(By Nathan Allonby)
The Coronavirus has closed all venues, and could continue indefinitely. Not only that, most music pupils have cancelled their lessons, again, indefinitely - thus closing musicians' other alternative stream of income.
That's not all: -
- venues could close, never to reopen
- when the crisis ends, there may be far fewer venues left to employ musicians -
- the combined potential income of all musicians is roughly in proportion to the number of venues
- the public could "lose the habit" of going to live gigs
Something has to be done. We cannot expect anyone to do anything other than ourselves.
Let's discuss options. This is "brainstorming" - put options out, maybe they could lead to better ideas.
- Start a YouTube channel, showcasing local musicians, advertised on Bebop Spoken Here
- maybe have a subscription channel
- a donation line
- House parties - if the venues are closed, that doesn't mean everyone has to stay home
- if it's private, it's not regulated
- younger, healthy people do not face a lot of risk
- a lot of people are going to need this, so they don't go "stir crazy"
- when the lock-down ends, that "party scene" could launch regular gigs, even new venues
Let's look at the positives - at the end of this curfew, everybody is going to go mad, just to be free again. If musicians have their act together, ready to go, there could be a lot of gigs available.
Regarding music lessons, many other subjects (e.g. languages) are being taught by Skype. It's not ideal for teaching music, but it's better that than lose the relationship with pupils. Also, locked at home, the pupils may value their lessons more than ever - they might spend a lot of time practicing. (Have a friend in Italy, teaching English, near Milan - during the lock-down / curfew, she has moved to teaching via Skype. Not only has this kept her business going, but her pupils desperately appreciate it, starved of all other social contact.)
There's another great idea
- the YouTube channel showcasing local talent could also include "master-class" sessions, giving a link / email to the teacher, to ask for Skype lessons
These are just initial suggestions - just to get the ball rolling. More heads the better!
Nathan
4 comments :
A lot of good and valid points Nathan although many people might disagree about the unregulated house party. Does that make it any less open to spreading the virus? Also, let's face it a jazz house party is more likely to attract an older crowd rather than the less vulnerable young folk.
Further opinions please.
‘Less vulnerable young folk’ is a complete fallacy, Lance.
Hospitals in Italy are seeing people in their 20s and 30s admitted to intensive care with severe cases of coronavirus.
Yeah it would be very risky at this stage to have larger gatherings in such confined spaces. It could be a safer idea after a few weeks/a month have gone by, wherein we'd hopefully not be on the wrong end of an infection curve.
Given that we've already seen the keenest musicians stream their own performances and that Paul's been reviewed, it's a very encouraging sign that these efforts will be taken seriously. Curating this process and giving those who are able a digital platform is exactly what's needed right now. My own combo might even have its first gigs online!
Streaming with various donation/payment options wouldn't be too far removed from playing at venues with pay-as-you-feel admission or tip jars, so this would be a very useful and fun idea going forward. Having the added bonus of reaching a global crowd would be fantastic side-effect of this for local artists.
I look forward to seeing how these ideas and a digital landscape develop. Hopefully, many of us will be able to make use of the situation to scrape by in some way and I think the jazz scene in particular would be generous enough to help where they can.
SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT
We could still have live jazz Giggs,people go shopping for food, live Giggs could take place inside Eldon Square, there is plenty of space, northumberland streets another area where music takes place, you have also got the parks, there is a big one by st James park, you can't stop people walking in the street or in parks, so there is hope yet.
What about. Sunday In the Jazz park, just an idea, the summer is not far off, a nice cold beer, Jazz in some park, take your dog if you want, well you jazzers how about it!
Keep Well
Brian Shine
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