When the sun shines it shines on everyone when it rains it rains on everyone, the question is, ‘What can you do to shelter people from the storm?’

When the sun shines it shines on everyone when it rains it rains on everyone, the question is, ‘What can you do to shelter people from the storm?’

What are the benefits and upside of the current situation? Putting it another way, maybe we should not let a crisis go to waste. I have watched as artists have the possibility and potentiality of their careers and income disappearing down a black hole. What is the way forward? What can you do if you ally yourself to others in a similar situation to you?

Could you trade your skills for another’s skills?

Over the years I have had a number of pupils who have traded my guitar lessons in return for their own specialised skills. These have included computer repairs, software and other programming, gardening work, roadies for gigs, yoga lessons and many other things.

It is interesting that this form of exchange which would have been an important part of the economy doesn’t seem to be in our mind-set very much. However this could be an important aspect of your business and although technically you could be taxed on this, in reality it is something that can slip under the net.

Within your circle of friends there will be other musicians and artists who will be in exactly the same boat as you. You may be able to up skill and help them to up skill in areas that all could benefit from.

What experiences have you that you can share?

Life often throws us a curved ball and every now and again it takes our bat and hits us around the head with it. Now such experiences of life and how you recover from the head trauma are worth sharing. Think about financial problems that you have dealt with or are dealing with could they be of use to others. What about health issues? Mental and physical all of these can be the beginning of someone’s journey to health, and can act as a catalyst for others.

If you have not experienced the above, do you know someone who has who you can get to help? Become a portal of information.  

 

Are there any areas of abundance in this situation?

I know that’s hard to find if we coming out of the same paradigm, but if we shift the view of what we are doing, what can we find?

In any crisis there is an opportunity, just as in a good time not everyone benefits, this may not be musical opportunity or artist one however, you may be able to make it into one later, but at the moment look broader and deeper into the situation. I have to wonder how much money people have made from facemasks, sanitisers and then of course the vaccination when it arrives! That will certainly be a good money-spinner. I am not suggesting this, just that some people spot this a long way off and we might need to model that type of thinking.  

Remember you also have a network of other people, they are called friends; this is one of the most important aspects of being an artist you have a long list of contacts that you can use and they are often your friends. It might be an idea to sit down and write them out, make it physical. There will be more than just your Facebook crowd but your email list and you address book; people that you really know and trust.

Now is a good time to discover who your true friends are. Make sure that you are friends to other people.

 

Vic 

www.bluescampuk.co.uk Play in a rock band, Write songs, play gigs in France 

www.patreon.com/vichyland  for Podcast news on 'Creative'