Staying safe at live music events

A member of the hardcore punk band Polluter plays guitar at GBN Live House last Aug. 15. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

By Jon Dunbar

It's inevitable that the drop in new COVID-19 cases will lead the government to lower the social distancing measures, in an attempt to reward or placate voters, and most likely cases will soon shoot up again.

But it's possible Korea's struggling live music scene will get a chance to come out of hibernation again, even if only for a few weeks. And that's irresistible to anyone who knows what they're missing. The venues that have had to stay closed for the last couple of months deserve support, but caution is needed. While it's heartbreaking to see venues closing one after another, the worst-case scenario would be an outbreak at a show.

Below are tips for anyone going to shows, as well as for venue owners, promoters and musicians.

Buy tickets in advance

Last time shows were happening, venues were limiting entry to 50 or even as low as 30 paying customers. And shows were consistently selling out, something we couldn't expect to see very often before the pandemic. Aside from preemptive crowd control, paying in advance is beneficial for the promoter because they know how much money to expect. Another advantage, if the RSVP list is made public, is that you can see who's going and make decisions based on that. It might incentivize you to go if you know that a friend you haven't seen in a long time will be there, or you might know to avoid it if an ex is already registered.

When to go

The big disadvantage of paying in advance is if the show is canceled, as happened countless times last year. Looking at recent events, it seems the safest time to put on or go to a show would be the weekend before a major holiday. Not during, in case the government adds restrictions to prevent infection (such as last Chuseok), and not after, because that's when cases are most likely to take off (such as after last Aug. 15). This year, Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 12, so it seems likely the best possible date for a concert would be during the Feb. 6 weekend.

Use PPE

Any show is inevitably going to require everyone to wear masks. That can be a hassle, but it can also be turned to an advantage. What better place to sell band merch PPE than at shows? I'm surprised I haven't heard of any bands taking advantage of this yet, especially since it's not even that new of an idea.

A crowd practices social distancing measures at a punk show in GBN Live House last Aug. 15. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Keep to yourself

It might be part of what you want out of a concert experience, but this is not the time to start a circle pit or go stage diving. Even dancing or singing along is likely to increase respiration rate. Bands appreciate it when audiences crowd around in front of them, but under these circumstances it's best to stand a couple meters back from the performers, especially since singers rarely wear masks properly while performing ― and if they have any wind instruments, you don't want to be anywhere near when they drain the spit valve. So everyone will have to channel their inner scenester and act a little aloof. Sure it's less fun, but if you have the opportunity to appreciate live music safely during a pandemic you're still lucky.

Watch where you drink

Paying for drinks supports the venue, so nobody's likely to talk you out of drinking at a show. But it is impossible to drink with a mask on, at least without spreading contaminants all around. GBN Live House in Mullae-dong had been supplying customers with face shields, but even these get in the way. I had considered using straws, but you're still walking around with a flimsy stick poking out that you're going to stick in your mouth repeatedly. You don't want to be around others shouting and sloshing their own drinks around while you slip your mask off to have a sip, so the best thing to do is get some distance. Go to the far side of the room, or step outside where you can drink without swapping respiratory droplets with everyone.

A member of the band ADxHD, right, poses with the legendary makgeolli man in Hapjeong-dong, last Oct. 18. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Quality not quantity

It's not unheard of in the hardcore punk scene for shows to feature upwards of 20 bands in one night. That doesn't seem so likely now. Some venues, like Jebi Dabang in Sangsu-dong, have only one band play per night, and that seems like a safer choice. Fewer bands, shorter sets, more time between sets so people can go outside.

Go outside

It is kind of poor etiquette to go outside in the middle of a band's set, or to go home before all the bands have played, but these days it shouldn't be. If multiple bands are playing, you should minimize your time inside by not staying for the whole set or skipping entire bands. At least the others still inside will be a little freer to enjoy themselves with one less person there.

Stay clean using washrooms

Venues are notorious for having unsanitary washrooms. Cramped, poorly ventilated, wet floor. We should consider wearing PPE in them even after COVID-19 is gone. But when you gotta go, you gotta go. These days especially, every washroom should be stocked with soap, even if all you have to wash your hands is a hose hanging from the wall. If a venue does not have soap, consider making a one-time anonymous donation by going to a convenience store, buying a bar of soap and leaving it there for others to use. After all, you should feel very invested in everyone at the show washing their hands properly.

If you don't like it, leave

It's possible you'll see too many people without masks, or crowds too large to handle or some other risk. There are various things you can do, not all of them good. Snitching to the government probably wouldn't be good for anyone at the show, and confronting social distancing violators is more likely to increase tension. So, if you don't like it, show your disapproval with a prompt exit. That's the quickest and most effective way to stay safe against infection.