded and venues shuttered. It wasn’t a substitute for attending a live gig, but listeners could still log in from anywhere around the world and experience music they loved.

Though pandemic lockdowns are long gone, the popularity of musician livestreams and online concerts has persisted and matured. One of the most revolutionary iterations of online music performance? Virtual concerts, where performers share their music as digital avatars in platforms like Fortnite and Twitch. Though new, this potent blend of virtual reality and music performance has already shown huge potential in the music industry, as well as big earning power for artists who know how to pull it off. Read on to get your own virtual concert career started.

How do virtual concerts work?

Ariana Grande, Lil Nas X, and Travis Scott have all hosted virtual concerts that have had tens of millions of virtual attendees each. These marquee artists — and the many indie musicians also blazing new territory in the musical metaverse — are drawn to the virtual concert experience for reasons including:

• No borders. Audience members can join from anywhere in the world.
• Globally expanding audiences. Fanbases can grow exponentially, in all corners of the globe.
• New ways of connecting. Different platforms have their own dedicated user bases, and sharing virtual concerts gives artists the opportunity to connect with fans on their (virtual) home turf, in real time, or via pre-recorded performances.

3 Benefits of virtual concerts

A virtual environment opens tons of possibilities for artists interested in innovation and adventure. Here are three key benefits of hosting virtual concerts for your global audience:

Enhanced fan engagement

On a virtual stage, the creative possibilities are almost endless. Do you want to follow the example of the Gorillaz and foster a whole new vibe with cool, edgy avatars? Do you want your audience members to be able to wander everywhere in your virtual space during the concert, and even get inches from your singer’s digital face? Are you inspired to bring in new sonic and lighting possibilities that would be impossible in real life? Remember that every platform has its own strengths and limitations — but the tools are there to stretch your imagination and engage your fans in truly memorable ways.

Cost-effectiveness

Renting a venue, hiring staff, paying for travel, renting or buying or shipping gear, purchasing insurance — the costs of traditional concerts and live gigs can add up fast. The costs of hosting virtual concerts? Typically much, much less. And while regular live concerts normally have merch tables where fans can buy memorabilia, virtual concerts offer wider income options for digital performers, all at the click of a button.

Big monetization opportunities

There are several ways for artists to earn money from virtual events and concerts:

• Virtual tickets. Gate your content and charge listeners a ticket price to watch the live performance.
• Virtual tip jar. Provide an easy-to-use online utility for listeners to make payments at will.
• Advertising and sponsorships. If you have a significant enough listenership and the right relationships, see if you can earn money by asking companies to sponsor your virtual concert, or to advertise during your livestream.
• Selling merch and music. Even though you don’t have a physical merch table at virtual concerts, you can easily link to all manners of online stores, where your viewers can purchase t-shirts and posters, catalog albums and souvenir books, and anything else that helps them feel closer to your music.

How do you maximize your earnings from a digital performance? First and foremost, put on a great live show, and give your listeners and viewers an experience that they’ve never had before. It’s always better to underpromise and overdeliver than do the opposite, so make sure that however you promote and hype your show, you’re able to deliver on viewer expectations and then some. Unexpected delights like cool new cover songs, exciting special guests, and behind-the-scenes elements like an audience Q&A can inspire viewers to give heartier tips, and pre-order tickets the next time a virtual concert comes along. And have plenty of assets easily for sale online before, during, and after your virtual concert.

Technical considerations for hosting virtual concerts

One of the most important technical aspects of a high-quality, successful virtual concert is also the most basic: A fast, robust, and reliable internet connection. Beyond that, make sure to research and invest in the best cameras, routing gear, sensors, microphones, lighting gear, audio mixing equipment, and/or other gear you can afford.

Another key technical consideration is becoming as fluent as possible in the platform you’re using to stage your virtual concert — or enlist the help of someone who knows what they’re doing. The last thing you want is to get prepped for your concert, have listeners around the world gathered at their computers and VR headsets, and then not know how to make everything actually work.

All in all, putting on a smooth and professional live event requires planning, and the more you can streamline your process ahead of time, the better your chances of having a successful virtual event. Keep these tips in mind:

• Talk to people who’ve done it before. This is not specifically a technical consideration, but doing this will help you keep your technical headaches to a minimum. There’s nothing like a heart-to-heart with someone who’s already been down the road you’re venturing on to help you squelch technical issues before they start.
• Choose your hardware and software carefully. The right platform for one kind of virtual concert might hamstring you for a different kind of presentation. Similarly, certain sorts of microphones, sensors, cameras, converters, and other sorts of gear might shine in certain virtual concert contexts, but sputter in others. Double down on research so you can set it and forget it.
• Do a dry run. Just like sound checks help bands dial in their sound before the gig actually starts, testing out your virtual concert streaming capabilities ahead of time can help you stop problems before they start.
• Have redundant and/or backup systems in place. What happens if your internet blacks out, your router dies, or there’s a blackout? Contingency plans when it comes to vital aspects of your virtually concert like internet connectivity and power will set you up for success.

Looking for more ways to engage with fans?

Virtual concerts can be a powerful way to strengthen ties with existing fans and grow relationships with new ones, but they’re only one part of the puzzle when it comes to growing your indie artist career. Boosting your social media presence and investing in physical media are two other key steps in the process of succeeding as an independent artist. For the latter, your friends at Disc Makers are here to help.

Philip Kinsher is a writer, editor, and musician with a predilection for YA Sci-fi Fantasy books and rock and roll. And golf and pickleball.