Pandemic leaves some entertainers in limbo

The John Calvin Brewer Band performs during the Spa City Blues Festival at Hill Wheatley Park in September 2017. - File photo by The Sentinel-Record
The John Calvin Brewer Band performs during the Spa City Blues Festival at Hill Wheatley Park in September 2017. - File photo by The Sentinel-Record

With bars still closed and restaurants opening up inside dining at a limited capacity, local musicians who make a living or subsidize their income entertaining patrons at such establishments remain in limbo.

Music "has been my primary source of income and the main thing I've been successful with at making a living for over 20 years now," said Dean Agus, a Hot Springs singer/songwriter. "With that being said, this pandemic has made life difficult to deal with, to say the least. I never thought I'd see anything like this in my lifetime."

Agus said he was lucky enough to be able to save "a little bit of money" to get him through March, April and now May "with a very limited amount of extra spending," but stressed it's "been very hard to deal with."

He said he felt it should be possible to allow live entertainment, "especially by maybe limiting it to solo acts only at first and then maybe full bands later. I don't understand why this wasn't mentioned or thought of. If all the safety guidelines are taken, then I don't see an issue."

The Arkansas Department of Health issued directives Monday which included some specifics for large outdoor and indoor venues, such as performers having to be separated from the audience by at least 12 feet and crowds limited to 50 or less. Performers don't have to wear a face covering as long as they are 12 feet from other persons.

"I think musicians should have been considered a little more," said John Calvin Brewer, another Hot Springs singer/songwriter, referring to income relief. "There are people struggling right now with zero income and an un-hiring job market. The money is there and they are holding it up."

Brewer said he personally was "doing fine," because he had a day job and qualified for unemployment.

"Most musicians live on a tight budget," he said, noting they are dealing with the costs of instruments, expensive gear and travel so "full-time musicians without a day job were already taking a gamble."

He noted most entertainers are already distanced, 7 to 8 feet or even more, from the crowd and "could do more for safety" if needed, even in a bar or restaurant.

"Businesses want music. They feel it gives them an edge on the competition. It gets them free advertisement, a live musician and creates regulars," Brewer said.

"It's tough not being able to perform. Our brand depends on it. It's live art and a personal electric feeling and connection to people," he said, noting livestreaming, like some musicians have turned to, "is just not the same for me personally."

"Most people are listening to you through a tiny speaker on their phone and I know it," he said.

"I haven't done any livestreaming," Agus said. "I have thought about it actually, but wouldn't ask for tips or anything. I would just rather do a free show for others without the pressure or obligation of tipping me."

Singer/songwriter Brian Martin was set to open for Blues Traveler after the First Ever 17th Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade, which was canceled in the wake of the pandemic.

"It was certainly a bummer," Martin said, "but I figured it would happen as soon as all this progressed, so I wasn't really surprised." Asked if he still planned to appear at the rescheduled parade in October, he said he had not been contacted yet.

Asked about musicians livestreaming, Martin, who has done one such performance, said, "From my results as well as feedback from other musicians, there's definitely money to be made there, or at least there was a few weeks ago. Just like the real world, I assume there are musicians out there cleaning up while others are going barely noticed."

He said performing without a crowd was not that weird for him, noting, "I practice with that mindset of visualizing an audience all the time. But knowing there's a virtual set of ears tuning in, that you can't see, yeah, that's a little intimidating, at least at first."

Martin said trying to keep up with listeners online comments in real-time was almost impossible. "That's essentially on par with the drunk guy in the back who still thinks it's hip to yell 'Freebird,'" he said.

As for the immediate future for musicians, Martin said, "We're a resilient bunch, most of us already know what it's like to live below our means just to make a run at this gig. The bigger picture that really resonates with me is that it's people taking care of other people during this time, so much more than the powers that be are."

He said he was hopeful that "we'll get the chance to play for (the fans) again soon and it will all wash out in the end."

"I'm like mostly everyone else, hopefully, we can eventually return back to our lives," Agus said, "but I do believe that life and this world will never be the same again. Not the way we knew it anyway."

Agus said he felt with everything that's going on "live music is much needed and will find it's way back to our lives soon. I do believe this and I know it's not easy, but I hope for everyone to remain strong and patient."

Local on 05/07/2020

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