Statement on COVID and Current Events
This is an extremely challenging time for artists, and especially those of us who make our living as singers and performers. Our community is in mourning as we cancel in-person performances for the foreseeable future. I know of no musicians who have decided to devote their lives to this art for the money. We do this because we love it, and because we believe it is necessary for the well-being of the world. Art and music cultivate cultural identity, personal compassion, a sense of community, and can provide life-changing comfort and joy to those who need it. All of us have seen the power of music change and shape our own lives, as well as the lives of others. In this incredibly painful and challenging time for our world and our country, all of us are desperate to do the one thing we cannot do: make music together. But even beyond the emotional strain, this time has been a huge financial burden on artists who have carefully cultivated their careers over the years. I am thankful to be in a position where I am employed as a TA through my DMA program, and also working with a community chorus in a remote capacity. Many of my colleagues are not this lucky.
So what can you do?
1. Please write to your representatives and urge them to continue to provide extended and expanded unemployment benefits. We are not out of work because we don't want to go back to work; we are out of work because we aren't able to do our work safely. We are desperate to continue working. Because of the nature of gig life, our income is diverse and varied, often encompassing a variety of freelance and salaried income from various states. This makes it so difficult to get the funding from unemployment that we need to literally survive. Even under the CARES Act, our system is not set up for freelancers. Please advocate for us. We need more voices than just our own fighting for this cause.
2. Please donate generously to the organizations that you normally support by attending concerts and services. If you are in a financially stable position, please consider donating to your local orchestras and choruses, both professional and amateur. If you attend a church that hires professional singers and instrumentalists, make a directed donation to your music department and ask them to continue paying their musicians. Look up the names of your favorite local musicians, and see if you can find their online tip jars, websites, or patreon sites, and make as little or as large a donation as you are able.
3. Be careful what music and art you are consuming for free. These days, many organizations (including major orchestras and opera companies) are offering some or all of their content for free. This is a wonderful opportunity to consume incredible music at a time when our souls are yearning for it. However, please remember that the professionals involved in these performances are often not getting paid for your consumption of their work. If this bothers you (and it should), contact those organizations and ask them how they are compensating their musicians. Offer to make a donation if you can. Or find organizations that ARE paying musicians for their contributions, and support those. We need your advocacy.
4. Make sure that all of the above are supporting a diverse body of musicians and artists. Be aware of the music you are consuming and the artists you are supporting. Are any of the performers, producers, or composers people of color? Do the organizations you support regularly present works by female, LGBTQ, and BIPOC composers? If they don't, find some that do, and/or reach out to the organizations you care about and tell them it's important to you. This is a great time to find new musicians and organizations to be excited about. There is so much virtual content out there right now, ready to welcome you into communities where you previously had no access. Celebrate this by widening your horizons and expanding your inclusivity!
So what can you do?
1. Please write to your representatives and urge them to continue to provide extended and expanded unemployment benefits. We are not out of work because we don't want to go back to work; we are out of work because we aren't able to do our work safely. We are desperate to continue working. Because of the nature of gig life, our income is diverse and varied, often encompassing a variety of freelance and salaried income from various states. This makes it so difficult to get the funding from unemployment that we need to literally survive. Even under the CARES Act, our system is not set up for freelancers. Please advocate for us. We need more voices than just our own fighting for this cause.
2. Please donate generously to the organizations that you normally support by attending concerts and services. If you are in a financially stable position, please consider donating to your local orchestras and choruses, both professional and amateur. If you attend a church that hires professional singers and instrumentalists, make a directed donation to your music department and ask them to continue paying their musicians. Look up the names of your favorite local musicians, and see if you can find their online tip jars, websites, or patreon sites, and make as little or as large a donation as you are able.
3. Be careful what music and art you are consuming for free. These days, many organizations (including major orchestras and opera companies) are offering some or all of their content for free. This is a wonderful opportunity to consume incredible music at a time when our souls are yearning for it. However, please remember that the professionals involved in these performances are often not getting paid for your consumption of their work. If this bothers you (and it should), contact those organizations and ask them how they are compensating their musicians. Offer to make a donation if you can. Or find organizations that ARE paying musicians for their contributions, and support those. We need your advocacy.
4. Make sure that all of the above are supporting a diverse body of musicians and artists. Be aware of the music you are consuming and the artists you are supporting. Are any of the performers, producers, or composers people of color? Do the organizations you support regularly present works by female, LGBTQ, and BIPOC composers? If they don't, find some that do, and/or reach out to the organizations you care about and tell them it's important to you. This is a great time to find new musicians and organizations to be excited about. There is so much virtual content out there right now, ready to welcome you into communities where you previously had no access. Celebrate this by widening your horizons and expanding your inclusivity!
