My idea of entertainment has changed quite a bit since mid-March.  Those who have been reading my posts for a while know that I love live music.  A normal summer for me would include 8 or more music festivals.  Fall and winter for me usually involve several concerts.  I also love theater, movies, and Friday evenings at my local brew pub.  Of course, thanks to a global pandemic, none of these things are happening as they used to.  But art finds a way.

I’m grateful that live music is still happening.  Over the last 6 months I’ve attended concerts in some very unusual ways.  Most of the “live” music I’ve seen has actually been recordings of shows from the past.  But I wasn’t there the first time, so watching those streams on my television was brand new for me.  Then came the “empty venue” shows.  Artists got creative and started playing live shows in empty venues to be streamed.  To make it easier for the bands, sometimes this even includes a Zoom with the fans so the band can see the fans reacting to the music.  (And I have to say…one of the coolest things I’ve experienced during this pandemic was watching one of my favorite bands watching me on a screen while they played.)  And then came the drive-in concerts.  Live concerts where tickets are sold by the carload.  Each car gets a designated space beside their car for tailgating and dancing.

Watching a new release movie has been a much different experience this summer as well.  “Straight to video” used to mean the movie was terrible.  Now it means it’s good enough that they really want people to see it, so it’s released immediately into streaming rental.  So I pop my own popcorn and watch from the comfort of my living room.

Big Ten football is soon to be making a reappearance.  And I won’t be disappointed to watch Penn State play.  I typically prefer to watch on TV anyway.  But for those who will miss the tailgating, there’s no rule saying you can’t tailgate at home!  Set up the canopy.  Fire up the grill.  Get out the cornhole boards.  You don’t have to be at Beaver Stadium to have the typical tailgate fun!  I had a few front yard cookouts over the summer just to break the monotony of quarantine, and it was really fun to chat with any neighbors that walked by and to share a socially distant beverage with a few friends.  Football could only make that better, right?

I haven’t really delved into socially distant Zoom theater, but I know it is happening.  I no longer eat and drink at my local brewpub, but I still enjoy their takeout food and canned beverages.  Whatever it is you normally love for entertainment, there is probably some new safe way to experience it like never before.

The hidden bonus of all this change is the cost.  Streaming a new release movie at home is less expensive than going out and buying popcorn and soda.  Streaming a concert is MUCH cheaper than going in person (sometimes it’s completely free!).  Even drive-in concerts saved me a bunch of money on food and beverage (because you can bring your own in your car!).  Eating and drinking at home is cheaper than in a restaurant.  A front yard tailgate is cheaper than football tickets.  My entertainment budget LOVES this pandemic.  (Not to mention that most of the music festival tickets I bought for this year I have rolled over to next year, so next year’s budget won’t feel that hit either).  We’re all feeling the fatigue of the pandemic.  But it is still possible to have a lot of fun in some creative ways.  And you can save money in the process!