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Any Musicians struggling?
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Me!!!
Last gig was 12th March and place I am resident isn’t opening again til September. Then we traditionally close over winter but there is tall of staying open this year.
More excited right now at the thought of a mic in my hand than a cock in my hand! |
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We've had to cancel 7 live bands and 25 DJ sets so far since lockdown. I have spoken to some of them and they have been hugely affected by venues cancelling their gigs. I have guaranteed that if we can re-open we will re-book them all next year, but I do worry how they will get through this year as for many, performing is their full time job 
Ok we are hugely struggling but I am very aware of the knock effect to staff, musicians/performers, caterers, cake makers, party prop/decor companies, photo booth companies and even our regular taxi driver. All of these people are out of work or have lost a massive amount of work because we have had to close. I feel terrible about it but we are all in the same boat in this industry. It's pants |
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By *eefdoddusCouple
over a year ago
Scottish Borders |
Luckily I don't rely on my fees, as a musician, for a living. I've hardly touched my instruments since lockdown and everything was cancelled which is a shame. Just kind of lost the mojo a bit.
I'm sure it'll all come back again but the first one's going to be interesting....lol.
Feel really sorry for people I know that were full time and the venues which must be really struggling now.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Me!!!
Last gig was 12th March and place I am resident isn’t opening again til September. Then we traditionally close over winter but there is tall of staying open this year.
More excited right now at the thought of a mic in my hand than a cock in my hand!"
How about Mike's cock? |
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"How about Mike's cock?"
Unnecessary
Back on thread though
The arts have been pretty much been forgotten. Loads of us have done a few online gigs that people have been happy to watch and few have tipped. don’t get me wrong, I and many colleagues have put our PayPal/me links up and not once mentioned it’s there or asked for contributions, as for many of us it has given us something to do, but also, it’s our only lifeline.
Here is Spain, self employed have received €600 per month in help, €300 of which goes back as autonomo fees (approximate figures but roughly similar for all give other take €20-50)
Some with contracts are getting 70% erte which is similar to furlough, but social security 10-15% roughly, is being taken from that
That’s for those lucky enough to get anything... something like 60% have had nothing, not one cent, since lockdown... even those with families. I have two friends thrown out their homes, even though it’s illegal and they are looking at legal help for this
Entertainers are the first people hassled to do free work for charities, berated if we say no, and the last to get help from the public that enjoy what we do, often for free
We are happy to help charities by doing a set for them... if we have no money, we can maybe spare a little time to help
On the back of this you have the techs that help us perform, so many of us would be lost without sound and lighting guys
The trickle down through other jobs involved in performance arts is huge. Entertainment is one of the biggest money spinners and least funded
Never mind though, we might get a few underpaid gigs (cos well the pub can’t justify your normal fee etc) but we are so far behind other industries, it’s actually heartbreaking
Please don’t take this as a “we’re a special case/more important/ more skint post as so many people are falling through the cracks no matter what industry they are in. But please know, we deserve help too!
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I do. I have literally made €760 THIS YEAR, behind on rent, phone cut off and less that €80 to live on til next gig And I know I’m not alone??
"I don't rely on playing for a living these days, but I know a lot of people that still do, and it's been hard."
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"
Entertainers are the first people hassled to do free work for charities, berated if we say no, and the last to get help from the public that enjoy what we do, often for free.
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Big annoyance to me that one.
Band performs for free.
Bar staff get paid.
Landlord gets paid.
Pub sells beer, brewery get paid.
The only people doing anything charitable are the musicians.
My stance nowadays is that I will play for free, but only if everyone else puts their hands in their pockets and donate something as well. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Just FYI any UK musicians - the Musicians' Union have had a grant scheme operating - the application process was simple I'm told & the grants (fee depended on your circumstances I think) were paid pretty promptly - £500 in the case of one of my mates. So if you've had no help at all for being self-employed & out of work have a look at the MU website they've not been shy about their grant scheme.
I know it's not a lot of money & it's a one-off payment but it could help a little bit |
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Thanks a for that and I’m aware of the scheme. I’ve passed it along to a few of my friends. I didn’t apply as I’ve lived in Spain for the last year so doubt I would qualify. A couple of friends did get the grant though, and pretty promptly too.
That said, while it was a welcome grant for them, with no income at all, and no knowing when we can all go back to work (I’m looking at likely September PERHAPS, here in Spain) £500 doesn’t last very long
Many of us here are struggling as we had literally just been back at work a short spell after the closed winter season. Personally I have worked less than 4 weeks all year |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"For UK folk, if your doing self assessment surely you can get furlough pay if this is your main income. Hurry deadline is like today or Monday."
There are tones & tones of holes in that scheme, many of which self employed entertainers fall right through.
Some will qualify, most won't. I'm fortunate in that I don't rely on entertaining for my primary income (it's a nice bonus and not my main job) but I have many friends who do and most have been told no by HMRC. |
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"For UK folk, if your doing self assessment surely you can get furlough pay if this is your main income. Hurry deadline is like today or Monday."
It hasn’t worked for most of my uk friends, all of whom are above board. The system is far from perfect and so many (not just musos of course) are falling through the cracks, despite having done everything correctly |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"For UK folk, if your doing self assessment surely you can get furlough pay if this is your main income. Hurry deadline is like today or Monday.
It hasn’t worked for most of my uk friends, all of whom are above board. The system is far from perfect and so many (not just musos of course) are falling through the cracks, despite having done everything correctly "
My only surviving uncle is a lighting rigger/stage manager, he hasn't worked since lockdown began and no end is in sight for him. He is also one those that hasn't had a penny from HMRC. As it stands at the moment, he is seriously thinking of calling it a day and retiring. At least he will then have his pensions to live on. |
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It’s literally been the worst of times for performers. Fortunately my band do it as more of a hobby and all have day jobs to keep funds coming in. But my day job is working with young performers in college. That won’t start again till September at the earliest. |
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By *ohn KanakaMan
over a year ago
Not all that North of North London |
I have many friends that are fulltime musicians, may have been able to crowd fund with streaming gigs but all admit they are in dire straits. As for those that I know involved in independent venues, it's just as bad. It's a sector that is in an awful situation with no clear way out |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"For UK folk, if your doing self assessment surely you can get furlough pay if this is your main income. Hurry deadline is like today or Monday.
It hasn’t worked for most of my uk friends, all of whom are above board. The system is far from perfect and so many (not just musos of course) are falling through the cracks, despite having done everything correctly
My only surviving uncle is a lighting rigger/stage manager, he hasn't worked since lockdown began and no end is in sight for him. He is also one those that hasn't had a penny from HMRC. As it stands at the moment, he is seriously thinking of calling it a day and retiring. At least he will then have his pensions to live on."
+1 to this. I (Mr DIY) am a production lighting engineer, amongst a few other roles, and was on a major tour when the industry literally closed overnight on the 16th March. I had a small furlough payment that covered the remaining 4 weeks or so of the tour, but since then absolutely nothing from that industry, or HMRC, as, although self-employed, much of my work is short term PAYE contracts. Luckily, Mrs has a full time job, so she's still getting paid from that, and I'm incredibly thankful to have got myself a supermarket driving job, which hopefully is going to carry on through the next few months at least. |
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I’d be happy with that right now. Literally haven’t earned since March. I’m not alone in living penny to penny. Owe my landlord, though thankfully my rent agreement includes my bills. Living on noodles and pasta. Sad times when all I want to do is sing x |
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