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Concerts Are on Hold. Workers Behind the Stars Are Hurting. Concerts Are on Hold. Workers Behind the Stars Are Hurting.
(2 months later)
Joshua Dirks began last Thursday in Tulsa, Okla., as a lighting technician on Kiss’s arena tour. He ended the day on a bus home to Nashville as that tour — along with the rest of the multibillion-dollar concert industry — came to an abrupt halt.Joshua Dirks began last Thursday in Tulsa, Okla., as a lighting technician on Kiss’s arena tour. He ended the day on a bus home to Nashville as that tour — along with the rest of the multibillion-dollar concert industry — came to an abrupt halt.
Last week, Live Nation Entertainment and AEG Presents, the two biggest powers in the industry, put their shows on hiatus amid growing concern over the rapid spread of the coronavirus, sending stars like Billie Eilish, Jason Aldean and Cher to social media to apologize to their fans for the scuttled shows.Last week, Live Nation Entertainment and AEG Presents, the two biggest powers in the industry, put their shows on hiatus amid growing concern over the rapid spread of the coronavirus, sending stars like Billie Eilish, Jason Aldean and Cher to social media to apologize to their fans for the scuttled shows.
Behind the artists who appear onstage, however, is a fragile pool of thousands of workers like Mr. Dirks, who perform much of the labor that allows tours to go on — from sound and lighting to transportation, merchandise sales and hospitality. Most are freelancers with few if any employment protections, and they now face months of uncertainty, and potential economic ruin, if the touring interruption consumes the all-important summer season.Behind the artists who appear onstage, however, is a fragile pool of thousands of workers like Mr. Dirks, who perform much of the labor that allows tours to go on — from sound and lighting to transportation, merchandise sales and hospitality. Most are freelancers with few if any employment protections, and they now face months of uncertainty, and potential economic ruin, if the touring interruption consumes the all-important summer season.
“The next half of my year,” Mr. Dirks said, “is floating somewhere in limbo.”“The next half of my year,” Mr. Dirks said, “is floating somewhere in limbo.”
Little seen by the public, the crews that go on tour with artists are mostly not unionized, and bounce from job to job with often little more than a few months’ notice. For years, as the touring business grew and ticket prices swelled, there has been plenty of work. The top 100 tours in North America had $5.6 billion in ticket sales last year, more than double the $2.4 billion in 2009, according to Pollstar, an industry trade publication.Little seen by the public, the crews that go on tour with artists are mostly not unionized, and bounce from job to job with often little more than a few months’ notice. For years, as the touring business grew and ticket prices swelled, there has been plenty of work. The top 100 tours in North America had $5.6 billion in ticket sales last year, more than double the $2.4 billion in 2009, according to Pollstar, an industry trade publication.
But the shutdown has exposed the vulnerability of much of the touring labor force, said Scott Adamson, a veteran sound engineer who has worked with Haim, Khalid and Liz Phair.But the shutdown has exposed the vulnerability of much of the touring labor force, said Scott Adamson, a veteran sound engineer who has worked with Haim, Khalid and Liz Phair.
“When a single tour cancels, it’s a financial hardship for a small crew,” Mr. Adamson said. “In this case, the fear is much deeper, because the entire industry is just grinding to a halt.”“When a single tour cancels, it’s a financial hardship for a small crew,” Mr. Adamson said. “In this case, the fear is much deeper, because the entire industry is just grinding to a halt.”
As Charles Dabezies, who programs onstage video projections, put it, “This is the original gig economy.”As Charles Dabezies, who programs onstage video projections, put it, “This is the original gig economy.”
In recent days, as a trickle of tour cancellations grew to a deluge, crew members’ Facebook feeds and groups texts began to fill with deflating anecdotes and commiseration. Of nine people interviewed for this article, most said they had no health insurance and even in good times had no work booked beyond about six months.In recent days, as a trickle of tour cancellations grew to a deluge, crew members’ Facebook feeds and groups texts began to fill with deflating anecdotes and commiseration. Of nine people interviewed for this article, most said they had no health insurance and even in good times had no work booked beyond about six months.
And the job, they said, is like no other — a life both exhilarating and grueling, with crowds screaming for encores and then, hours later, boredom and isolation as the bus rolls to the next town.And the job, they said, is like no other — a life both exhilarating and grueling, with crowds screaming for encores and then, hours later, boredom and isolation as the bus rolls to the next town.
“A lot of the time you’re tired and exhausted, going to the bathroom in a gas station,” said Sarah Parker, a lighting director. “Those are just the lows that come with it in normal times.”“A lot of the time you’re tired and exhausted, going to the bathroom in a gas station,” said Sarah Parker, a lighting director. “Those are just the lows that come with it in normal times.”
