By Patrick O’Grady

Granite State News Collaborative

Artists, musicians and entertainers rely on their creative talents to produce and perform in their chosen field.

Now with the COVID-19 pandemic essentially shutting down all performance venues from art galleries, small theaters and bars to large arenas, those who make a living or earn extra income performing are drawing on that creativity to continue their craft.

Stay-at-home-festivals have suddenly given performers an online avenue to reach their audiences in this era of social distancing. The concept was launched in March and is open to any performer feeling the urge to jump in for a set.

“That is how they are making money,” said Michael Witthaus, of Claremont, who has been writing about the New Hampshire music and comedy scene for about 15 years. “It is artist to audience and it seems like it is working.”

The basic idea is for performers to appear on platforms such as Facebook live where they can also have a “virtual tip jar.” Viewers can deposit money through PayPal or Venmo.

Ginnie Lupi, Director of the New Hampshire Council on the Arts, said the impact COVID-19 has had on the state’s performing arts community is only beginning to be assessed but added it is clear it will be severe on operations and projects. Hardest hit will be venues that have had to cancel or postpone projects and lose ticket sales along with those who earn a living working at those sites.

But on the positive side, Lupi said many in the art and music world are adapting with online performances, classes and exhibits

“There's also extraordinary creativity emerging - music, theatre, dance and visual art programs are teaching classes and bringing exhibitions online, and individual artists are finding ways to share their art forms digitally,” Lupi said in an email. “This is inspiring and exactly what we would expect from creative businesses.”

Mark and Deb of Charlestown are musicians who perform as a duo on weekends.

 “It has completely shut us down,” Mark Bond said. “With facilities, bars, restaurants closed there is no need for entertainment. Everything has evaporated until further notice.”

Bond and his wife have full-time jobs so the loss of income is not critical but nonetheless is felt.

“We still have car payments and a mortgage,” Mark said. “It is not crucial but does have an impact.”

Bond and other musicians said they really feel for those who depend on their performing income to pay the basic bills.

“I have a lot of musician friends who make a living 100 percent playing music and they are struggling,” Bond added.

Though they have not joined the online performing circuit, Bond said they have seen a lot of friends in the music business who have taken that approach.

Tom Pirozzoli, a musician and painter from Goshen, whose work spans a 30-year career, said things are tough all over with COVID-19. Pirozzoli, who is in his 70s, does not rely on a lot of live performance income but also worries for his fellow musicians who perform as a primary source of income.

“Nobody is making any money now,” Pirozzoli said. “I know musicians who are getting killed (by the virus impact).”

One piece of good news for entertainers, whose status is usually self-employed or independent contractor, is that the state of New Hampshire has expanded unemployment benefits for “creative economy workers,” Lupi said.

“New Hampshire has led the way in broadening unemployment benefits for creative economy workers, who are often self-employed, which will help individual artists tremendously,” Lupi wrote in her email.

Other options to help the arts community is the Department of Employment Security’s Work Share Program. They are also eligible to receive stimulus checks from the federal government.

Hank Osborne, a guitar player from the Concord area who played music full time back in the 1980s and now hosts an open mic, echoed the thoughts of others who are most concerned with the musicians who need the income.

“I worry about them. This is what they do,” Osborne said.

But Osborne also noted that at the other end of the pandemic, the online music festivals could pay some dividends for performers who appeared.

“It could bring potential exposure beyond the region they cater to,” he said.

These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.