COVID-19: Being A Musician Amidst A Global Pandemic

As COVID-19 spreads across the world, I see musicians getting hit hard.

Concerts cancelled. Work lost. Jobs temporarily gone. 

The coronavirus and musicians seem like mortal enemies. It’s scary out there. 

As of March 20, 2020, the CDC reports there are more than 15,000 cases and 201 deaths in the United States from the “coronavirus,” as people are calling it. 

This thing is more than just the flu. And that’s why cities and states have been implementing lockdowns. 

Social distancing (or quarantining for those who are at risk or elderly) is crucial to slowing the spread and ultimately for saving lives. 

So how do we musicians deal with this crisis? We’re stuck indoors, so how can we make the most of this pandemic?

I have some ideas. 

I also asked my fellow musicians to share their thoughts, so you’ll see them quoted throughout the post.

Tips For Staying Creative

“If you are sick and you have a wave of inspiration, go with it, but…if you want a sustainable career, pausing is not only ok, it is imperative.”

– JAYMIE GERARD OF JAYMES

With variation comes creativity. Ever notice how traveling inspires you to make something? 

But varying things during this time of being stuck at home can be hard. 

So here are some tips that can help mix things up and keep the creative juices flowing.

Just think about today 

All you have is right now. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow, and it’s time to accept that. 

So why not just enjoy right now? Get inspired by what’s happening this minute.

Literally, right now, stop. Try these things to bring you into the present:

• Notice five things you feel/hear/see
• Think of three things you’re thankful for
• Take one minute to do some breathing

Carry a notebook with you

I have a Recycling Center Notebook that I have with me most of the time. It’s where I write down creative ideas (usually for songwriting) that I’ve gotten from somewhere else.

I might read something in a book. I may have gotten something from a video. Maybe I heard someone say something interesting. 

It all goes into my notebook. 

Clean

I clean when I’m stressed, but it’s also a good time to let my mind wander. And a wandering mind is a creative person’s best friend. 

So, especially if you’re feeling anxious, go clean. Do the dishes. Scrub the floors. Clean the bathroom. 

Not only might it help your creativity, but it’s good to have a clean house if/when you’re sick. 

Go for a walk

Walking is another way to let your mind wander. It also gets the blood flowing throughout your body, including to your brain.

Ingmar Bergman, a Swedish director who’s considered one of the most influential filmmakers ever, knew the creativity-inducing power of a good walk.

“No matter what time you get out of bed, go for a walk,” Bergman told his daughter. “The demons hate it when you get out of bed. Demons hate fresh air.”

So get outside and slay those demons. 

Tips For Staying Productive

“Give yourself a break from work when you are sick, and allow your body to heal. The pressure to always be ‘doing’ drives us to stressful states that make it harder for us to recover.”

– GERARD 

Productivity is super awesome until it’s not. I really like to get stuff done, but sometimes it’s healthy to pause. 

Watch that movie. Laugh at some YouTube videos. Call your mom. Try to relax.

Then, once you’re done giving yourself a break, try following these tips to stay productive.

Keep a routine

I’m in love with routines. And because I’ve been stuck inside, I’ve been even more appreciative of mine.

“When you don’t have much time,” writes Austin Kleon in his book Keep Going, “a routine helps you make the little time you have count. When you have all the time in the world, a routine helps you make sure you don’t waste it.”

Keep a schedule so you can keep moving toward your goals. And also so you don’t lose your mind.

Limit the time you spend doing music

Normally, your time is limited. So you only have little chunks of time during the evening or on weekends to make music.

And according to Parkinson’s Law, you may want to keep those limitations in place even if you’re at home with nothing to do.

This law says your work will expand to fit the time you have. So if you have all day to make music, you may not be as focused because you know you have a ton of time.

But if you say, “I’m going to limit my music-making time to two hours today,” then you’ll probably find you accomplish more. 

You’ll be more focused on doing the thing you love.

Restrict your social media use

Dr. Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown University and author of Deep Work, has never had a social media profile. 

And yet he’s a successful speaker and author.

He does it, so why can’t we?

As it turns out, social media can even cause anxiety.

“Social media anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that is similar to social anxiety disorder,” says the Anxiety And Depression Association Of America.

And the more anxiety you experience, the less motivation you’ll have to do music things.

So use the app tracker/blocker on your iPhone or a service like Freedom.to.

Don’t read too much news

I’m all about balance. Everything in life needs this and that and those. 

So, yes, consume news. You need to stay informed about what’s going on. 

But don’t overdo it. When you feel yourself starting to get stressed about how the world is crumbling beneath you, put down your phone. Take a breath. 

And stop reading the freakin’ news.

Ways To Make Money From Home

“From a marketing perspective, now might be a cool time to break the mold and experiment with some different forms of media.”

– JOEL WILLIAM AKA VAPORPLAID

When you’re stuck at home, that’s a great time to try at-home money-making methods. So here are some ways I make money without leaving my house.  

Pursue sync Licensing

This is one of the main ways I make money as a musician.

It’s when you get paid to let someone use your song in a TV show or commercial, film, YouTube video, podcast, etc. 

For a complete walkthrough on how to get started, check out my sync licensing guide. 

Offer online guitar lessons

Who says guitar lessons have to be in-person? Well, no one probably says that nowadays. 

To start teaching lessons online, make some cool promo graphics with Canva and post them on social media. 

You can also check out Musika Lessons, a company that finds students for you. 

Get jobs on Upwork

Upwork is a place for freelancers to find work. And I’ve had success finding music-related jobs on it, including:

• Writing and producing jingles
• Co-producing/editing/making the music for a podcast
• Writing music advice content 
• Being a topline melody writer

And I did all these things at home. 

Hold a live stream concert

Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube all offer the option to go live. And since you’ll be at home, why not jump online and do a quick online concert?

I like this option because I get nervous playing in front of people. But when there’s a screen between me and the audience, it’s a little easier. 

It’s also more laid-back. I can chat with people in between songs. That’s why I’ve been doing these on Instagram and Facebook. 

In exchange for providing entertainment, you can ask for donations. For Facebook and YouTube, just drop your PayPal link in the description. For Instagram, put the link in your bio. 

Do freelance writing

A large part of my day job as a writer is creating music advice content for places like Bandzoogle, Sonicbids, and Flypaper.

And here’s what I know…

If you’re a songwriter with a laptop and internet connection, you can probably write a helpful blog post. Share what you’ve learned as a musician and back it up with research.

To get into freelance writing, first read this post on how to start a blog.

Then contact your favorite music advice blogs, pitch them your article ideas, and tell them how much you’d like to get paid.

COVID-19: Being A Musician Amidst A Global Pandemic