Photo by Danny Howe on Unsplash

How Live Events Are Evolving for a New Generation

If you’ve been to a convert, festival, or theatre performance in the last few years, you’ve possibly noticed that compared to how things used to be, the whole experience feels quite different now. Crowds behave differently, artists perform differently, and even the atmosphere has changed and that’s because live events aren’t just about entertainment anymore – they’re about connection, sensory experience, community, and even safety sometimes. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more about how live events are evolving for a new generation. 

People Want Experiences That Feel Personal

Something that’s very clear when it comes to the new generation of audiences is that younger audiences don’t want a one-size-fits-all feeling that was what you got with big shows for decades. Instead, they want events that have been carefully designed and that are unique to the time and situation that’s taking place. 

This is probably why so many live events now have at least a few (and sometimes a lot more than a few) interactive elements and plenty of storytelling, not to mention the pop-up installations that are so popular these days. It’s what the fans want, so it’s what the fans are very often given. 

Accessibility Is Now More Important 

Live events used to see accessibility as just something that had to be dealt with, like a box to tick, but today things have changed massively, and it’s now literally becoming part of the design in the first place, rather than an afterthought. That means venues are putting in clearer sightlines (and checking them), sensory-friendly zones, captioned screens, relaxed performances, better seating layouts, and, of course, staff with the right training to be able to help everyone and make sure no one feels excluded. 

And along with that, something else important is changing – sound design. More people are talking about hearing loss in musicians and fans, which leads to discussions about safe volume levels, ear protection (that doesn’t ruin the listening experience), and how to support people who have any kind of sound sensitivity, for example. So there’s now a lot more proactive care and ideas happening, and entertainment environments are built to protect people, not harm them. 

Technology Is Part Of The Event

In the past, technology was what made these live events happen, and it was meant to be hidden out of sight, or at least not be all that obvious. Now, of course, tech is what can really make the experience, and it’s out there front and centre a lot of the time – in fact, a lot of venues and artists are proud of the technology they’re using, so they make sure audiences know as much about it as possible. 

You might be expecting things like big screens and flashing lights, or perhaps a revolving stage in some cases, but there’s plenty more you can have now, like apps that let you customise your experience, wristbands that pulse with the rhythm of the music, environments that respond to audience movement, and light and sound design that reacts in real time (as opposed to being pre-programmed like it would have been not so long ago). 

Long Events Are Out 

One thing’s for sure about the new generation of event-goers, and that’s the fact that attention spans are shorter, but expectations are higher. In other words, people don’t want endless filler and hours or waiting around for the thing they’ve come to see – they want a good, well-structured, punctual event that feels like it’s been put together with a bit of thought rather than being something random. 

That’s why you’ll see festivals offering more short-format performances, rotating micro-stages, intimate sets, and special zones where people can effectively choose their experience based on their mood, making the event a much more personal one. 

Wellbeing Spaces Are The Norm

Not too long ago, the idea of there being a quiet place to go during a festival or an event wouldn’t even have crossed people’s minds, not because it wasn’t needed (it was and is) but because no one thought about creating them – the people who needed them just had to manage or not go to events if they thought they might need to get some space and peace and quiet. 

But now it’s expected, and people want places they can go to get out of the noise and busyness of the crowds and the music or whatever else might be happening. And that’s especially true after years of pandemic where things really changed even more. People just realised they enjoy events a lot more when they can get away from things for a while. 

So what can you expect these days to make things better for you at events? A few ideas include hydration stations, shade zones, rest areas, low-sensory spaces, and even mental health support staff at some events. And if you’re not sure what to expect, it’s wise to reach out in advance to find out what’s there – then you can plan your time at the event in a way that suits you. 

Sustainability Is Vital

Sustainability is something that affects everyone, and it’s expected by most people that events are going to take their impact on the environment seriously. Since that’s what people expect, that’s what venues are doing, and they’re doing it by cutting single-use plastics, offering refill stations, reducing wasted energy, using recyclable wristbands, partnering with eco-friendly suppliers, and designing stages with reusable materials – and that’s just a start. 

Younger audiences are looking out for these things, paying attention to what’s good and what’s… less good. They’ll be happier to go to places that match their ideals and values, so if there’s a choice between a live event that does this well and one that doesn’t, they’ll pick the first one and never look back. 

A new generation wants experiences that feel good, but feeling good these days has changed, and it’s not what it once was – mainly because we all know things can be better than they used to be.