October 15, 2021

By Lillian Metzmeier

Graphic by Rachel Taylor

The concert essentials: Tickets? Check. Band merch? On it. COVID-19 vaccine card? That’s new.

In 2020, fans across the U.S. were devastated as artists were forced to cancel their live tours while COVID-19 rampaged the country, along with the rest of the world. However, live shows are coming back — just with a few more steps required at the door.

Due to the widespread U.S. administration of the COVID-19 vaccine over the past months, concert venues are beginning to require audience members to have proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days at entry. The easiest way to find out about possible COVID-19 restrictions at an upcoming event is by checking each venue’s website.

Columbia’s own The Blue Note and Rose Music Hall began requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a printed negative COVID-19 test starting Sept. 6. On The Blue Note website, these requirements can be found on the top bar on the website under “COVID-19 Rules and Procedures.” These guidelines are in accordance with Columbia’s Department of Public Heath and Human Services and are subject to change. Artists performing may implement additional policies for their concerts.

MU freshman Zoe Keltner experienced these requirements firsthand when she went to the Hippie Sabotage concert on Saturday, Sept. 11 at The Blue Note. To get in, she said she took a picture of her vaccine card and showed that at the entry.

MU freshman Laura Cain, who also went to the Hippie Sabotage concert, did the same.

“I was glad that they had some sort of rule because if they were just letting anyone in and didn’t require masks, I would feel kind of unsafe,” Cain said. 

Fellow MU freshman Faith Harrison shared this sentiment when she went to see Harry Styles as one of her first live shows since before the pandemic.

“It made me less stressed out about being around a big group of people,” Harrison said.

Styles was supposed to go on his “Love on Tour” tour in 2020. He postponed the shows because of the pandemic and instead began touring on Sept. 4, 2021. He stopped by Missouri on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at the Enterprise Center — a venue in St. Louis. 

COVID-19 regulations can be found on the Enterprise Center’s website under “Plan Your Visit” and “Health & Safety.” A recent press release reveals proof of vaccination or a negative test for COVID-19 will be required to enter the venue for both Enterprise Center and Stifel Theatre in St. Louis starting Friday, Oct. 15. 

As popular as Styles (who sold out his first-ever solo tour in a matter of seconds) is, it made perfect sense that there were a lot of people in the crowd. His official tour policy requires masks in addition to proof of a COVID-19 vaccine card or a negative test.

Harrison mentioned she was required to bring her ID, to make sure the name on the card matched.

When Cain went to see Hippie Sabotage, she said she wished this had been the case.

“A couple of people I knew paid their friends to give them their vaccination cards, and they didn’t really look to see if the names matched with the one on the ID, so they got in anyway,” Cain said. “I think they need to be a little more strict and actually make sure the names match up because if they’re not doing that, then what’s the point of even requiring it?”

After spending so much time inside, it’s normal to be nervous about standing in a crowd full of people. But this step forward is also exciting. Now, it’s time for fans of live music to be patient with venues as they figure out how to transition from a lockdown to live shows. These restrictions are important when it comes to balancing the safety of concert goers and artists along with an enjoyable entertainment experience. 

Edited by Shannon Worley | sworley@themaneater.com