5 Ways to Stay Busy in Quarantine

This week goes down as easily the most disheartening times I’ve ever experienced in this Industry. In one weekend we’ve literally gone from a full house for every venue, smiles all around, to 90% of the entertainment workforce losing their jobs in the space of a week.

“I Lost My Gig” website reporting a tally of almost $200m in lost revenue.

Along with ourselves countries like the US also have a lot of Major Cities on complete lockdown. Non essential businesses all ordered to shut to prevent the spread and “flatten the curve”.

It has left many artists who are now in self-imposed lock-downs scratching their heads with what to do next.

Some are in fear of what will happen to their career in a Post Coronavirus world. Which is having a knock on effect to our mental health. How can you think clearly when you have just lost every job for the next 3-6 months in the blink of an eye?

Just know that you are not alone.

The fact is this is completely unprecedented. So there isn’t a manual out there on what to do in a Pandemic. We have to look to each other for support.

In honour of that I spent some of my Self Iso time scouring the web to give you some ways to stay busy in this New World.

Here are 5 ways to Stay Busy Whilst in COVID-19 Lockdown.

1. PREPARE

We’ve all said the words “this weekend I’ll organise my music”.

Use this down time to complete those tasks that always seem to be put off by the next gig, hangover or quick power nap.

Get back on top of your record pool subscriptions. Listen to those new tunes your friends sent you. Organise your playlists and delete/store old music you’re not playing anymore. Tend to your email list. Update your website and socials.

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. - Benjamin Franklin

2. PRACTISE

Practise is the only way we stay sharp and learn new things.

Without your gigs to try out that new trick or see if that new track goes well in the club we can become stale. Not exactly what you want to be doing in your down time. Right now so much content is being put out there. All of your favourite international DJs are posting live streams, class links, how to guides in an effort to pass the time and stay relevant.

Which means that you have all these new resources available at your fingertips.

It is going to be tough of course if you don’t have your own decks, but think outside the box. With most venues cancelling entertainment that is so much unused equipment. Other people in the industry are stuck at home and may want someone else to interact with (safely of course).

So many different ways for you to access what you need as long as you’re ready and willing.

3. CREATE

Creative minds inspire others.

The rise of the Livestream has taken hold. Every man and his dog is hosting a livestream from their house.

It has been the most united the industry has been. So many people hosting virtual parties from their own personal spaces.

It is super easy to do and in a lot of cases if you can’t be effed with all the equipment it can be as simple as turning on your phone. (**The PPCA just released some documentation that walks you through the whole live process on YouTube find that here.)

We personally recommend using twitch for all live djing though. They don’t take your stream down and will only mute copyrighted music after your stream is no longer live.

You could also make playlists for your community, or maybe start a podcast. Remember that some people are still out there working and you can find a way to get involved and supply them with something that might help them get through this next 6 months.

Collaborate and network with other DJs via social media. We have so many free resources for transferring large files online now that there are literally no excuses. There is a Duo on our books that were recently apart for a month and were working on a track that whole time. Each member would do a part and send it back to the other. Constantly working on the track the whole time.

I know for a fact so many of you out there are sitting on a pile of unfinished music. Well the world is sending you a sign. Hit that library up and get those tracks fine tuned.

Focus on your brand, and build up your social following.

When the bulk of the social distancing is over people are going to need a release and we are definitely going to see the rise of underground events. So be prepared and keep your network strong. Artists that continue to engage with their crowd through this will 100% come out bigger and badder on the other side.

4. INNOVATE

Innovation is not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen.

Twitch is not something that has just popped up. Twitch has been around since 2011. So technically you could have already had your DJ channel up and running and had been hosting a stream or class every week since then.

The question is why didn’t you?

Because its different, because it wasn’t easy. Well now its easier than ever and with the pandemic everyone is heading online to showcase their talent.

Can you do it bigger and better. Of course you can!

But the bigger question is now that this new way is becoming established what can you do to innovate.

I recently watched a video with Fatboy Slim and Eats Everything marketing the release of their latest track by livestreaming a dj set from a car. They drove around playing mashups of their song whilst having a chat. It was so different and so real I stayed tuned the whole time.

Think about what is out there in your market currently and how you can innovate to create something thats new, fresh and engaging.

5. STAY INFORMED

Misinformation is the biggest killer.

During this pandemic keeping yourself up to date on what you are entitled to and who is there to help is absolutely key.

With so many informational resources you need to make sure you aren’t being fed the wrong info. Things are changing so rapidly it is probably the only time I’ve ever made sure to stay up to date on the news.

I’ve been finding the government website is generally the best source of information but also the ABC / Triple J if you are looking for that information to be more broken down for you.

Are you a registered member of APRA or PPCA? They are making payouts and offering advances in certain situations. You can head over to their resepctive websites for more info. Some of the announcements of these were made last week before the final blow was struck so even more benefits could be offered.

Also just launched was the website https://thesoundofsilence.com.au/ which is centred around the charity Support Act - a charity supporting music workers impacted by the corona virus pandemic. If you or a friend of yours needs crisis relief head to there support page now.

Then finally don’t forget about your pre COVID-19 connections in the community. Its better to chat and receive the info you need from someone you know and trust.

We’re all in this together and it’s going to be a long road so make sure you look out for your fellow musicians.

CONCLUSION

The Pandemic will not carry on forever. Will you lay around and pass the lockdown away not gaining any new skills or growing in any definitive way. Or will you use this time to soar higher than you ever have before.