goblin Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 I lost over £1k of work on Friday, and another £1k went in a single message today too. It's not looking good, most of my gigs are to sizeable crowds and music is my full time occupation. To say I've had it is potentially an understatement. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 2 hours ago, casapete said: We have a gig in the isle of Man early June for the TT races so may be a similar situation. Boat Race cancelled, Boat Race gig cancelled ☹️ Hope you have better luck.🤞🏼 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 There is no shame in asking for help! Obviously the Music unions, MU, and ISM, if you are a member. But also charities may be able to help. It's what they do. Don't let pride get in the way if you are suffering. https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 IoM TT race cancelled too, unsurprisingly. I've had 1 gig cancelled so far; and all 3 groups have either cancelled rehearsals, or considering it (so the gigs will go too, obvs). The government advice is sufficiently vague to make it borderline, but with the groups being big bands - typically 15-20 people - rather than simply about 4-5 of us, its unclear if its a "social gathering" of sufficient size, or whether we can take precautions eg stay about 2m apart, own music stands, don't share mugs in the break etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Lost two today following the announcement, one would be during the time I am supposed to self isolate so at least we don’t have to disappoint them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 4 hours ago, MacDaddy said: All my gigs are currently going ahead as planned, but one is at The Boat Race. I'm wondering if a ban on public events is brought in, would it apply, as it's not actually in a venue? 3 hours ago, casapete said: We have a gig in the isle of Man early June for the TT races so may be a similar situation. Nah, they'd flood their engines. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb625 Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Our IoM gig next week has been cancelled. I've also heard that they are imposing a 14 day quarantine for visitors from the mainland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Our last gig is tomorrow. Just slipping in under the radar I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 (edited) I’ve just been told our appearance at a blues rock festival next weekend has been cancelled, which I was half expecting to be honest. I was hoping my side project of solo acoustic guitar gigs might slip under the radar (no one could ever consider them a mass gathering...) but if people are being advised not to go to pubs then that’s scuppered as well. I’ll remain prepared to do them if required but I’m waiting for the cancellation calls to start coming in. Strange times indeed. For the first time in along time I feel fortunate to have my desk job to fall back on. Edited March 16, 2020 by bassbiscuits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 On 15/03/2020 at 12:39, Dubs said: It's a strange situation where we find the public and private organisations taking the lead on the decisions to cancel events and mass gatherings ahead of any government advice. It's almost like they're just watching the swinging gate after the horse has bolted. The problem is that the government has stopped short of actually banning people going to pubs, theatres etc - they have just told people they shouldn’t do it. That leaves the venue/promoter to take responsibility for cancelling any events and leaves them vulnerable to paying out any refunds etc, rather the venue being able to say they are following the government’s directions. Thats my understanding of it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 3 hours ago, goblin said: I lost over £1k of work on Friday, and another £1k went in a single message today too. It's not looking good, most of my gigs are to sizeable crowds and music is my full time occupation. To say I've had it is potentially an understatement. Mate that’s really harsh. Sorry to hear that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 9 minutes ago, bassbiscuits said: The problem is that the government has stopped short of actually banning people going to pubs, theatres etc - they have just told people they shouldn’t do it. That leaves the venue/promoter to take responsibility for cancelling any events and leaves them vulnerable to paying out any refunds etc, rather the venue being able to say they are following the government’s directions. Thats my understanding of it. That seems to be exactly what it is, a cowardly and callous approach from the government. Because they haven't mandated that venues/restaurants, etc close, presumably the operators will not be able to claim anything; if they close, it'll be their choice, no-one told them to do it. Scandalous in my opinion. I'm gutted that I probably won't get to play with the band again for months, and feel sorry for everyone affected. Everyone in the arts, everyone who was looking forward to their wedding, all the small business owners, people who are being ordered to take lengthy unpaid absence, etc, etc. 😔 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 2 minutes ago, TRBboy said: That seems to be exactly what it is, a cowardly and callous approach from the government. Because they haven't mandated that venues/restaurants, etc close, presumably the operators will not be able to claim anything; if they close, it'll be their choice, no-one told them to do it. Scandalous in my opinion. I'm gutted that I probably won't get to play with the band again for months, and feel sorry for everyone affected. Everyone in the arts, everyone who was looking forward to their wedding, all the small business owners, people who are being ordered to take lengthy unpaid absence, etc, etc. 