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She Had 3 Jobs to Support Her Music. Now All Are Gone. She Had 3 Jobs to Support Her Music. Now All Are Gone.
(2 months later)
Jenna Camille Henderson, a singer-songwriter in Washington, D.C., didn’t have just one job. Instead, like many other musicians and creative workers in the United States, she pieced together a living from multiple sources.Jenna Camille Henderson, a singer-songwriter in Washington, D.C., didn’t have just one job. Instead, like many other musicians and creative workers in the United States, she pieced together a living from multiple sources.
This delicate process, known dryly as the freelance hustle, can be exasperating, but it can also provide a special kind of freedom and independence. It can even be reassuring to know that your economic fortunes aren’t tied to a single company or field.This delicate process, known dryly as the freelance hustle, can be exasperating, but it can also provide a special kind of freedom and independence. It can even be reassuring to know that your economic fortunes aren’t tied to a single company or field.
Until a global pandemic hits, and all the places where you work are affected.Until a global pandemic hits, and all the places where you work are affected.
At the beginning of March, she was making steady money thanks to three jobs: working security at the 9:30 Club, one of the city’s most beloved music venues; providing paraprofessional support at a charter school; and playing a weekly gig at a local club. In less than a week, each one of those had been canceled or put on hold, because of measures to try to halt the spread of the new coronavirus.At the beginning of March, she was making steady money thanks to three jobs: working security at the 9:30 Club, one of the city’s most beloved music venues; providing paraprofessional support at a charter school; and playing a weekly gig at a local club. In less than a week, each one of those had been canceled or put on hold, because of measures to try to halt the spread of the new coronavirus.
Ms. Henderson, 29, who does not have health insurance, has no source of income for the foreseeable future. As freelancers, she said, “I think we take for granted that there’s always going to be something to do.”Ms. Henderson, 29, who does not have health insurance, has no source of income for the foreseeable future. As freelancers, she said, “I think we take for granted that there’s always going to be something to do.”
“I never thought, maybe I should consider doing something more permanent in case something like this happens,” she added, “because how many times does something like this happen?”“I never thought, maybe I should consider doing something more permanent in case something like this happens,” she added, “because how many times does something like this happen?”
This is how it all fell apart, as recounted by Ms. Henderson and in screenshots of texts and emails from her phone.This is how it all fell apart, as recounted by Ms. Henderson and in screenshots of texts and emails from her phone.
The first notice came on March 11 from the 9:30 Club, emailing to say that all shows through the end of the month were off. (More have since been canceled.)The first notice came on March 11 from the 9:30 Club, emailing to say that all shows through the end of the month were off. (More have since been canceled.)
That eliminated Ms. Henderson’s job of ushering people at the door and managing crowds. She wasn’t too worried yet, though; she had only had a couple of shifts a month.That eliminated Ms. Henderson’s job of ushering people at the door and managing crowds. She wasn’t too worried yet, though; she had only had a couple of shifts a month.
Ms. Henderson has been making music in some form since she was 6 years old. Growing up in Accokeek, Md., just south of Washington she started learning by ear and then took up classical piano and jazz. Her talents led her to the renowned Duke Ellington School of the Arts and on to study jazz in college.Ms. Henderson has been making music in some form since she was 6 years old. Growing up in Accokeek, Md., just south of Washington she started learning by ear and then took up classical piano and jazz. Her talents led her to the renowned Duke Ellington School of the Arts and on to study jazz in college.
She has released a handful of singles and albums on Bandcamp and other platforms, but channels much of her energy into live shows, playing with bands and collaborators around the Washington area. That calls for a flexible schedule, which freelancing had afforded her.She has released a handful of singles and albums on Bandcamp and other platforms, but channels much of her energy into live shows, playing with bands and collaborators around the Washington area. That calls for a flexible schedule, which freelancing had afforded her.
The big blow came two days later, when she found out that the high school where she worked would also be closing its doors temporarily, following an order from the city. (She declined to name the school, saying she did not want to bring it negative attention.) Although she wasn’t on staff, Ms. Henderson spent a lot of time there — often five days a week. She got the job last year through an agency, filling in as a substitute for a teacher who went on leave. When that person never came back, she continued helping various classes and students with specific needs.The big blow came two days later, when she found out that the high school where she worked would also be closing its doors temporarily, following an order from the city. (She declined to name the school, saying she did not want to bring it negative attention.) Although she wasn’t on staff, Ms. Henderson spent a lot of time there — often five days a week. She got the job last year through an agency, filling in as a substitute for a teacher who went on leave. When that person never came back, she continued helping various classes and students with specific needs.
“The school is basically how I pay my rent,” she said.“The school is basically how I pay my rent,” she said.
