Five Free Things You Can Do To Support Local Artists

According to an Independent Musician

2020 was devastating for people across the board, but I’m not sure if any industry has suffered a blow as hard as the arts and entertainment. Well, maybe my good friend, the cruise industry. While other sectors have begun to slowly resume from hibernation over the past several months, live performances are just starting to make their resurgence.

Even pre-COVID, society’s attitude towards musicians and artists have suggested that we are “unessential” — from cutting arts programs in schools to the countless times I’ve been asked what my “real” job is. Because we defy the normal 9–5 schedule, some people assume that we have opted for the easy route. In reality, performers live in a constant state of job insecurity, intense competition, figuring out our own healthcare and retirement arrangements and justifying why we should be paid for our job. (You’d never question a nurse or teacher for expecting a paycheck at the end of their work week, right?) And do not even get me started on doing your taxes as a self-employed gig worker.

Over the course of the pandemic, I was fortunate enough to have a lot of great people, both friends and strangers, reach out online, tune into my livestreams and ask, “How can I help?” While contributing to our virtual tip…