(By Lance)
This dreadful situation that we're in - apart from the loss of income to just about everyone involved in music and the arts in general - has opened up a scenario far beyond what was envisaged when the internet first crept into our lives.
Clubs, bars, theatres, festivals are closing with the chances being that some of the smaller venues may never open again. I'm not going to offer suggestions as to how this can be tackled. Obviously (hopefully?) the NHS will be given the resources that this, and previous governments, should have given - an argument to be debated outside of this apolitical site - but, will there be support further on down the line in other fields? Music, grass-level sport, theatre, the support chain, are going to need assistance. The Premier League will survive and, no doubt the Royal Opera House, probably Ronnie Scott's. Will your non-league team, your amateur dramatic group, your local jazz club?
Apart from all that, the thing that's crossing my mind is how, suddenly, the work from home ethic has taken hold. I'm not sure that it works with, say bus drivers or traffic wardens but, jazzers seem to be catching on to the idea.
Since the pandemic hit the UK, just about all gigs have gone to the wall which means that, for musicians, the baby ain't gonna get new shoes.
However, thanks to YouTube, Skype and the other means of mass communication, you can now experience the gig, or receive one to one tuition, whilst sitting at home. What could be finer than sitting at home with a can, a coffee or a pizza whilst listening to someone you'd have had to bus/drive/taxi to hear ten or more miles away?
Or, if you're someone seeking instruction, you can do it in your own front/bedroom rather than fight the elements getting to an educational establishment.
So maybe Cofid-19 will teach us something and that is to, a) wash your hands after picking your nose or your guitar and, b) that music is so much more when shared in the back room of a pub rather than in the infinitesimal concert hall of cyberspace but, in the meantime, there's always someone online...
Let us hope that, after this pestilence that is upon us passes, we will still have gigs to go to.
Amen.
Lance
1 comment :
Thanks for your thoughts Lance. I have seen certain musicians already posting solo work as a replacement for playing a gig Chris Martin of Coldplay et al . IF the gigs are not solely played live but left for posterity on You Tube then perhaps we and yourself could provide some insight into any interesting incidences of these musical events as they appear on hear so others who read the blog can also have the opportunity to watch . The blog will still be providing a gig guide but it will be advertising interactive musical events rather than those we would normally attend
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