Will Fall Events Come Back After COVID-19?
We are living in uncertain times. The people in Seattle, New York City, Milan, and Wuhan are being hit hard by COVID-19. The pandemic forced millions of people to cancel their plans and events.
Restrictions have been put in place to keep us safe from the virus. For many of us looking forward to a fall event, we are wondering if it will be canceled. The answer is unclear. Keep reading to learn if your fall event will be canceled.
Your Fall Event May Go On
Although it is difficult to be 100% certain if your fall music events or another event will go as planned, many experts agree that September 2020 – December 2020 may slow down the pandemic. Therefore, the summer may be an excellent time to start planning which music concert you want to attend if events do not get canceled.
Many people may stay closer to home instead of traveling to events overseas or several states over. Therefore, the fall may be an excellent time to get to know your community’s events or travel to an event in your state that you have always wanted to visit.
Gas prices are currently low, and traveling by car can be a safer way to travel to events during COVID-19. It’s hard to know what the future holds for fall events, but here are some tips on how you can plan.
Or Your Fall Event May Be Canceled
Some studies suggest that social distancing could go on until 2022, affecting concerts and other events that attract a crowd of people. A vaccine for the virus is still 12 to 18 months away, even though most people want to return to normal lives.
It may be difficult to attend a concert or crowded event until a vaccine is created and in use.
If COVID-19 affects 1% of the population, it is estimated that half are asymptomatic. A typical stadium holds roughly 50,000 people. Those people are all touching chairs, talking, and jumping around.
A concert is a perfect condition to spread a virus. So even if an event goes on as scheduled, it might be a good idea to play it safe and stay home until next year.
How Do I Plan During COVID-19?
Every country and state within the United States has its restrictions during COVID-19. States like Georgia and Florida are already experimenting with opening up businesses to the public in a limited manner. Cities like New York require all people to wear face masks when they leave their homes.
The situation is always changing and evolving. It’s best to check the Center for Disease Control’s website to keep up to date with the latest information and best practices to keep safe during the pandemic.
The CDC also lists event protocols during COVID-19 for attendees and music event production companies to follow.
The CDC is the best source of trusted information to keep you safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. While most events have been canceled for the summer, there is a chance that some events may continue during the fall with different protocols during the pandemic.
If you are booking a flight, read the fine print. Look for any hidden clauses or conditions before you make the purchase. Airlines have a toll-free number where they can be reached with any questions.
Now would be an excellent time to understand your purchase before spending a lot of money to attend a music event that may be canceled. Double-check everything, even if you think you already know the answer because a lot of policies have changed because of the pandemic.
Is it Safe to Fly to an Event?
COVID-19 is just going to disappear one day when we wake up. That’s not how pandemics work. Eventually, the number of cases will decline, and things will return to normal.
If you are flying to an event, you can do several practices to keep yourself safe from COVID-19. First, take the initiative to wipe down your seat, tray table, and all surfaces you will encounter during your flight.
Many travel experts say that the increased cleaning onboard airlines are unprecedented. Airplane air filtration systems are on par with hospital air filtration systems and do a great job of keeping the air clean. As a result, most viruses and germs cannot spread quickly on a flight.
If you are flying to an event when COVID-19 still affects parts of the country this fall, use proper safety guidelines put out by the CDC to reduce your chances of catching the virus.
While your chances of contracting the virus on a flight are low, airports and travel hubs should be navigated with care.
Events May Look Different if They Continue
A long list of events has already been canceled for this fall. If events go on this fall, they may look a little bit different. COVID-19 events this fall will need more safety protocols than they did in previous years.
If event planners decide to proceed with their event, they must consider logistics. Will the budget they had in mind for the event still work? Will they be able to find A/V equipment during COVID-19? What safeguards will be put in place for attendees?
After months of social distancing, will people return to a crowded event, and if they do, are they jeopardizing their health?
None of this means that all fall events should be canceled, just that event planners need to consider this new environment and plan accordingly.
People are craving an opportunity to leave their homes and socialize, and there may be some events that can take place with added security measures put in place.
Have a Backup Plan
If you are planning to attend an event this fall, be sure to have a backup plan. Know if your event tickets are refundable before you purchase them. You should also ask if the event planners will give a full refund of your money or a ticket later next year.
Sometimes, it will be best to postpone attending events; you will already know how to get your money back.
If you are itching to go to a concert, many artists live streaming past popular shows or putting on shows in their homes. Check out this list of concerts to see what is available while you stay home.
Plan Your Future Event Bucket List
It may be a good idea to stay home this year and begin planning your event bucket list for next year. Postponing your events is the safest way to ensure you won’t catch COVID-19 or pass it on to a family member or friend.
Take a look at the schedule of all the events for next year, and dream about the events you want to attend. Planning can be very therapeutic in times like these. Envision the future concerts and flights you will take. We look forward to the future when we can all travel, move about, and attend events freely.
Until then, it may be a good time to reflect upon some of the past events you have attended. Break out your photos from past events and make a scrapbook or a collage of your favorite events.
When Will Events return?
The truth of the matter is that it is hard to say with certainty when events and concerts will return. Artists and performers are waiting anxiously to be back on stage. Athletes and sports teams are also waiting to return to their stadiums.
COVID-19 looked like it would only be a minor inconvenience a few months ago, but now it seems like it could stop all events and businesses this year. Everyone is talking about reopening the country for business, but it isn’t as simple as just flicking a switch.
Many people have lost confidence in being safe at events, and it will take some time before we are confident to attend an event again.
There is no way to establish a safe timeline for things to return to normal. However, the states have increased testing and are working to put out the hot spots around the country that are affected by the pandemic.
Festivals like Coachella draw fans from all over the world. Before it is safe, a festival like this could spread the virus back to many countries, not just the United States. It’s best to listen to the CDC and other medical professionals as the situation changes and evolves.
It’s Hard to Know Either Way
Your fall event may go on, or it may be postponed. The situation changes every day. Follow the guidelines your state and the CDC put forth to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this case, it is better to be safe than sorry.
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Carla is a high performing marketing professional with 5+ years of experience driving growth of in a variety of corporate and entrepreneurial environments. Strong command of digital operations with exposure to influencer marketing strategy, branding, analytics, SEO/SEM, customer success, content development, and social media Core expertise lies in managing end-to-end campaigns, creating memorable content, and facilitating improved conversion rates to enhance e-commerce operations. Adept in ensuring alignment with organizational goals, facilitating streamlined operations, and leveraging a data driven strategy used to make insightful marketing decisions.
