You Can Help New England Musicians in Crisis

When the pandemic hit, all venues cancelled show after show.  For those who love to go see live music, the venues have been somewhat supported by their patrons with "social distancing events" and other fund-raisers.  But, what about the musicians that play IN those venues?  Not all of them are "famous" and can rely on their catalog of music from decades past.

You may know that my husband is a working musician as well as a music teacher.  We have been very fortunate to have him teach from our house during the pandemic, but many of our friends rely on performing for an audience to pay their bills and put food on the table for their families.  That's why they got in to the business in the first place, they love music, they love to perform and give back to their audience.

I was so happy to hear about the organization, "New England Musicians Relief Fund" that was set up to help working musicians.  Their mission statement says:

The global pandemic has created acute financial distress for the over 2000 freelance musicians who make their living playing music in New England. Due to the “gig” nature of freelance work, when the halls went dark on March 13, freelancers were left—overnight—with no regular income, few benefits, and for many, no qualified unemployment insurance, even under the emergency CARES Act. NEMRF was created in 2020 as a nonprofit philanthropy to help New England musicians weather this Covid-19 shutdown of the music industry, and create an endowment that will go on to provide a safety net for years and decades to come.

With this fund, March 13, 2020, the day that the music stopped, will be less difficult to live through with your donations.

I live for music and many live performances have touched me in a way that nothing else can.  I can't wait to go to my next live show!