CMI’s COVID-friendly Halloween concert
In the spirit of Halloween, the Colby Music Incubator (CMI) put on their annual Halloween show on Saturday, Oct. 31. Held in the Foss dining hall with seven different performances, the show began at 10:00 p.m. and went all the way to 2:30 a.m.
While the energy was intoxicating and the show was incredibly entertaining, it would be a stretch to say that the entire operation was smooth.
In the midst of an ongoing pandemic, one may wonder how concerts could take place. As one might assume, concerts provide the perfect grounds
for a virus to spread. CMI had previously managed to forgo the indoor person limit by holding outdoor concerts, but as temperatures hit a nice low of 32 ̊F/0 ̊C, it would be asking a lot of both performers and viewers to stand outside and bear the cold. CMI managed to follow COVID-19 guidelines by building strict barricades and having “bouncers” manage the flow of people who were allowed on the concert floor, in addition to spacing out the seating and standing area. There were even tables blocking viewers ability to get too close to the stage. The concert also provided free kegs for those 21+ and snacks for the audience, making it enticing for reasons beyond the music itself. However, it was clear that CMI did not account for the sheer amount of people that would want to watch the concert, as numerous people were turned away at the stairs heading down to the concert floor. The entrance to Foss was flooded with students head-to-toe in costume, ready to sing along to a high-energy concert. Additionally, with the concert taking place on a Saturday, a number of these students were incredibly intoxicated, causing rules to go in one ear and out the other. Some even tried to bypass the regulations by finding different ways to get to the concert floor, whether
it be the elevator or even sneaking in from outside. It got so out of hand that security was called to help patrol the crowd by trying to get people to leave.
That said, this did not stop people from waiting for their turn to go watch their friends rock the stage up close.
Donavan Lynch `22, who was among the attendees who managed to get in, shared his opinion on his experience during the concert.
“It definitely feels very different because concerts were the time when everyone would come together, but at the same time I feel like that appreciation for student bands is still very there, and I feel like the spontaneity of the night is still present albeit the restrictions on entrance,” Lynch said. Walker Benet `23, who was monitoring the people entering and leaving the concert floor, also shared his view. “I think the beginning bands have definitely brought it and have set a high bar for the rest of the night.” Benet said. “There [have] been a lot of people here which has been surprising and kind of an issue but I think we are keeping them back well but we have to be strict.” Another person working the event, Skye Rhomberg `22, was incredibly pleased that the concert was allowed. “Yeah, we’re just glad this could happen at all.” Rhomberg explained. “You know it didn’t seem like there was going to be a music scene this semester, and all of a sudden there was, and we’re happy despite how weird this all is that people want to be out here.”
CMI have had to overcome quite a few obstacles this year, from finding COVID-19-friendly practice spaces to limiting their concert attendance.
But even with restrictions, it’s clear that CMI and the student bands who are apart are not going to stop doing what they love.
CMI concerts still remain an integral part of the Colby social experience and I look forward to the next event that CMI puts together.
~Tanvi Iyer `22
