Concert goers face a new reality attending events due to COVID-19
By Jack Johnson | Staff writer
COVID-19 has had a major impact on our society and we are now facing a new reality when it comes to concerts and other large, densely populated public events.
Some large-scale events are now requiring their attendees to provide proof of vaccination or the results of a recent negative COVID-19 test. The regulations enforced at these events seem to vary depending on what city in which the event is held based on numerous accounts that Augusta University students have shared concerning the regulations that they have encountered.
Cory Vines is one such student who attended Music Midtown at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, which is one of the largest outdoor music festivals in the southeastern United States and took place back in mid-September.
Vines said, “There were hundreds of security guards at Midtown because of how big it is. These security guards had to check everyone’s vaccination cards, and if you weren’t vaccinated, then you needed physical proof of a negative COVID test from at least three days before attending the event to be allowed in.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Augusta recently had two big shows come to town. Riley Green preformed at Bell Auditorium on Nov. 6, and Gabriel Iglesias held his show at the James Brown Arena on Nov. 5. Several Augusta students attended both of these events and no extra measures were reportedly taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Salvador Ramirez, who attended the Gabriel Iglesias show, said, “We pretty much just walked right in. There wasn’t anyone checking for vaccination cards or test results, and we weren’t ever asked to put on a mask, which was nice for a change."
Raina Williams is an Augusta University student who attended Music Midtown as well as Riley Green’s concert here in Augusta. She claims that the difference in security is largely due to the size and locations of the two events.
“Music Midtown was held outside in Atlanta, which is a very populated city and had tens of thousands of who attended it, while Riley Green’s concert was held indoors and only had a few hundred people in attendance; so, the difference in security makes a lot of sense,” Williams said.
The extra precautions put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 seem to only be present at large scale music festivals such as Music Midtown. With events of that size, liability and safety are a major concern, and it seems as though requiring attendees to be vaccinated or COVID-free is just another way to keep people safe.
At top of page, concert goers gather at Music Midtown in Piedmont Park. (photo by Jack Johnson)
Contact Jack Johnson at jacjohnson@augusta.edu.