😔 Exactly this ^^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 49 minutes ago, TRBboy said: That seems to be exactly what it is, a cowardly and callous approach from the government. Because they haven't mandated that venues/restaurants, etc close, presumably the operators will not be able to claim anything; if they close, it'll be their choice, no-one told them to do it. Scandalous in my opinion. We've been discussing this this evening. With all our gigs being weddings then whoever hits the button and cancels, be it client, venue or supplier, will be the one looking at losing the most. We're looking at every booking and wondering who's going to blink first? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Just back from possibly the last rehearsal for a long time.....out of normally about 20, there was 9 attending and big gaps in instrument lineup. Most disappointingly, 3x of the over 70s turned up anyway and lied about their age when asked! But that's the crux of the issue - the government's advised them to self-isolate but don't actually have the power (yet) to enforce it. I suspect they've deliberately stopped short of obliging eg clubs and pubs to close (TODAY) because of the potential to claim compensation. TOMORROW might be a different matter, now that they've effectively given themselves the power to pass legislation without a vote.....expect some pretty wide-sweeping emergency powers to be implemented in the next few days.....!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Just looking on the BBC News site now, and most West End Theatres are all shutting down with immediate effect, along with other organisations like ATG who operate a lot of provincial theatres too. That's my band out of work until whenever then. As some people have already commented, such a bad way of handling things by the government, which will cause more hardship than it potentially needed to, and still no definite plans to support those self employed people from financial ruin. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 (edited) My Niece, who is a professional musician/songwriter, has set up a Gofund me page for musicians who will perform gigs live on the web. https://www.facebook.com/yumhoneyblood There's also this lot who will stream gigs live on Youtube for you. https://www.rootsmusic.ca/2020/03/15/please-do-this-right-now-it-will-take-5-seconds-and-help-us-stream-concerts/?fbclid=IwAR0lIgpPCwzpaBMEAKHAG4eBYvnP88rAD2OYmQ9b2mcllfJ49H37czeHW6E People want to see live music and musicians want to perform. Where there's a will there's a way. Edited March 16, 2020 by gjones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Theodore Logan, III Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 We only perform to an audience of six or fewer (as a rule of course, not because we're awful...) Our 3½ annual gigs are still on the cards, much to the disappointment of the local community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goblin Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 16 minutes ago, casapete said: Just looking on the BBC News site now, and most West End Theatres are all shutting down with immediate effect, along with other organisations like ATG who operate a lot of provincial theatres too. That's my band out of work until whenever then. As some people have already commented, such a bad way of handling things by the government, which will cause more hardship than it potentially needed to, and still no definite plans to support those self employed people from financial ruin. That's me also and definitely f***ed then 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurhenry Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 (edited) It's starting to feel like perhaps we as musicians have a social responsibility to cancel gigs ourselves. Should we be encouraging gatherings of people? I suspect pretty soon everything will be off indefinitely (the rest of the year, at least?) anyway. Edited March 17, 2020 by arthurhenry 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 Waking up to a string of cancelled and postponed gigs. Music is a second income for me and I'm expecting to take a big hit over the next few months, nothing compared to you full-time pros though - really feeling for you guys at the moment. The hospitality and arts industries are up sh*t creak. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SICbass Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 49 minutes ago, Dubs said: nothing compared to you full-time pros though - really feeling for you guys at the moment. The hospitality and arts industries are up sh*t creak. That sums it up rather neatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 First of (we expect) many phone calls received from our theatre venues last night cancelling this Friday's gig.... Disgusting the way this Govt is treating the entertainment/hospitality community. Venues will go under and people will hit the breadline all because they are having to 'voluntarily' close/stop working... So angry with Cummings/Cooper and their cronies right now.... !!! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 First cancellation yesterday (big bikers rally in Cheshire), but expecting most of the gigs over the coming couple of months to go the same way. My sentiment is as per a number of other above, this is a non-critical revenue stream for me so my sympathies really do lie with those in the entertainment and hospitality sectors at this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 All my main band’s theatre gigs now cancelled indefinitely. My regular weekly acoustic duo pub gig has also just gone the same way, so that’s 100% of my regular income completely gone. Testing times ahead I feel. 😥 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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