FAQs

Q. How does this site work?

Choose a virtual concert on the Home page. To buy a ticket, select “Buy a Ticket.” To read more about the concert and the artist, select “More Info.”

“Buy a Ticket” will take you to the Eventbrite site where you buy a ticket using a credit card, PayPal, or other form of payment.

To automatically be notified of future Gathering Storm Music concerts, select the “Follow” button.

When you get to the page with the green “Tickets” button, select “Checkout” to go to the next screen. Normally you buy only 1 ticket per computer or mobile phone.

Enter your Contact information—real first and last name and email address. We need a valid email address to send you the link to the virtual concert.

Select payment method and enter the required information.

Check the boxes to be automatically notified of future Gathering Storm Music concerts or events, and whether you would like Eventbrite to notify you of nearby events.

Select “Place Order” to finalize buying the ticket.

The actual “ticket” to the virtual concert is the link you will receive by email from Eventbrite (noreply@order.eventbrite.com). Make sure you can receive emails from this address. If you don’t receive this email in ten minutes, use the Contact Us page to let us know how to reach you. We are a very small company, and will try to contact you within 48 hours, or before the concert, if at all possible.

You can register with Eventbrite to make it easier to use their service for future Gathering Storm Music concerts and other events you may enjoy.

Q. Can I download the concert to my calendar?

Yes. From the Eventbrite event page, select “Add to Calendar.”

If you select “Add to Calendar” before you buy a ticket, you will get a link to buy a ticket, not to the event itself. You need to buy a ticket to get the link to the concert itself.

You can choose the calendar format you use: Outlook, Google, Apple, or Yahoo.

Note that if you register in advance, Eventbrite should automatically send you a reminder email.

Q. What do I do with the URL link that you emailed me?

Paste the URL link into your web browser and press Enter or Send. This will open up a link to Zoom.

If you know how to read a Zoom URL, you can open the Zoom app and enter the event number and password manually.

Q. Do I need to download Zoom in advance of the concert?

No, you can listen and view the concert through a web browser on your desktop, laptop, or mobile phone—but it’s a better experience using the Zoom app. Make sure to update the app for the best and most secure viewing experience.

Q. What if the concert is canceled?

If the concert is canceled, or the artists cannot appear for technical reasons, Gathering Storm Music will refund the ticket price paid less any service charge Eventbrite charges us for processing the transaction. In other cases, such as sound or picture quality less than broadcast quality, given our low ticket price, Gathering Storm Music will not be able to refund ticket prices. See Terms and Conditions for further information.

Q. Can I share the concert URL with my friends?

No. Family members in your home and people in your Covid-19 “pod” can listen in one computer or mobile phone for the price of one ticket, but not people who don’t live with you. EventBrite will email you a personalized link to the concert: It’s non-transferable.

Q. What’s the best way to listen to a virtual concert?

If you’re alone, and not driving a car, we recommend taking off the headphones, cranking up the volume just below the level that would annoy your neighbors or housemates, and dancing.

If you’re driving, we recommend turning off the picture and just listening. If you’re behind the wheel, driving should always be your principal focus.

Q. What’s considered polite behavior during a concert?

Listening. Watching. We’ve all become accustomed to multitasking during Zoom sessions. People have been known to look at their mobile phones during a Zoom meeting. As long as your microphone isn’t on, you can talk to people in the same room with you.

Q. What if I don’t want to be on camera or for other people to hear me?

The only way you will appear on camera is if both you and Gathering Storm Music both take action. We promote you to a “panelist” in Zoom, and then you have to turn your camera and microphone on. Gathering Storm Music can’t turn on your camera or microphone if you keep them off.

That said, if it’s all right with you, we would like some people to be on camera so that our artists can see and hear you applauding them and waving hello and goodbye. We may not be able to show everyone at once, so there is no promise we can get you onscreen.

Remember that most artists are performing from their home studio or a room in their house. Most everyone else is at home. While this website and the concert are not intended for children under 13, mind your manners—assume children are present unless the emcee announces otherwise. Gathering Storm Music has a digital bouncer that will drop from the event anyone we consider to be misbehaving.

If you are concerned about privacy, we recommend buying a thin privacy shield for your camera, available through many online retailers.

Q. What if I behave inappropriately?

Gathering Storm Music has a digital bouncer that will drop from the event anyone we consider to be misbehaving. If, in our judgment the conduct deserves reporting to Zoom, we will report it. This could result in an offending party being banned from Zoom in the future.

Q. I’ve heard Zoom is not secure. Should I be concerned?

You’re okay. Very early versions of Zoom more than a year ago had security issues that Zoom acknowledged and addressed. Gathering Storm Music takes cybersecurity very seriously. Always update your system software and application software when your operating system provider or network carrier tells you to do so. Never give out your social security number.

Q. Someone called from Gathering Storm Music/Apple/Microsoft/Social Security wanting financial information or my social security number from me.

Gathering Storm Music will never ask for such information. Don’t give out your credit card number or social security information to anyone who calls you. Report any attempts to obtain financial information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or local law enforcement.