There is no excuse for a musician to be bored during COVID-19, and we have a list of reasons why.
By the end of April 2020, most people will have spent at least six weeks or more in quarantine. Social distancing measures continue to slow the spread of coronavirus, but more work is needed before life can quote/unquote “return to normal.” Nobody knows when live music will resume, but conservative estimates suggest we may see artists performing for audiences again before summer ends. Larger events, such as festivals, most likely won’t be part of our lives again until 2021.
That timeline is depressing for many fans and scary for most musicians. Artists often rely on touring revenue to stay afloat, and the uncertainty surrounding live music has many worrying about how they will continue paying their bills. Some are adapting by creating new revenue streams online, but many are sitting at home in quarantine wondering what to do with themselves.
We don’t have all the answers, but we know one thing: No artist should be bored.
Boredom stems from having nothing to do. The traditional tasks that make up an artist’s daily routine may be on hold, but that doesn’t mean they have nothing to accomplish. From updating their archives and organizing merch, to branding and exploring potential revenue streams online, there is plenty for driven musicians to work on while in quarantine.
In this episode of Music Biz, host James Shotwell offers nearly a dozen ideas for artists who feel bored or believe they have nothing to do. We believe there has never been a better time to position yourself for longterm success in music than right now, but it is the artist’s responsibility to put in the necessary work. No one can make you a star. If you want to succeed, then you have to get up every single day and move mountains. We’ll tell you where to start.
