In New York City alone, the entertainment industry brought in over $8 billion per year in revenue. But in just a few weeks, events and venues with a 500 or more capacity were banned, then they operated at half capacity before shuttering completely. Here’s how a few artists have been affected by Covid-19 transitions, and how they are dealing with the aftermath.

AVIANE VARGAS

Aviane Vargas is a freelance creative, focusing on music production, content creation, and fashion design. She’s been producing music for nearly a decade, as well as and creating events and co-producing podcasts – such as Angela Yee’s Lip Service and Blapchat – for the past seven years. For her, the impact of COVID-19 was immediate.

The studio where she frequently produced and hosted podcasts has been closed since the lockdown began. “Music is at a standstill,” she said.

Being stuck at home can lead to procrastination, lack of motivation, and inspiration. Vargas said, “I like to be outside. There’s something about being in nature that’s inspiring.” She’s trying not to worry too much, as we all don’t have a choice but to wait this out. She’s been learning to practice sitting still with herself, patience, and resiliency, as well as figuring out how to monetize on any skills she’s been learning.

She doesn’t believe we’ll be returning to normal for a while, and even then, she’s interested in seeing how this will affect people. Vargas said, “There’s going to be a new social anxiety amongst our culture and community. There’s going to be hesitancy with being in crowds and people shaking hands. Will we be washing and sanitizing after each interaction?”

Lately, she’s been sending out music to various artists, managers, and record executives, and has been working with Lipservice and BlapChat to record remotely. However, she says that working remotely isn’t the same as being in the studio, being around people, and feeling the energy.

DONWILL

Donwill is a rapper, producer, and DJ. He’s a part of the rap group, Tanya Morgan. While many artists previously resorted to touring, Donwill had pursued a local solution and started working in comedy and as a DJ.

He felt the immediate impact when Cuomo started talking about quarantine and venue closures. Donwill said he and most of his friends are suffering through it together, so they are more focused on finding solutions than talking about how bad things are.

He said many DJs have resorted to finding ways of “playing music in a way that isn’t annoying.” Instagram has been popular for producers of big DJs, but using online platforms can be tricky. Instagram or YouTube will not allow you to play music that is not your own, and you risk being cut off.

Donwill provides music for Butterboy, a premier Brooklyn comedy show that’s found a new home on Youtube, and he plays his own compositions to negate potential copyright issues. He’s also been creating and putting out new music in order to stay creative and keep his mind occupied.

PRINCE WISER

Prince Wiser has been a hip hop artist for the past 14 years. He got his start at open mics and showcases before he began booking gigs. Prince Wiser said that, pre-Coronavirus, and despite having a solid fan base, performing at open mics was one one of the best ways to attract new fans. (At showcases, mostly fans would attend).

He notes that, while the biggest change for some artists has been lack of access to a studio (some are fortunate to have home studios) the situation has forced artists to get creative. This includes using their phones to create music.

He’s been asked to perform shows via live streaming. But he said that he probably won’t book another show until the end of the year, or early 2021 – unless enough money is being offered for the performance.

YOLANDA WATSON

Yolanda Watson is an emerging singer, songwriter, and musician. She started getting paid gigs at the end of 2019 and has seen those opportunities fizzle. Watson said, “A big part of this involves going out and networking,” which people are unable to currently do. So instead, she’s been focusing on creating music.

She noted that there have possibly been delays in albums, and that people have been forced to release singles over a span of weeks as opposed to an entire album. Watson said, “DJs will be very busy. Very chaotic.” She also said that she will probably avoid performing for a while even after the pandemic lessens, stating “people are just going to lose their minds.”

4 Artists Explain How They've Adapted to Covid-19 Setbacks

AVIANE VARGAS