Gigs getting cancelled (again) due to coronavirus? Here’s what you can *still* do.

 
 

The below post is an updated version of this post from March 2020.

Many performing artists and performing arts organizations are experiencing a concentrated wave of coronavirus-related cancellations due to the omicron variant. While fears about cash flow, short-term ramifications, and long-term impact are not only normal, but heightened due to the prolonged trauma of the past two years, there are actions both artists and arts organizations can make to be more helpful than harmful during these times.

But first, no matter who you are, take a deep breath.

Now take another one.

Your nervous system says, “thanks.”

For Freelance Artists

Don’t be afraid to ask.

If you have suddenly lost income due to a postponed or cancelled gig, and it is causing a situation where you do not have the funds you need to live your life, ask the organization if they are willing to pay some or all of the contract - either as a cancellation fee or as a prepayment for when the gig actually happens.

  • Yes - they might say no and that might make you irate.

  • No - that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask in the first place.

  • Yes - you can still ask even if you feel like they implied or even stated that they wouldn’t be paying anything.

  • No - this doesn’t only apply to fees for cancelled gigs. This also applied to lack of clarity around Covid safety protocols. Ask, ask, ask, ask, ask.

When doing this it is also very effective to be absolutely, abundantly clear about how this has impacted or will impact you. And above all…

Try to be as gracious as possible.
Even though the loss of income may really hurt, try to remember that the human(s) who made the decision to cancel/postpone your engagement are probably full of their own guilt, worry, and fear over an impossible decision. They are also probably in their own trauma response. There is a huge difference between:

“I’m really disappointed to hear this decision given the position it puts me and all of your artists in.”

vs.

“You should be absolutely ashamed of yourselves. You obviously don’t care at all about the human beings in this organization.”

The first one is more effective. The first one is more appropriate (in 99.9% of situations). The first one is more likely in integrity with the loving, considerate professional you are and want to be. I’m a firm believer in the concept that what we put out there comes back to us in some way, shape, or form. You probably do not want the energy of that second statement coming back to you.

I know that your likely trauma response from March 2020 is making it difficult, but please try to….

Stay in the now
A cancelled gig this week does not automatically mean you will have cancelled gigs for the next one, two, or five months. You’ve been here before. You know how quickly things can change. You know how miserable it can be to try to guesstimate what will happen 1000 times before breakfast. If you are trying to navigate loss of income that creates an issue this week, focus on that - not the potentially lost income 5 months out. I know it’s hard. And I also know you can do this.

Treat yourself kindly

If I could send you some soup, a comfortable blanket, and watch your kids for the afternoon so that you can have some quiet and space, I would. With the exception of a few of you who might be reading this, unfortunately I can’t. But please be nice to yourself. And please engage any mechanisms that will be helpful with that. I really wish this had been a sprint and not a marathon. Yet, here we are at mile 20. Yes you’ve been running for awhile, but you still have some time to go. So please, still take care of yourself.

For Arts Organizations

Practice abundant compassion
Deciding to cancel a performance is a huge decision that feels a new kind of impossible in 2022. You may even feel extraordinary guilt for cancelling work, and therefore income, for the artists on your roster. Don’t let your stress or guilt prevent you from communicating your decision in an effusively compassionate way. Artists may be upset and may want to speak with you. Make the time for them. Make it okay for them to ask uncomfortable questions without getting defensive. If you do not know how to do this, please consult with a therapist, coach, or consultant who does.

Do everything in your power to pay something
If you just postponed or cancelled a concert, make paying the musicians a portion of their fee now a top priority - even if you are not contractually obligated to. Yes, you may lose some money if a few of the musicians can’t commit to the rescheduled performance. But at this point, probably even more than in March 2020, lost work is likely significantly hurting your artists. If you really can’t swing it, don’t put yourself out of business. But if that’s the case, be transparent with your artists about that, and be open to suggestions about how to make payment possible.

Clarify the grey
Don’t have enough information to decide if the concert you just called off will be cancelled completely or postponed? Don’t know when or how you will reschedule your performances? Don’t know what this all means for your audiences, budget, and artist roster? It’s okay. You don’t need to know everything, and you certainly can’t control everything - especially right now. But to lead your organization through times of uncertainty, you need to learn how to lead from within the grey area. Leading from within the grey area means loosening your grip on control, learning how to communicate clearly, and accepting that while unknowns are an inevitable part of the equation right now, you are responsible for letting your constituents know what is and is not known at any given point.

By the way, this counts triple for Covid protocol should you keep your performances going. Masks, no masks, vaccinations, no vaccinations, tests, no tests. Figure out what you know and what you don’t know and lay it out clearly for your artists as soon as is possible.

Communicate, communicate, communicate 
Even in the best of times, humans tend to significantly overestimate the effectiveness of their communication and significantly underestimate how much communication is ultimately needed. In times of uncertainty and confusion, communication tends to get much worse despite best intentions. I understand, you’re tired too. You’ve probably done a lot of heavy lifting that has gone unnoticed in the past two years to just help the organization survive. But if you bring your frustration into the communication with your artists, you will be met with frustration from them. Slow down, slip into your compassion, and be as clear and loving as possible.

Another deep breath is probably warranted - so I encourage you to do that. Humans are resilient. You are resilient. You will get through this.