Holograms: The Concerts of the not so Distant Future
The use of Holograms during concerts is not an entirely new concept. In fact, in Japan, it’s quite popular with holographic vocaloids performing on stage. In the case of vocaloids, an image is projected through a glass, creating a three-dimensional effect. The vocaloid sings and dances. It’s quite amazing to witness actually, but in the United States holograms aren’t used quite as much.
As with anything, there are pros and cons. One advantage is for the musician. When recording and setting up, they can practice, and give a quality performance, without worrying about the crowd. Holographic projections can also be a way to keep the artist and their performance alive in a more realistic looking manner (even after they’ve stopped performing, their recording can still be showed and viewed in concert halls. One potential con is that the audience interactions will be different. With a pre-recorded hologram doing things like “reading the room” would be impossible.
The use of holograms for music concerts and performances seem to have mixed reviews in the United States. Perhaps the biggest issue is that the holograms are too lifelike. Vocaloids who are animated and computer-generated come to life on stage. This isn’t creepy, and it can be exhilarating seeing something that was once only possible to view through the screen of a computer seem to come alive and act in our physical reality. Using real individuals, on the other hand, (mainly if they are deceased) can be a bit uncanny.
Holograms do offer many benefits. If technology continues on the path it’s currently on it will only be a matter of time till holograms of real people can be made to look and feel a little more convincing than they do now. Holographic performances can be a wonderful way to pay tribute to artists.