Local musos sing through adversity

ARTISTS and arts organisations struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic will be supported through the Australia Council for the Arts’ $5 million Resilience Fund.

The fund offers financial relief to creatives whose livelihoods, practices and operations have taken a hit because of COVID-19.

Chris Hay, owner of Torquay music school Waves Music Co., said it was important for all three tiers of government to acknowledge and strengthen Australia’s valuable arts community.

“I think it’s very important given that there’s other funding coming through for small businesses; it’s very much the same thing.

“Everybody’s been surprised by this, and having a package there for a demographic that didn’t have anything before, I think that’s great.

“Musos need to get by and the fact that the government’s acknowledged them is an awesome thing.”

He said he was fortunate in his teaching position to be able to facilitate classes online, though many of his friends’ pockets had been immediately affected by the health crisis.

“I really respect all the local venues that have pulled the pin. It’s kind of necessary with what’s going on, but a real shame for the musicians who have had to cancel their gigs.

“There’s so much opportunity to work on music now – write records, write arrangements, connect with venue owners.

“Because there’s no gigs happening at the moment, a lot of people wouldn’t be taking the initiative to contact their bookers, but you can still contact them and keep your connection there.

“There will be a few more bookers who will be keen to book you if you’ve been chatting to them in times when you’re not using their services. It’s about keeping the friendships as well.”

Clifton Springs’ Sarah Carroll is just one out of a string of local musicians whose line-up of gigs has toppled as a result of festival cancellations, including July’s Bello Winter Music and the 23rd annual Yackandandah Folk Festival.

“There’s a big chunk of income that was just wiped out instantly,” she said.

“The support needs to be directed to the venues so they can remain open so we all have work again when this is over.”

The Bellarine Secondary College music teacher said it was up to musicians to build and nourish their networks during this time.

“If you do what you’re supposed to do as a musician, if you continue to give, play and enrich the community just by doing your job, the benefits of that will come.

“It’s going to be a lean time but I don’t think anyone is going to starve because of this.”

Ms Carroll, also known as the “Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine”, said she encouraged people to buy tickets to musicians’ live stream concerts, make a donation through artists’ websites or socials and/or buy their merchandise.

“The people that are around you (musicians) who are aware of your work and can support you will do that.

“My concept of the role of the musicians at this time is that we must continue to perform our function as messengers, as describers of what’s going on, as connectors of people, because that’s really what we do more than anything else.”