Getting back to gigging

tyrosguy85 · October 01, 2020, 03:53:10 PM

Hi everyone.
Does anyone know when keyboard players(like me) are likely to be allowed to play again for social dancing(Ballroom and sequence dancing)?
I have been off since March and would very much like to start running my own events but afraid to due to the current restrictions. Can't seem to find what the rules are.(I'm in the UK).
Many thanks
John.

DrakeM · October 01, 2020, 04:27:47 PM

I am here in Ohio USA (Midwest area) and I don't believe I will be playing any time before JUNE of 2021.

Leading Edge · October 01, 2020, 04:33:25 PM

I did two Saturday night gigs (UK) before the 10 o'clock curfew started. That put the lid on it and the rest were cancelled. However, no singing or dancing was allowed at the two nights I did before the 2200 hours rule came in.

Irrespective of the 10pm mandatory finish you would not be able to play if you play solely for dancing given the current regulations.

sooty8 · October 01, 2020, 05:06:51 PM

Hi John

I am in Kent in the UK, I was also in the Ballroom Music and Rest Home environment entertaining. I was planning to retire when I am 70 owing to the weight of my equipment. I will be 69 next year so I had to retire one year earlier than what I wanted. My last gig was late March 2020. I sold my gigging keyboard in June I could see what was coming. I still have my Tyros 5 for home use, I will not be going out entertaining again. The position in the UK John at the moment, no singing is allowed in any venue owing to the possibility of droplets on the audience. Some care homes are not letting families in because they are to concerned about the virus. Plus now the position is changing daily regarding groups of people meeting together. The theatres in London are hoping to open April next year. There is a small amount of entertainers standing outside care homes with their speakers singing using pre-recorded music, the windows are open so the sound goes through. Some entertainers have gone on YouTube some are using other media means to stream entertainment into care homes and are charging a fee. I have noticed that the amount of music gear on Facebook and e-bay has gone up, I believe quite a few of us have given up. Now the winter months are arriving entertaining outside will go. I do feel sorry for all entertainers they are really struggling. I am lucky I was only entertaining for a hobby. As you know by now John the North of our country is closing down quite fast we are quite lucky in Kent at the moment we have not got a major problem, having said that it looks like London will be next. It all rests on the vaccine and how quickly it arrives. If lucky John it could be April/May 2021 before we can entertain a our audiences again.

Leading Edge · October 02, 2020, 01:28:38 AM

Interesting post SootyB. Something of a coincidence as I too have advised the retirement and nursing homes I'm calling it a day. There seemed no prospect of them opening up to entertainers any time soon. Like you, with the Winter due it seemed like the right time to gracefully retire.

When restrictions ease I plan to do the odd hotel job but that's all. I agree, when you get past 70 lugging gear becomes more of an ordeal.

Until you mentioned it, I had not noticed more musical gear being up for sale. No doubt, there are many others in the retirement age group who will now call it a day in repect of carrying on with their gigs. Too bad it had to end like this.

Dave Nuttall · January 10, 2021, 09:42:12 AM

I believe that "virtual gigging" may be the way of the future but it would not be trivial to be a "one-person show" to manage both the musical performance and technical aspects of managing a streaming "mixer" (i.e. Open Broadcaster Software) and at least one camera and audio inputs.

Anyone interested in virtual gigging, feel free to PM me and perhaps we can start an independent thread or whatever.

Dave
San Antonio, TX

Joe H · January 11, 2021, 11:18:12 AM

Quote from: Dave Nuttall on January 10, 2021, 09:42:12 AM
I believe that "virtual gigging" may be the way of the future but it would not be trivial to be a "one-person show" to manage both the musical performance and technical aspects of managing a streaming "mixer" (i.e. Open Broadcaster Software) and at least one camera and audio inputs.

Anyone interested in virtual gigging, feel free to PM me and perhaps we can start an independent thread or whatever.

Dave
San Antonio, TX

Yes, there are a few people doing that now (streaming live on Facebook) and have a link to PayPal for donations.

Joe H

DonM · January 11, 2021, 11:40:28 AM

I'm one of the few who are performing regularly still. I'm fortunate to leave my gear set up all the time in the same place. There are many rules and restrictions in place, as to number of people, distance between tables, hours of operation, etc.
I did have Covid 19 in September, and survived, BARELY, after 17 days in the hospital.
Now back playing again since Dec. 1. Getting vaccine tomorrow at noon.
Trust me, it's way better to stay at home than go through what I did fighting the virus. I would perhaps have gotten it anyway; we'll never know.
Lost a close friend to it yesterday morning. He was otherwise healthy, and 70 years old.

