We had no idea what to expect as we started planning our first completely online (prerecorded) “concert” for the first completely online (largely prerecorded) Spiritual Renewal Week.
One suggestion had been to simply replay in its entirety last year’s amazing 50th anniversary concert, but the music team felt that would be taking the easy way out.
So it turns out there are several things that have made “putting on” this concert a major challenge:
First of all is the fact that every step of the way we would catch ourselves thinking of it like a “real” concert. Again and again (and again!) we had to remind ourselves that there would be not a single “live” element; that people wouldn’t even be “tuning in” at a particular time, but watching whenever it was convenient for them. Even in the description and the recorded intro, we kept referring to “tonight’s” program!
Which leads to the second big challenge: instead of gearing up for a big “concert night”, we needed to have everything ready before it all starts, as “attendees” will be able to access all the special supplemental events right from the beginning of the event. This, combined with the fact so many tasks we’ve never had to do before, left us scrambling at the end in order to get things done on time.
Finally, we’re so accustomed to drawing — and then building on — the energies of the whole group, in order to create something really fine and unique. But now, almost everything we do has to be done on our own, which means having to generate and draw on more energy from within ourselves.
Bottom line? I’m feeling really tired, like I’ve run a marathon or something. But I have a whole new appreciation for digital realities.
Virtual is just a different kind of real.