Do you have an upcoming festival, concert, house party, tour, or songwriting session? Here is information about event gatherings and tips on how to keep music business flowing!
According to the state and local health agencies, as of March 11, 2020, the United States has 1,267 cases of COVID-19, a novel virus, also known as the coronavirus. As of March 9, 2020, 62 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have appeared in four provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
Recommendations for gathering and events
The California Department of Public Health and other authorities have recommended that large gatherings that include 250 people or more should be postponed or cancelled and smaller gatherings that do not allow social distancing of six feet per person should be postponed or cancelled. Basically, any festival, concert, house party, and smaller gathering should be rescheduled.
What can musicians and music companies do instead to generate business?
With many college campuses closed at least for the month of March and employees working from home, we’ll likely see increased activity and engagement concerning online content. Here are ways to engage music fans and generate business:
1. Live Stream
At home because a tour or appearance was cancelled or re-scheduled? LIVE STREAM your performance. Many social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and others have live stream capabilities. Had a show this month? Reschedule it and announce to fans you’re hosting a live-stream performance.
2. Create New Content
Right now is the perfect time to create new content. Book that forest photoshoot, schedule cover video tapings, get active on Tik Tok, create new merch, create a content schedule for March/early April and push that content out!
3. Write, Write, Write
Had no time to write while you were on tour, scheduled for radio station hangs or doing press? Now is the perfect time to hunker down at home and write tunes. Have tunes written? Write a release plan! Coordinate with your manager and plan your next year!
4. Host Virtual Meetings
Have meetings and hangouts at offices this month? Schedule phone or virtual meetings. You may have a conference call line. If not, try Zoom, Google Hangouts or Skype!
Keep Updated on Recommendations by Public Health Authorities
Every State in the U.S. and every Province in Canada has a Public Health authority or Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Review public health resources and recommendations first. Further, governmental websites may have recommendations and advice concerning travel. Here are helpful links:
- Department of Health services links for all U.S. States including Territories: https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html
- California Public Health Guidance, Generally: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Guidance.aspx
- California Public Health Gathering Guidance: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Gathering_Guidance_03.11.20.pdf
- Government of Canada Travel Advice: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html
- Toronto Public Health: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/diseases-medications-vaccines/coronavirus/
- Ontario Ministry of Health: https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus