Sheila K Miller, Music Business Professional, New Media Journalist
Live entertainment has been one of the hardest-hit segments within the music industry. These entertainers have missed income from ticket sales to merchandise sales. Wesley Spangler, a country music recording artist, and Alan Dodson and Steward Pumphrey, two DJs from Maryland, sat down to talk about their experiences during the shutdown and how COVID has impacted their entertainment careers and personal life.
Wesley Spangler, Country Music Recording Artist
On May 22, 2020, Spangler performed his first show since the industry’s initial COVID shutdown in March at the Hidden Springs Campground in Pennsylvania. The campground ensured social distancing with the use of picnic tables. Other venues are telling him they will use the CDC COVID-19 guidelines for social gatherings. Since then, his live performances are still sporadic. Before the COVID-19 shutdown, Spangler performed 170-180 shows in 2019.
A silver lining to every situation, he kept busy during the local industry shutdown. He released his newest single, Call It a Night, in early June and completed a music video. His band took the downtime to add new original and cover songs for the live shows. In his extra free time, he also rebuilt his guitar peddle board and constructed a new case.
His main revenue stream pre-COVID was his concerts. Merchandise is another revenue stream for him. As for his digital distribution revenue, Spangler says, “I see a lot from my original music through digital distribution, but you are getting pennies on a dollar per song. So, unless you are pumping out songs to people, and you have a boatload of fans that want to buy your songs all the time, then that’s not a realistic way to generate a lot of money for independent artists.”
Since he did not receive unemployment or any other CARES Act aid, Spangler fell back on his carpentry skills picking a few contract jobs, which helped him. He says people have also stepped up behind the scenes offering some financial support. But Spangler does not believe money is everything. He says fans just sharing and liking his social media posts “means the world too.” When it comes to his fans, he has been showing his support by following them online. He says just hitting that like button can make a world of difference.
Spangler is making the best out of a difficult situation. He is looking forward to returning to live performances full time when it is safe to do so. You can support Spangler by streaming and downloading his music on Apple Music, Amazon, and Spotify. To find a show near you or purchase his merchandise visit his website.
DJ Entertainers Alan Dodson and Pumphrey Stew
For 19 years, Alan Dodson, DJ Al, deejayed in Frederick, Maryland. He worked three weekly gigs earning $2800 a month. Previously deejaying at Olde Towne Tavern on Wednesday nights, shortly before the pandemic, he moved his karaoke deejay gig to Café NOLA. Just as the crowd started coming in at his new venue, COVID-19 shut it down. Besides his Wednesday gig, he “strictly DJ at Schuckin Shack Oyster Bar and Grille” on Friday and Saturday nights. Due to COVID, he could not start a new gig in New Market at the Derby restaurant.
He has been fortunate to have a day job in the life science industry as a project manager doing COVID-19 vaccine trials. However, Dodson is ready to return to the music scene as a DJ. As for precautions he will take for his karaoke singer, he purchased an ultra-violet lightbox to put the microphones to decontaminate between singers. With no word on a return date, he hopes to contact at least Café NOLA this week. Maryland is currently in Phase Two, allowing the bars to operate at half capacity.
DJ Soundboard. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock
Another DJ and performer in the Maryland area is Steward Pumphrey. Some fans in the area may know him as MC Stew. Before the COVID-19, he owned High Tempo Entertainment. He offered MC, entertainer, DJ, production management services, and professional dancers for private events and bars throughout Maryland.
With social gatherings limited, Stew says many DJs turned to host some virtual DJ parties, which he says is just not the same as interacting with the fans in person. However, now the entertainers have the option to offer a tip jar during the virtual party. He says the virtual events “forces your personality to be a little bit hyped, versus you being like, I can wing it,” feeding off the “euphoria” of the crowd in person.
COVID has put a lot of pressure on Pumphrey. Since the shutdown, and unable to sustain the business, Pumphrey’s only recourse at High Tempo Entertainment was to let go of his 1099 personnel. Unable to secure any of the pandemic aid from the CARES Act, he was “forced to go into roofing and sales.” While he is a certified medical assistant in the past, he is hesitant to return due to the virus. The pandemic saw an end to his marriage also.
These are just three people affected by the pandemic closure of live entertainment. You can support entertainers and others in the industry by donating or buying merchandise from Crew Nation, MusiCares, or other organizations, i.e., Twenty One Pilots and UMG. Streaming or downloading independent artists music is another way to show your support.