Ok last one for the weekend but a comment on last night's thread got me thinking about how many other people are effected by bands not being on tour. I'm not sure it's well known that many videos like tiny desk concerts and other video shoots are made while a band is in town.

These shoots take a lot of work and have a huge amount of skilled workers involved in the background. Take this one for example - http://alley.tv/work/firstaidkit/ An absolutely beautiful version and most likely completed before or after soundcheck.

Then there's the gig that gets played that night.(Depending on the size) what about the sound engineers, the lighting, the monitors, the bar staff, the bouncers, the tour manger, driver, merch, roadies, local stage crew, weirdos who sell crap tshirts outside (ok maybe not them)..

...the van or bus company that hires touring vehicles, the magazine that writes about the gig or sets up an interview with the band, the radio station that hosts exclusive live sessions, the tour agent, the press agent (multiple all this by 100 for festivals)

and before a band tours they need to record the album so what about the recording studio, the producer, the mixer, the mastering, the pressing plant, the designer who makes the cover look amazing, the artist who creates the artwork, the photographer, the video director.

Now of course, you don't have to use all of these when making a record but the point is that there is a HUGE knock on effect of bands not making music. Someone I know says the next gig they have booked is November 2021. Imagine that was your next pay check?

It's a massive waste of talent to expect these people to retrain. The music industry is a integral positive contribution to the economy and it provides a cultural benefit that is absolutely essential. It makes no-sense to leave this to ruin. There is a clear economic argument...

...to make sure musicians (and anyone in the arts) can survive because once this is over, there will be a flood of people wanting to get out and celebrate. Why not support musicians now so they can still create and have something that it is ready to go when safe ?

Right now and throughout the winter, it's vaccine or nothing for the arts. As mentioned on Friday, when those in charge have very little appreciation of artistic culture, I don't think the right support will be put in place so the only thing I can think of is to keep buying music

It has never been more essential to support the artists that have contributed to our lives. I don't mean this to sound preachy, I'm just concerned for the livelihoods of many people I know that was already difficult before covid. Music makes the dull drone of daily life better.