CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Music venues -- and the performers who frequent their stages -- have had their livelihoods put on hold because of the spread of the coronavirus in Northeast Ohio. As gigs cancel and venues shut down, some musicians have looked at creative ways of hosting performances for their fans, even when stuck at home.
Virtual events have allowed for large gatherings of people online, instead of in-person, in Cleveland. The City Club has taken to hosting virtual forums to replace its events, and many other local events, from markets to comic conventions and dog parades, have turned to technology in hopes of still taking place.
Online series have allowed for musicians with canceled shows to still try to make money, through donations and streamed video feeds.
Local singer-songwriter Michelle Gaw, who is also the lead singer of the band Mimi Arden, was inspired to create a virtual concert series called “Virtual Shows CLE” in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in Northeast Ohio. Gaw, who frequents local open mic nights and venues, experienced a sudden cancelation of spring performances.
The series has hosted two events on Sunday, March 15 and Monday, March 16 -- and raised $1,000 from each show’s attendees -- about 50 people showed up each night, Gaw said. The profits were split between all six performers (three each night).
The next Virtual Shows Cle concert will take place on Friday, March 20, featuring performances by Madeline Finn, Ray Flanagan and Austin Walkin’ Cane. (Find more information in its Facebook event.)
Michelle Gaw created a series, Virtual Concerts Cle, to support area musicians struggling through cancelations due to coronavirus. (Photo by Nina Ripich)
The money helps replace losses from canceled gigs for many performers who depend on it. Though Gaw said she’s fortunate to have family financial support, many musicians in Cleveland’s scene need live performances to make ends meet.
“Cleveland has so many working musicians. It’s hard to explain how it works, but there are so many opportunities,” she said. “When you’re in it, it’s a whirlwind and it just works and you get gigs and people reach out to you.”
So, how does a virtual concert work? In Virtual Shows Cle’s case, users log into the free app Zoom Cloud Meetings. Performers gather onscreen, and attendees gather in a chat window. The moderator controls everyone’s microphones and cameras. A donation of $5 is recommended, but not required, to watch the concert. Donations can be made by emailing virtualshowscle@gmail.com.
Gaw, who was inspired from a home conference call for work, raced to put together a Virtual Concerts Cle Facebook event late last week. The post immediately gained traction in the local music community. Offers to perform, make graphics and help with technology flowed in from many individuals, Gaw said -- creating a streamlined approach to a donation-based online concert.
Other musicians have taken a more casual approach to virtual performances. Cleveland musician Afi Scruggs will host a virtual concert, featuring performances by herself, LA Bailey and Adrianna Miller at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 29 on Facebook Live. The three musicians will perform original music and covers. (See the Facebook event here.)
Scruggs lost her gigs teaching at the Music Settlement after school was let out for three weeks, and hopes an online gig can help make up lost funds.
“I had been looking into social media as a way to perform. I’d been thinking about that since January,” she said. “This seemed like a good time to test out a virtual concert on a small scale.”
Afi Scruggs is organizing a virtual concert in Cleveland as coronavirus concerns keep people in their homes. (Image courtesy Afi Scruggs)
Unlike Gaw’s program -- which connects musicians from their individual homes -- Scruggs, Bailey and Miller will all perform inside of Scruggs’ home, putting on a “virtual house concert.” Links to each musician’s Cashapp will be provided in the Facebook Live stream. Details around the show and the video stream will be shared in the Facebook event page.
Scruggs hopes her event can create a concert experience -- or, as close to one as you can get through a computer screen.
“It does not replace the experience and the pleasure of performing live and listening to live music. I think folks will probably like it for right now,” Scruggs said. “I don’t know about the long term sustainability of virtual concerts. Right now, they’re being seen as a remedy.”
Sustainability is on Gaw’s mind when she looks at the future of Virtual Shows Cle. She hopes to find a sponsorship deal, or source donations from prominent local organizations, rather than depend on donations from individual attendees, who may be experiencing economic troubles of their own.
Gaw also plans to use the series’ Facebook page as a hub to support other musicians’ live feeds and virtual concert events.
“This is a community that doesn’t compete against each other; we support each other. We’re all in it together," Gaw said. “It’s just really amazing to see how the community is coming together, even in this way, to help individual working musicians. I have faith that our community is strong, and people will come together and help all aspects of our community.”
Read more coronavirus coverage at cleveland.com/coronavirus.