From Live Shows to Live Streams: Indie Band Monsterboy Plays Virtual Concerts To Serve Communities
“When we started our live-streamed concerts we felt a little more normal, as did the people joining us night after night.”
Monsterboy (photo source: Monsterboy)
The husband-and-wife duo Monsterboy – a reference to Dr. Frankenstein’s patchwork creation when describing their musical style of blended genres – are based out of Little Rock, Arkansas. First discovered at the Bonnaroo festival by a reporter from MTV, they have been performing live in events and music festivals since 2017. Their recorded music have been featured on air through multiple radio shows, and the duo were planning to go on tour in 2020.
That is, until the spread of the coronavirus put a halt to all of their plans.
In an email interview, Veronica Wirges and Chris Long of the Monsterboy duo shared with me how the past few weeks have changed their entire routine in life. They have pivoted from performing live in front of crowds to streaming online every day, growing their daily viewership from 400 to 2.5k, and have found a deeper meaning through this change that’s much more than busking online for money.
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Q: Why did you decide to START THESE DAILY VIRTUAL CONCERTS BY LIVE STREAMING YOUR MUSIC?
A: Our focus is on our community and how best to serve it. People are hurting right now, and what we found is that when we started our live-streamed concerts we felt a little more normal, as did the people joining us night after night.
We say in our stream at least once, "If you are in the service industry, pull up a couch cushion – you owe us nothing. You have taken care of us numerous times, now let us take care of you." Bartenders, servers, hairdressers, tattoo artists, and all sorts of service industry people tend to be more sensitive than the general public in situations where tipping is a thing and they can't afford it. The thing is these people are really hurting, not just from the stress over concern for health, but also a very real loss of how to provide for their families. If we can ease their mind for a little bit, then we definitely want that.
Veronica Wirges of Monsterboy (photo source: Monsterboy)
Q: Has this pandemic affected you personally?
A: Both of us have pre-existing conditions. This virus is very scary to us, and initially, we felt helpless.
Before our first live stream we felt guilty busking for tips when we had food in our fridge and others had less. We were safe in our home while people were out there putting themselves in danger because they worked in health care or a supply chain. Our supplies were getting lower by the day, our bank account would only hold out so long... but still others had it worse. What we found right off the bat was a way to give comfort in a manner that did not risk ourselves or spread the virus.
“We need a living, breathing crowd as much as a bartender does to provide our service.”
Chris Long of Monsterboy (photo source: Monsterboy)
Q: Has playing virtually helped you bond with your audience?
A: You've got to understand we are going through this all together, but we are also divided out depending on the type of profession we happen to be in. The service industry has lost a lot. Most of us working live musicians are in this category as well. We need a living, breathing crowd as much as a bartender does to provide our service. Then there are the people that can work from home or in isolation, most of whom still have uninterrupted income, but they are concerned with layoffs as the market shifts. Finally, there are those in professions that are crucial to our nation right now. There is plenty of work for them, but they are also the most at risk of falling ill. These three groups have very different routines, thought processes, and incomes.
We try to address this in our streams by talking about how tipping is appreciated, but not expected.
Q: You’ve shared that the tips you’ve received range anywhere between $5 and $85 on a nightly basis. Does that difference come from how you’ve asked for TIPS from your audience?
A: There was no difference in what we said or did. I think it’s just who tunes in and has the money to spare.
Our tips have grown over the last two weeks and, if anything, we have gotten less and less focused on our method of reminding people to do it and more focused on telling people they don't have to. I don't think our tips have been negatively impacted by saying that. If it's between having money for electricity and tipping us, electricity always wins, as it should be.
We can touch more lives, and if they enjoy it they will tell their friends. Who knows, maybe their friends or friend's friends have a steady income, where they feel comfortable tipping us?
Monsterboy (photo source: Monsterboy)
Q: Are you seeing a trend in what times of the day or days of the week are best for live streaming?
A: We still have slower nights and busier ones. It is too early to say that X is the prime time to play on X days. We do the next best thing and perform at the same time every day. You have to remember that the people that show up will vary, as well as what they can tip, and that has to be okay.
Q: It sounds like this has grown to be much more than trying to make ends meet when your regular income has been suspended until further notice.
A: As artists, being our true authentic selves and providing the world with beauty is what people need from us. That, and all the amazing messages and texts about how much people look forward to our show every day, THAT is why we do it.
Interview conducted and written by Louise Lau. Connect on social @offstagetunes