Every single industry has suffered in different ways since COVID-19 began to worsen in March. The one that has faced the most economic hardship has been the music industry, specifically live entertainment. After a long plea by senators, venue owners, and other music industry professionals beginning in July, the next $900 Billion stimulus package hangs in the balance, as Congress finally came to an agreement on it before formal votes this week . By coming to an agreement on this stimulus package deal, congress took the next step toward passing the “Save Our Stages Act.” The bill would grant $15 Billion to a variety of independent venues, movie theaters, and cultural institutions. This would be the first major relief deal involving independent venues since the pandemic began nearly 10 months ago.

Well… it happened. We’re here again - in the red. We can’t eat inside restaurants, enjoy the company of friends at bars, or be graced with the gift of in-person live music of any kind. So many people are hurting right now, and the music community is one of the top industries when it comes to lost income due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The local scene and independent venues have been especially hard, as many don’t have a security fund to fall back on. Local venue owners, full-time musicians, stage hands, lighting designers, sound engineers, and others involved behind the scenes have likely put everything they’ve got into the role they love. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t support your friends who are musicians or who work behind the scenes in the industry. Here’s how: