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Artist Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Updated: Mar 17, 2023



*Last updated on April 1, 2021. We will keep updating this article as more resources arise.


Staying productive and financially stable during the shelter-in-place can be tough for artists whose main activities included studio recording or live concerts. This sudden change of lifestyle has interrupted  the plans of many artists that are going on tour, studio recording, attending open mic nights, and participating in other events. Even though times have temporarily changed, you can still make the most out of the situation thanks to modern technology. Here are some tools and strategies for artists to take advantage of while at home.


Free Software



Virtual Open Mics and Virtual Concerts


  • Virtual open mics will allow you to expand your reach to anyone who may be watching. They’re not relative to location and you’ll be able to network with other artists from across the world. The online open mic organized by RyanNicole and Champagne Hughes, local Oakland artists, is a great example. They created this event to foster a “healing environment.” RyanNicole explains the importance of these events in a KQED article about their online open mic. You can gain new followers and fans who might have not heard your music otherwise. One way to search for open mic nights is to look on Eventbrite.

  • Virtual concerts are another good way to engage with fans; they’re more personable and interactive. Collaborating with other artists and musicians can expand your fanbase and create a community feel. You can utilize tools like Stageit to elevate your concert experience. Go for a Tiny-Desk produced vibe, or stream live.


Go Live on Social Media


  • Instagram Live is a common platform artists are utilizing while staying home. You can even go live with other artists and collaborate with them, engaging with your fans and followers to stay top-of-mind. To make the most out of your Instagram live, check out these best practices.

  • YouTube is one of the most popular streaming services on the internet. Reach your audience with YouTube Live and make it easier for them to find the video afterwards too. More benefits of livestreaming on YouTube Live can be found here.

  • Facebook Live is another way to reach a broad audience and connect with them. People can also replay your video if they happen to miss it live and you can easily interact with the audience. Check out this article for some best practices while livestreaming on Facebook.

  • Livestream on Twitch to connect with other artists and gain community support. Twitch has a different livestreaming energy than other social media platforms. The audio and video fidelity is a few notches above all other platforms as well. To learn more about the advantages of Twitch, take a look at this article that lays it all out for you!


Grants


Local grants may be less saturated and more available for artists in the San Francisco Bay Area:


National grants are available to artists as well. Check out these grants and see which one fits your needs:

*Creative Capital’s list of Arts Resources is the source for the grants above and they also have more grants listed that may be applicable to you.

National Endowment for the Arts also has a list of resources for people in any field of the arts.

 

In these unprecedented times, it’s important for artists to stay connected with their audiences and continue to pursue their passion despite the challenges. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help musicians adapt and thrive during this period of social distancing. Let’s keep the music alive and support each other through this pandemic.

Take advantage of these resources and keep creating! Stay connected with us and receive updates on new opportunities, grants, and virtual events by subscribing to our email newsletter today.

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