Musicians Surviving during Covid 19 : The Earning power
posted by NAKESTRA MUSIC on May 18, 2020
We are all affected if not infected by the Covid 19 (Sars CoV 2) outbreak. Be it in whatever industry were in. The effects may even last longer. And as the world learns how to adapt to this new reality Musicians should also adapt. Fast.
Concert Halls lay empty, Conservatories remain closed, Studios are running on fumes, Online lessons are driving private teachers crazy.
This isnt easy as many other sectors remain shut. Airlines and Hotels being more affected. Markets sourcing commodities from other countries and not within local farmers (it puzzles me why). Transport and Movement restricted and business hours going down. Massive layoffs and unpaid leaves.
While this pandemic has proved ugly, theres alot to learn from this. We have had time to look back at how we run our lives, Did we save enough? Did we invest enough? Did we love or live enough? Most of us probably felt put down by this effects.
However, Hope must not be lost.
Its important to ask ourselves the most important question. What is my next step? A couple of weeks ago, i had been pushed up the wall. I felt like i couldnt sustain myself. Like some horrible financial choices had caught up with me. Later i met a mentor of mine who happens to be a successful entrepreneur, with interests in Music Insuarance and more. He made me understand not to underestimate the power of Earning.
We should not question our ability to earn. We got into this world at some point not earning but depending on others for survival. Eventually, we learnt how to earn and adapted. As a musician, i came to Nairobi joined a local orchestra and as i was in time in my first year in University i learnt how to offer music lessons to beginners as i was then an intermediate pianist. I went in and started teaching. I have since then taught over a hundred different students and made a life after. I even got a family.
I gave performances and grew as a teacher and pianist. Life was great. Eventually my lifestyle caught up to my income. As musicians we tend to be prodigious in spending... However i learnt later that if u can manage little you can manage much. (Its biblical) Now enter Covid, most students panic and your left minus all your clients with only one who wants to try online lessons. Things change and thats when all hell breaks loose. The idea that people are suffering settles in your head and pondering about the unforseen future becomes a feeling all too common. Long story short. However, many times we dont stop to think about how much abundance there is on earth. Just because things are bad doesnt mean that there is no money in circulation. There are people who have a need for our services and are still willing to pay for it. Some want to start an instrument or vocal lessons to get their minds of things. Some have money to buy instruments to keep their kids busy. This is the time to dealize this. We need to be awake! We are all born marketers. We should strive to find alternatives in every instance. So you cant teach physically? Start an online class, Try to get customers for a local music shop. Get to a studio get a track put it on sound cloud etc, see if it makes money for you. If you charges $30 a lesson try give packages i.e 10 lessons for $200. Try as much as possible to make something. This is not the time to die. Rather the time to be more alert. Avert all thoughts of weakness. Make sharp smart decisions, and live Frugally. Lets win some more. Eventually we shall get over this, and we shall have learnt how to survive. We're not the first and neither shall we be the last. For Nakestra Alex Waweru Pianist, Teacher, Entrepreneur, Father.
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