L.A. Nightlife During the COVID-19 Era
October 8, 2020 | By Dominique Mayorga
Big cities like Los Angeles are known for their nightlife and have been hit hard during this pandemic. Let's be real, I can’t be the only one that misses the loud music bumping through the speakers, surrounded by all your closest friends with a cocktail in hand. Who knew we would miss squishing through crowds of people to wait in a 20-minute line to use the ladies’ room? Unreal right?
Many live events have been able to adapt to the current climate by offering alternate options like drive-in concerts, which seem to be doing pretty good for themselves. Bars have adapted by offering outdoor seating but what about the nightclubs? What about the music? Many places have steered away from playing music to discourage crowds from dancing or gathering but dancing is essential to so many people's happiness (I may just be biased.)
Where’s the fun in grabbing a drink on the town without having music to accompany that? The uncomfortable masks, the social distancing and all the strict rules have made for such a boring summer. Let’s face it, we probably won’t be seeing nightlife in L.A. go back to normal anytime soon or socializing at all for that matter.
Alongside drive-in concerts, Insomniac most recently announced their newest concert series “PARK ‘N RAVE,” which will give ravers the chance to rave from the comfort of their cars or surrounding areas. The announcement came within the last week and the first event will take place on October 9 at the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino. I can’t say I feel too confident on a successful outcome due to the type of audience raves normally attract but I suppose we will have to wait and see if people actually comply with their social distancing guidelines.
Major events like Coachella and The Electric Daisy Carnival have been cancelled until further notice and we are all doubtful as to when large live events will be able to continue. In an article by CNBC, it states, “Large group events will likely be one of the last things to return to normal, said Peter Bach, director of the Center for Health Policy and Outcomes.” The article also goes on to say that these events are some of the riskiest to manage because of how difficult it is to remain distanced and have the crowds comply.
It is heartbreaking for the music lovers around the world, like me, that thrive on being able to escape reality for just a moment in the rhythm of a song. We can only cross our fingers that we will be able to hear the thumping of the bass through the speakers again in early 2021. I don’t think many of us can go much longer.
Link to the CNBC article referenced: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/06/when-will-sports-and-concerts-come-back-after-coronavirus-2021-likely.html
Dominique Mayorga is a senior at California State University, Northridge majoring in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. She has previously worked as a Social Media Manager for the Museum of Selfies in Hollywood and Wisdome L.A. where she discovered her interests in pursuing a career in public relations for the entertainment industry. In her free time, she enjoys critiquing music and hopes to eventually look into music journalism as well.