DCA Coffeehouse Concert Series with Paul Taylor Moves to Livestream
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Livestreamed performances continue to have a place
On Feb. 12, Door Community Auditorium (DCA) will welcome multi-instrumentalist Paul Taylor as the first performer in the 2022 Coffeehouse Concert Series. But this year, Taylor – known for music that merges Parliament and Afrobeat with funk, blues and jazz – will perform via livestream.
“In the past, the Coffeehouse Concerts were [called] Fireside Coffeehouse Concerts and took place in our Fireside Lobby,” said Cari Lewis, DCA’s executive director.
The previous setup created a cozy, intimate atmosphere with cabaret seating for about 80 audience members who shared tables while taking in the music and enjoying coffee and pastries. But like so many things, the current public-health crisis has caused the DCA staff to reevaluate that format.
“We thought we’d move the series into the main hall to allow for more spacing, but still have cabaret seating and coffee service on the stage with the artists,” Lewis said.
But as Door County Public Health began reporting increased COVID-19 cases, DCA staff realized there wouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to heeding the call that “the show must go on.” After planning – and revisiting those plans – a combination of live-audience and livestreamed performances is helping DCA to navigate the pandemic while still providing audiences with live music and programs.
Door County Talks will be held in person with social-distancing protocols in place, and there will also be a livestreamed option available on Facebook.
The winter/spring Passport Programs and Mainstage Events, however, will take place in front of a live, general-public audience.
“These [programs] involve national tours, some that we’ve been trying to make happen for two years now,” Lewis said, adding that royalty issues and recording restrictions make livestreaming these events logistically difficult.
“So we’ve decided to go forward as planned with strict COVID protocols in place – often required by the touring groups – and a socially distanced seating chart,” Lewis said.
When it comes to the Coffeehouse Concerts series, including this Saturday’s performance, artists have two options: livestream from DCA, or pre-record and share via a “live watch party” on Facebook.
“We decided to move away from the in-person coffeehouse format and give each artist or group the choice to livestream from DCA or pre-record off-site, with DCA hosting a watch party on Facebook,” Lewis said.
The latter choice, she explained, allows for better sound quality and video production with professional sound engineering. Both Taylor’s performance on Feb. 12 and Cathy Grier’s performance on Feb. 19 will be recorded in advance at Piranha Studio in Sturgeon Bay, shared as a Facebook watch party and available on YouTube afterward.
Although the livestream approach comes with challenges, it also offers some advantages.
Lewis said, “We’re building a library of local artist recordings, and we’re able to connect with folks who [either] live elsewhere or aren’t yet comfortable attending in-person events.”
That said, Lewis doesn’t see livestream technology replacing the energy and impact of live performances.
“I envision livestreaming will continue to be a tool that we use when appropriate to broaden our reach and accessibility,” Lewis said, but she looks forward to the day when DCA can return its focus to sharing performances live and in person.
“It is what our organization and venue were created to do,” she said. “It’s what we’re best at, and candidly, I feel it is where the most magic and joy and healing happen.”
Saturday’s virtual performance by Paul Taylor will be free, but donations are encouraged and appreciated. Attend the watch party on DCA’s Facebook page — www.facebook.com/DoorCommunityAuditorium. Find out more, including details about DCA’s most up-to-date COVID protocols, by calling 920.868.2728 or visiting dcauditorium.org.
