Augmented reality is the future of live entertainment

Sheldon Angelo G. Cruz Jr.

The concert format hasn’t changed much in the last few decades. We buy tickets, queue up all day in the heat to enter the venue, and sing along with the artists.

It was an experience that can be shared across generations. Perhaps your concert experience is similar to what your parents experienced.

As restrictions are lifted as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, concerts are beginning to become part of our lives again. However, some changes have been made to the formula.

Expandable

September introduced several innovations for concertgoers. Earlier this month, Jack Harlow and Lil Nas X brought augmented reality (AR) to the state.

Harlow, the American rapper and three-time Grammy nominee, kicked off his Come Home, the Kids Miss You tour last September 5th. Fans enjoyed his AR experience via Snapchat.

During Harlow’s “First Class” performance, attendees could turn their phones up and see a digital jet flying overhead. Additionally, they were able to purchase concert merchandise directly from Snapchat.

A day later, Grammy Award winner Lil Nas X kicked off his ‘Long Live Montero’ tour with a concert in Detroit, where attendees were given flyers upon entry and scannable on Snapchat. .

When concert-goers scanned the flyer with their mobile phones, they received a voice message guiding them through the experience. They then witnessed all three of his acts in augmented reality. The first act featured Cocoon, the second act featured Butterfly, and finally the third act featured Nas himself.

The evolution of musical storytelling

Musicians are storytellers, and their music, music videos, and concerts all tell stories and entertain. AR is another tool for telling the stories these musicians want to tell.

Nas and Harlow aren’t the first companies to bring AR stageside. And the AR look won’t be the last. This trend will continue.

Earlier this year, Elton John and ABBA also hosted an AR concert, with ABBA taking a different approach and producing their holographic version of the concert.

These artists’ visions are no longer limited by budget constraints or logistical issues at concerts.

Similar to Harlow’s “first class” performance mentioned earlier, it would have been possible for his team to arrange for an actual jet to fly overhead during the song, but it would have been costly, not to mention expensive. It would have been a huge undertaking. However, AR has made things easier.

AR has the ability to bring the vision of many artists to life and give fans the best possible experience.