EileenL · January 14, 2021, 08:26:33 AM

In the UK we are in strict lock down and only essential places allowed to open these being food shops. There are lots of good players and Professional ones giving hour long concerts for free on face book to help keep us all happy and not feeling all alone during this awful time.

Pianoman · February 07, 2021, 03:31:41 PM

Quote from: DonM on January 11, 2021, 11:40:28 AM
I'm one of the few who are performing regularly still. I'm fortunate to leave my gear set up all the time in the same place. There are many rules and restrictions in place, as to number of people, distance between tables, hours of operation, etc.
I did have Covid 19 in September, and survived, BARELY, after 17 days in the hospital.
Now back playing again since Dec. 1. Getting vaccine tomorrow at noon.
Trust me, it's way better to stay at home than go through what I did fighting the virus. I would perhaps have gotten it anyway; we'll never know.
Lost a close friend to it yesterday morning. He was otherwise healthy, and 70 years old.

Hello Don.
I've been off the forum for a while now since this Covid-19 pandemic started.
I'm so sorry to hear that you caught this potentially deadly, but extremely happy that you made it through. 2020 has been a miserable year for most people in our business.

I was lucky in that I was offered a 2 week studio gig back in January 2020.
It paid very well and helped a bit with the bills.
I also had a few gigs in January and February 2020 as well as July August and September, and that was it for 2020. I'm mostly holed up at home with my Genos and only go out for supplies.

Vaccinations have started here but for the moment it's mostly for care homes, emergency workers, over 80s, and those with vulnerabilities such as diabetes etc.

As most of us here, i miss gigging very much.
It's not always about the money, even though everyone could use some right now.
I have lived entirely from music since I was 17 and have been fortunate through all these years, until Covid-19 struck.

As you said, it's way better to stay at home than to get this cursed disease.
People in my group will get vaccinated in April, then we shall see how things turn out this year.

Best Regards,
Abby.

DonM · February 07, 2021, 05:28:01 PM

Quote from: Pianoman on February 07, 2021, 03:31:41 PM
Hello Don.
I've been off the forum for a while now since this Covid-19 pandemic started.
I'm so sorry to hear that you caught this potentially deadly, but extremely happy that you made it through. 2020 has been a miserable year for most people in our business.

I was lucky in that I was offered a 2 week studio gig back in January 2020.
It paid very well and helped a bit with the bills.
I also had a few gigs in January and February 2020 as well as July August and September, and that was it for 2020. I'm mostly holed up at home with my Genos and only go out for supplies.

Vaccinations have started here but for the moment it's mostly for care homes, emergency workers, over 80s, and those with vulnerabilities such as diabetes etc.

As most of us here, i miss gigging very much.
It's not always about the money, even though everyone could use some right now.
I have lived entirely from music since I was 17 and have been fortunate through all these years, until Covid-19 struck.

As you said, it's way better to stay at home than to get this cursed disease.
People in my group will get vaccinated in April, then we shall see how things turn out this year.

Best Regards,
Abby.

Hi Abby, it's good to know you are doing o.k. Yes the virus was very rough in my case.
I did get the second of my two vaccine shots last week. Reaction was very mild, just a sore arm and a little loss of energy for a day or so. The Dr. said that since I had had the virus that the reaction might be a little stronger than normal, but everything went just fine.
I was able to get it because I'm over 70. My wife can't get it yet. She did have the virus at the same time I did, but was able to stay home and was treated with medication and rest.
At this time I am still working at least three nights a week, but still being very careful.

Pianoman · February 08, 2021, 02:33:03 PM

Lucky you with the gigs.
Glad that you're being very careful.
I forgot to mention that the whole Island here had to have an antigen/antibody test the whole of last week.

There were quite a few positives but the Mrs and me
came up negative, so I'm pretty pleased about that.

travlin-easy · February 08, 2021, 04:56:54 PM

Abby, so glad you and the Ms are have dodged the covid bullet. I am scheduled to get my second vaccine shot on the 24th of February and have been home bound since March. A year in the house is no fun, even when you live out in the middle of nowhere, which I do. My only company has been my children, which is just once every couple weeks, and the wildlife, which is always at my back door. Then, there is the cat, who entertains us by doing bad things to the furniture with her claws. I think she enjoys this far more than her cat toys.

Good luck, old friend,

Gary