What to do if your summer gigs have been cancelled

If you’re a musician and have found the bottom fall out from beneath your summer plans, you might be wondering what to do with your new-found spare time. Whilst lost gigs means less income, there are other ways to remain productive and earn money through your music. Read on for our advice on what to do if your summer shows have been scrapped. 

Apply for financial help 

If you’re struggling financially, get clued up on what help there is available. Aside from the government’s Universal Credit scheme and Employment and Support Allowance, there are also a number of help schemes directed specifically towards musicians. The organisation, Help Musicians, for instance, has set up a relief fund of £2.55 million to provide instant assistance to musicians in the most urgent of situations 

Go Digital 

Just because in-person events have been cancelled, doesn’t mean that you don’t have an audience. The lockdown has seen musicians of all genres experiment with ‘virtual’ gigs and concerts streamed live over the internet. Global Citizen’s ‘One World Together at Home’ and MusiCare’s ’60 Concerts in 60 Days’, for example, have seen some of music’s biggest names perform live from the comfort of their own homes in order to raise funds for struggling colleagues. 

It’s important to remember, though, that you don’t need to be an international superstar in order to make live-streamed events work. Whilst you might lack the marketing power of larger names, it’s more than possible to promote and hold your virtual gig over social media. If this is uncharted territory for you, we’d recommend reading this guide from the Incorporated Society of Musicians on how to connect with a digital audience. 

Record remotely 

With more time on your hands, you can finally start working on that long-awaited album. Rag’n’Bone Man, Mel C, and Gabrielle Aplin are just a few artists to have polished off their latest albums from home-studio set-ups. And if you don’t have everything you need at home, there’s always the option of online mixing. At Kore Studios, our online mixing service allows you to send in your tracks (however you’ve recorded them), and our engineers will refine the sound, add effects, and get them ready for release. 

Write your next album 

For some writers, isolation provides the downtime they need to find inspiration. Bon Iver’s album ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ (2008), for instance, was written by Justin Vernon in a remote cabin in the forests of Wisconsin. Similarly, Radiohead’s seminal album ‘Ok Computer’ (1997) and The Rolling Stones 1972 album ‘Exile on Main Street’ were also both written during periods of relative seclusion from the outside world. Whilst the current situation has put a pause on live in-person events, it can also be a fertile time for writing new material. 

Teach music online 

Teaching can provide a consistent source of income for musicians whilst live events are put on hold. If you have any experience teaching music, it’s entirely possible to hold lessons online. The Music Union has put some useful information together on how to teach music online and how to approach safeguarding, whilst the Incorporated Society of Musicians have published a guide to different remote teaching software platforms. 

If you’re looking to record your next track or album in lockdown, check out our online mixing service. We offer mixing, re-amping, and 2” tape stem printing, alongside a range of effects. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to book a slot in our fully-equipped studio, contact us to find out more.