2020 was crazy, right? And lonely. Oh, so lonely. I’m not the most social person to begin with, but I had moments when I was close to madness, because I just wanted to be around people. And of course, I really want to play live music. Which is hard, these days. And yes, we’ve had some great live streams, but it’s not the same, is it?
Well, no. But there are ways to make them better. And they can really be a super fun experience, if we make an effort.
Look, live streams can never come close to the real thing. It’s just never going to be the same. But they can be a great way to connect! And we all want connection, right?
I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I’ve come up with a few ways to make the experience feel really great. To truly make it a wonderful opportunity to connect. It will always be second best, but we might as well enjoy whatever we can, while we don’t have live shows, right? And hey, this will also work in the future – like when you want to see your favorite Icelandic singer-songwriter live but you’re in a different part of the world!
So I’ve put together my top 5 tips to really enjoy live streams.
1. Choose your screen wisely
In many cases you can watch your live stream on something better than your browser in your laptop. If it’s being streamed on YouTube or Facebook, you can stream it through most modern TVs. If not, Apple TV or Chromecast will help you out. It’s probably going to sound better and look better than in your phone, tablet or whatever. The better the screen and (more importantly) the speakers, the better the experience will be.
2. Set the scene
Don’t just plop down on the couch like you’re about to watch The Real Housewives of Iceland (not a real show, and if it was it would probably not be that interesting). This is a concert experience, not Netflix and chill. Be comfortable, of course, but do it right. Wear nice clothes. Have a pre-show party. Set out some snacks and have drinks ready. If possible, invite friends over (be mindful of your area’s COVID rules, of course).
3. Enhance the experience
Light candles. Dim the lights. Create a playlist for the pre-show party. And obviously a different one for the post-party. Maybe there’s a signature cocktail that fits the artist perfectly. Or maybe a dip or something that just screams his or her name (scary dip, but we’ll go with it). Even if it’s just you, make sure you mind every detail. Make the experience perfect.
4. Show the artist courtesy
This is a musical experience. Treat it as such and show the artist the same courtesy you would under normal circumstances. Don’t have conversations that drown out the music. Just because they can’t hear you (although in some cases they can, if the show is through Zoom or something), it’s still important to listen. The artist put their heart into this and you will enjoy it a lot more if you put yours into it too.
5. NO PHONES!
Turn off your phone. Don’t be distracted by messages and calls and the never ending allure of social media. I think the number one reason we don’t enjoy live streams as much as we could is because we’re so easily distracted. When we’re constantly checking Facebook or getting texts, of course it’s going to be hard to pay attention. So do yourself a favor and turn your phone off when the music starts. Drink in the experience. If the artist knows what they’re doing, they’ll make sure that the experience is worth it, but it does require a bit more effort to stay focused. That’s the nature of it, sadly.
So that’s it. Those are my top tips. And I think this way a live stream can be a lot more enjoyable.
Now, I host live streams every now and then in my little private community here on the site. If you’d like to join us for a lovely time, and I know you do, there is a seven day free trial, so you have nothing to lose! Join today!