While the pandemic has raged throughout the summer, many parts of the US have had the advantage of fair weather, giving us - at times - some semblance of normalcy, and the ability to interact with others in relative safety. That said, winter is fast approaching, and with no vaccine on the immediate horizon, creatives will be forced to once again batten the hatches and prepare for a season of isolation. While a bleak prospect, our time spent in lockdown this spring has given us some tools for coping with the coming season.
Prepare a schedule: Even in easier times, creating a schedule you can stick to is a huge asset when it comes to time management and maximizing productivity. Even if you’re working full time again, giving some structure to the time you would normally spend socializing can be a great way to make sure you’re practicing your instruments and working on new projects, rather than simply doom scrolling on the couch.
Create a practice space: Creating a dedicated space for practicing and performing music can be a huge asset in promoting your productivity, as well as giving you a way to compartmentalize your creative work as separate from the rest of your day to day activities.
Plan to try something new: Stagnation can lead to frustration. In order to keep your musical endeavors fresh and exciting, now can be a great time to pick up a new style of playing or singing, or better yet, a new instrument. Maybe you’ve been curious about digital music or beatmaking, for a while, what better time to dive in than now?
Stay Connected: While a lot of us might be feeling Zoom fatigue, finding a way to communicate with bandmates, or just others in your lane of the music industry is key to keeping feelings of isolation at bay, as well as staying inspired and engaged with the projects you’re working on.
Collaborate: You might technically be all alone, but thanks to all the advantages of current tech, it’s never been easier to collaborate with your fellow musicians on a project. Given the dearth of shows and tours, it’s more than likely other artists will be eager for new musical endeavors to pursue, making this winter season the perfect time to reach out!