Since she was a contractor, though, she was not entitled to paid leave. And while the school plans to resume operations remotely at the end of the month, she will still be out of luck. “I’m a support teacher,” she said. “There’s technically no class for me to support.”Since she was a contractor, though, she was not entitled to paid leave. And while the school plans to resume operations remotely at the end of the month, she will still be out of luck. “I’m a support teacher,” she said. “There’s technically no class for me to support.”
Ms. Henderson was still reeling from that news when she lost her last steady gig. She’d been playing with a band called Trae & Company Neo-Soul every Wednesday night at Harlot DC, a lounge that opened late last year. The group’s residency had started in February, and it had begun to gain momentum. But on Sunday, Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the closure of all the city’s nightclubs. “We just really started building this thing, and it was growing, and then it got shut down pretty quickly,” Ms. Henderson said.Ms. Henderson was still reeling from that news when she lost her last steady gig. She’d been playing with a band called Trae & Company Neo-Soul every Wednesday night at Harlot DC, a lounge that opened late last year. The group’s residency had started in February, and it had begun to gain momentum. But on Sunday, Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the closure of all the city’s nightclubs. “We just really started building this thing, and it was growing, and then it got shut down pretty quickly,” Ms. Henderson said.
She is now staring down several weeks, possibly months, without any income, since no one knows how long the suspensions will last. Because she’s a freelancer, she is not eligible for unemployment benefits. She has some savings that she had intended to use for taxes, which are not withheld from her pay. She will probably have to spend that money on rent instead.She is now staring down several weeks, possibly months, without any income, since no one knows how long the suspensions will last. Because she’s a freelancer, she is not eligible for unemployment benefits. She has some savings that she had intended to use for taxes, which are not withheld from her pay. She will probably have to spend that money on rent instead.
“Initially, I was just trying to put all my ducks in order, trying to figure out how much I had saved,” she said. “Once it started becoming clear how deep of an issue it was, my confidence that we would be going back in two weeks started to wear. It’s starting to become worrisome.” She’s approached the agency that placed her at the school about other jobs, and she knows the 9:30 Club is trying to find tasks to hire people to do. So far, she’s come up short.“Initially, I was just trying to put all my ducks in order, trying to figure out how much I had saved,” she said. “Once it started becoming clear how deep of an issue it was, my confidence that we would be going back in two weeks started to wear. It’s starting to become worrisome.” She’s approached the agency that placed her at the school about other jobs, and she knows the 9:30 Club is trying to find tasks to hire people to do. So far, she’s come up short.
Ms. Henderson’s situation isn’t unique. Artists, musicians and performers, as well as freelancers of all kinds, are struggling to find work as the coronavirus crisis has disrupted multiple industries seemingly overnight. Many of her friends are also searching for interim jobs. She suggested that one friend, also a contract educator, apply at Mom’s, an organic supermarket chain.Ms. Henderson’s situation isn’t unique. Artists, musicians and performers, as well as freelancers of all kinds, are struggling to find work as the coronavirus crisis has disrupted multiple industries seemingly overnight. Many of her friends are also searching for interim jobs. She suggested that one friend, also a contract educator, apply at Mom’s, an organic supermarket chain.
Mutual aid and community relief funds have sprung up around the country, which Ms. Henderson finds heartening. But they’re already inundated with applications and requests — and anyway, she says, they’re no substitute for government intervention.Mutual aid and community relief funds have sprung up around the country, which Ms. Henderson finds heartening. But they’re already inundated with applications and requests — and anyway, she says, they’re no substitute for government intervention.
Ms. Henderson signed onto a letter that roughly 90 members of the local music community sent to the mayor’s office on Monday, asking that upcoming emergency relief legislation include provisions for creative workers. The City Council passed a bill on Tuesday that does not appear to include their requests.Ms. Henderson signed onto a letter that roughly 90 members of the local music community sent to the mayor’s office on Monday, asking that upcoming emergency relief legislation include provisions for creative workers. The City Council passed a bill on Tuesday that does not appear to include their requests.
Updated June 1, 2020
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, a friend said her parents were offering to help.Meanwhile, a friend said her parents were offering to help.
If there’s one silver lining for Ms. Henderson, it’s that she now has a lot of free time to make music, “the thing that keeps me from going insane.”If there’s one silver lining for Ms. Henderson, it’s that she now has a lot of free time to make music, “the thing that keeps me from going insane.”
Just this week, she released a new album on Bandcamp — a project she’d started a month ago and then was suddenly moved to finish, knowing that people are increasingly stuck at home.Just this week, she released a new album on Bandcamp — a project she’d started a month ago and then was suddenly moved to finish, knowing that people are increasingly stuck at home.
“It’s definitely reinspiring me,” said Ms. Henderson, who, despite her setbacks, is “just continuing to go forward.”“It’s definitely reinspiring me,” said Ms. Henderson, who, despite her setbacks, is “just continuing to go forward.”