As we wrap up 2022, we have a lot to be thankful for. Although scarred and a bit battered, the industry got through that great wasteland called the pandemic. Certainly, there were losses along the way — both in companies and individuals — and between the very real issues of labor shortages and supply side shortages, we’re not quite out of the woods yet.
In fact, speaking of woods, we typically think of recent manufacturing issues mainly in terms of disruptions in the flow of electronic components and chip suppliers, yet the interruption of Russian exports created havoc with many speaker companies that had been sourcing much of their “Baltic birch” plywood from Russia.
And while not entirely diminished, the Covid menace still lingers in the background, yet for the most part, people have returned to their former routines, although perhaps with a few more precautions. For example, 2022 finally saw the return of stadium tours, festivals, church services, Broadway shows, casinos, cruise ships, and every level of local entertainment. Many were accompanied with the inevitable changes along the way, such as more artists doing long-term residency shows, which at least solved the dearth of trucking and tour bus services, and I have a feeling this approach to events is here to stay, given their popularity with fans, artists and crews alike.
For a while, tradeshows, seminars, religious services, musical performances and nearly anything else you could possibly attend went the Zoom route, and while great given the circumstances, these could never compete with the “real thing.” And returning to live audiences is a positive step in the right direction — for an entire industry.
Meanwhile, stay safe!
