Though it can often be difficult for musicians to succeed in general, the new limitations presented by the pandemic make it even more challenging. I think a musician can succeed in Covid times by adapting to the limitations we are presented and finding ways to take advantage. Many musicians are faced with more time on their hands, so taking advantage of that time to practice or work on material would be an obvious start. As well as musicians, people in general have more time on their hands, and the opportunity to listen to live music is lacking. Utilizing the social media and live streams to perform is an obvious option. Livestreaming can be done independently, and there are tools for selling tickets and promoting via social media. There are also opportunities to be livestreamed, for example, I worked at an art gallery during the summer where we hosted a live stream of three bands, and paid them much like a gig. Taking proper safety precautions, there are safe physical options to perform and make money. Being digital also can be seen as a way to collaborate with other musicians while not having to pay travel costs. Organizing a live stream where multiple groups perform can be more enticing for ticket buyers. A live stream can also be recorded and made available for purchase if posted to a website or service such as Vimeo, or it can be uploaded to a streaming site such as YouTube, where it can be monetized. Musicians can also set up donation links where spectators can donate if they wish. Aside from performing, musicians with a following may choose to promote and sell merch online, there are many services which handle all processing, bigcartel for example. Partnering with local businesses for livestreams is a good way to promote events to the community and sell tickets.
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