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JONATHAN PIPPEN - FREELANCE

MUSICIANS PANDEMIC SURVIVAL PACK

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COVID HITS HARDVID HITS HARD ADAPT AND OVERCOME!APT AND OVERCOME!
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As a rule most performing freelancers plan to be “quiet”
Freelance musicians are used to a precarious life style
Freelance musicians are used to a precarious life style. We . We As a rule most performing freelancers plan to be “quiet”
in January and August, simply due to the general lack ofJanuary and August, simply due to the general lack of
are a hardy bunch usually in
are a hardy bunch usually, being used to the fluctuating,, being used to the fluctuating,
concerts and events (other than the proms and other summer
erratic and often unreliable nature of the music industry
erratic and often unreliable nature of the music industry. . concerts and events (other than the proms and other summer
festivals) and either make suitable arrangements for these
festivals) and either make suitable arrangements for these
Most of us have chosen this life style for ourselves, leaving
leaner times
Most of us have chosen this life style for ourselves, leaving leaner times or, utilise other avenues of work available to them. or, utilise other avenues of work available to them.
But what happens when it’
behind, declining offers of, or even just not ever applying for , or even just not ever applying for
behind, declining offers of But what happens when it’s not just January?s not just January?
salaried positions. We prefer this freer lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle e prefer this freer lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle
salaried positions. W
choice. But no one could have planned for 2020. . But no one could have planned for 2020. T
Teaching is a natural side line of the jobbing freelanceeaching is a natural side line of the jobbing freelance
choice
musician, and many use this as a way of stabilising what can
musician, and many use this as a way of stabilising what can
be an erratic earning patters at the best of times, but it’
The Covid-19 pandemic is unchartered territory
The Covid-19 pandemic is unchartered territory, and from March , and from March be an erratic earning patters at the best of times, but it’s reallys really
accepted, although not often admitted, that many freelance
2020 until time of writing, it has really decimated the entire accepted, although not often admitted, that many freelance
2020 until time of writing, it has really decimated the entire
musicians have other avenues of income to make ends meet,
music industry’s output, closing theatres, concert halls, arenas, s output, closing theatres, concert halls, arenas, musicians have other avenues of income to make ends meet,
music industry’
or at least add a little more comfort to their lives. Usually
recording studios, rehearsal facilities and of course promoter’ or at least add a little more comfort to their lives. Usually
recording studios, rehearsal facilities and of course promoter’s s
it’s something they enjoy, something that has a supporting,s something they enjoy, something that has a supporting,
wallets. it’
wallets.
but vital role in allowing them to continue to function as a
but vital role in allowing them to continue to function as a
The government have helped many through the self- musician without going bankrupt each time a lean patch
The government have helped many through the self-
musician without going bankrupt each time a lean patch
arrives. This is given little if any time or thought on any
employed income support scheme (SIESS) but after theincome support scheme (SIESS) but after the
employed arrives. This is given little if any time or thought on any
conservatoire course I know of
two payments that have been given, it seems third payment conservatoire course I know of, but it’s a vital part being able , but it’s a vital part being able
two payments that have been given, it seems third payment
may be on its way, but set at just 20%, which seems, but set at just 20%, which seems to keep playing professionally without the safety net of a
may be on its way
to keep playing professionally without the safety net of a
disproportionately lows compared to the previous 80% and
disproportionately lows compared to the previous 80% and salary
salary. It’s not the case of all of course but for many. . It’s not the case of all of course but for many.
70% of earnings previously given.
70% of earnings previously given.
However, these are the lucky ones. Those who averaged , these are the lucky ones. Those who averaged
However
a penny over £50k net profit in the last 3 years, and those over £50k net profit in the last 3 years, and those
a penny
without 3 years of accounts to submit have been left out of 3 years of accounts to submit have been left out of
without
the help scheme completely. Ive not heard any decent. Ive not heard any decent
the help scheme completely
justification for this yet. It seems very harsh.
justification for this yet. It seems very harsh.
Maybe there will be more news on this with the second
Maybe there will be more news on this with the second
wave of the virus bedding in and new lock down restrictions
wave of the virus bedding in and new lock down restrictions
being introduced, but for now all that can be said is that
being introduced, but for now all that can be said is that
for both these groups it has been hardest. Tragically I’veragically I’ve
for both these groups it has been hardest. T
already seen instrument sale adverts online from musicians
already seen instrument sale adverts online from musicians
who have had West End shows for more than a few years, and est End shows for more than a few years, and
who have had W
orchestral and session players who have no work and earned
orchestral and session players who have no work and earned
too much money over the last few years to qualify for the help
too much money over the last few years to qualify for the help. .
Amongst my freelance colleagues there are a Draftsman,
It’s a strange feeling to be grateful for having not earned too s a strange feeling to be grateful for having not earned too
It’ Amongst my freelance colleagues there are a Draftsman,
much money!
much money! Calor Gas Engineer, Golf Caddy, book dealer, mechanic and , Golf Caddy, book dealer, mechanic and
Calor Gas Engineer
one of my peers on the west end production Half a Sixpence
one of my peers on the west end production Half a Sixpence
is an iron monger of some repute
It’
It’s a double whammy that those we have just mentioned who s a double whammy that those we have just mentioned who is an iron monger of some repute. Think the Iron Throne! . Think the Iron Throne!
are suffering the most are the ones who have been lucky
are suffering the most are the ones who have been lucky It’s these people, used to diversifying that are most able tos these people, used to diversifying that are most able to
It’
enough to enjoy careers where they generate income solely survive in these uncertain times, most able to deal with what
enough to enjoy careers where they generate income solely
survive in these uncertain times, most able to deal with what
from performing, writing or producing. These are the people performing, writing or producing. These are the people the pandemic is throwing at us, and, most likely to come out the
from
the pandemic is throwing at us, and, most likely to come out the
usually considered the luckiest and most successful, often
usually considered the luckiest and most successful, often other end ready for the phone to ring for a gig.
other end ready for the phone to ring for a gig.
members of show bands in the west end or on touring shows,
members of show bands in the west end or on touring shows,
busy session players or even members of the freelance but I
busy session players or even members of the freelance but
I think like never before diversification is the key to survival, think like never before diversification is the key to survival,
which is harder to consider if you’re not used to it, but I don’t
permanent orchestral outfits in L which is harder to consider if you’re not used to it, but I don’t
permanent orchestral outfits in London. Just recently I’ve heard ondon. Just recently I’ve heard
see any shame in it, or really any option if you want to be left
from reliable sources of a top L see any shame in it, or really any option if you want to be left
from reliable sources of a top London session trumpet player ondon session trumpet player
standing instrument, baton or pencil in hand when this is all
applying to join the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and of join the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and of
applying to standing instrument, baton or pencil in hand when this is all
a player with a principal chair in a Birmingham orchestra doing
a player with a principal chair in a Birmingham orchestra doing over..
over
the same. Unheard of in my humble experience, and a pretty same. Unheard of in my humble experience, and a pretty
the
But... this should absolutely not be confused with the recent
obvious reaction to the climate and the uncertainty of the future
obvious reaction to the climate and the uncertainty of the future.. But... this should absolutely not be confused with the recent
Tragically many are deciding to leave the profession allragically many are deciding to leave the profession all Government tack of encouraging us to leave the profession
Government tack of encouraging us to leave the profession
T
together. This for me is the saddest outcome. . This for me is the saddest outcome. all together
all together. That is just wrong, on so many levels. I cannot be . That is just wrong, on so many levels. I cannot be
together
impartial on that!
impartial on that!
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