How long the disruption lasts will depend on the Covid-19 outbreak. But even if the spread is contained soon, it may take months to recalibrate the complex scheduling details that go into planning a tour, and workers say they are bracing for a year of vastly reduced income. Mr. Dirks said that last year he was on the road for 300 days, and he is expecting the number to be a fraction of that; others said they were contemplating a year that may be totally lost.How long the disruption lasts will depend on the Covid-19 outbreak. But even if the spread is contained soon, it may take months to recalibrate the complex scheduling details that go into planning a tour, and workers say they are bracing for a year of vastly reduced income. Mr. Dirks said that last year he was on the road for 300 days, and he is expecting the number to be a fraction of that; others said they were contemplating a year that may be totally lost.
Chad Olech, a sound engineer for Fall Out Boy, said that for most workers, the delays have hit just as the business was set to ramp up for its peak annual period, after the lean months of winter. “This could not have happened at a worse time for this industry,” he said.Chad Olech, a sound engineer for Fall Out Boy, said that for most workers, the delays have hit just as the business was set to ramp up for its peak annual period, after the lean months of winter. “This could not have happened at a worse time for this industry,” he said.
Ali Siegel, a lighting designer and director, said she was scheduled to go on the road with the band Of Monsters and Men in April, but is “preparing for the worst.” At home in Denver, Ms. Siegel — who said that while on the road she is typically paid by the week or even by the day — has gone on an austerity budget, including canceling plans to fly to a friend’s wedding.Ali Siegel, a lighting designer and director, said she was scheduled to go on the road with the band Of Monsters and Men in April, but is “preparing for the worst.” At home in Denver, Ms. Siegel — who said that while on the road she is typically paid by the week or even by the day — has gone on an austerity budget, including canceling plans to fly to a friend’s wedding.
“I am debating just going to down the street to see if Starbucks is hiring, just to get through,” she said.“I am debating just going to down the street to see if Starbucks is hiring, just to get through,” she said.
For most touring workers, the shutdown came as no surprise, even if the impact has been sudden.For most touring workers, the shutdown came as no surprise, even if the impact has been sudden.
Saint Motel, an indie-pop band from Los Angeles, completed an American tour this month, just as South by Southwest and the Coachella festival were scuttling their spring plans. (Coachella has announced plans to move to October.) Brandon Jazz, Saint Motel’s tour manager, noticed that on the tour’s final shows, along the West Coast, venues were getting emptier and emptier.Saint Motel, an indie-pop band from Los Angeles, completed an American tour this month, just as South by Southwest and the Coachella festival were scuttling their spring plans. (Coachella has announced plans to move to October.) Brandon Jazz, Saint Motel’s tour manager, noticed that on the tour’s final shows, along the West Coast, venues were getting emptier and emptier.
“You would have a sold-out show,” Mr. Jazz said, “but then the back of the room is empty, because people are scared to go out.”“You would have a sold-out show,” Mr. Jazz said, “but then the back of the room is empty, because people are scared to go out.”
Updated May 28, 2020
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
There is an uptick in people reporting symptoms of chilblains, which are painful red or purple lesions that typically appear in the winter on fingers or toes. The lesions are emerging as yet another symptom of infection with the new coronavirus. Chilblains are caused by inflammation in small blood vessels in reaction to cold or damp conditions, but they are usually common in the coldest winter months. Federal health officials do not include toe lesions in the list of coronavirus symptoms, but some dermatologists are pushing for a change, saying so-called Covid toe should be sufficient grounds for testing.
Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities.
As the reality of months without work settles in, many touring workers said they were seizing the chance to bone up on technical skills, through online classes or informal workshops that fellow crew members are organizing on the fly. Still, for a business that depends on travel and social gatherings, there may be few opportunities for gainful employment, and several crew members said they were concerned that their skills were not easily translatable to other businesses.As the reality of months without work settles in, many touring workers said they were seizing the chance to bone up on technical skills, through online classes or informal workshops that fellow crew members are organizing on the fly. Still, for a business that depends on travel and social gatherings, there may be few opportunities for gainful employment, and several crew members said they were concerned that their skills were not easily translatable to other businesses.
“Our industry can’t work from home,” said Paul Bradley, the chief executive of Eventric, which makes software for managing tour logistics. “If they’re not on the road, they’re not being employed.”“Our industry can’t work from home,” said Paul Bradley, the chief executive of Eventric, which makes software for managing tour logistics. “If they’re not on the road, they’re not being employed.”
Ms. Parker, who has also toured with Saint Motel, said she was most concerned about the mental-health hazards that may come with extended periods of unemployment and isolation — which would exacerbate the stress and depression that many crew members already battle after stepping off the road.Ms. Parker, who has also toured with Saint Motel, said she was most concerned about the mental-health hazards that may come with extended periods of unemployment and isolation — which would exacerbate the stress and depression that many crew members already battle after stepping off the road.
Like others, Ms. Parker said she did not know what she would do if touring work dried up.Like others, Ms. Parker said she did not know what she would do if touring work dried up.
“It would be so hard for me personally if this industry downsized or something,” she said, “because I find the most joy out of what I do. If I couldn’t get that back, and had to pursue a completely different career path, it would alter me forever.”“It would be so hard for me personally if this industry downsized or something,” she said, “because I find the most joy out of what I do. If I couldn’t get that back, and had to pursue a completely different career path, it would alter me forever.”