Covered for a COVID infected group (again)

[Notes_Norton]

It's the fourth time since November we covered for a COVID no-show band.

The lead singer of one we know of is a vocal anti-vaxxer. We covered 3 gigs for her. She may never be able to sing again due to severe lung damage.

Saturday, we covered for a 6-piece country band that played a couple of weeks ago at a Casino gig that we have been turning down. They all caught COVID and one member is still in the hospital.

To be safe, we are only playing outdoor gigs, we are vaccinated, boosted, and when not gigging, being careful of where we go and bringing KN95 masks along.

I have a friend who was in another band who played at another indoor venue that we have been declining. They all caught it late last year, and one member died of the Delta variant. He was middle-aged and otherwise healthy.

We've been very fortunate to play 2-3 gigs per week since November, all outdoors. Getting a gig from a band that caught COVID is not a pleasant reason to get the gig, but I'm glad we could cover it.

Fortunately, in Florida, there are enough outdoor gigs so we can at least gig a little without subjecting ourselves to a bigger risk.

Stay safe out there, friends. Despite what the faux-news pundits and secretly vaccinated politicians tell you, this is not just like the flu.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

[Gigmeister-8YMGf]

It's not much worse than the flu. The news media is portraying it to be so. People who have had the vaccine are faring worse and so far close to a million Americans have already died after getting the poke. Let's stop obsessing over this disease and use the space to communicate about music and music related topics.

[modulusman]

2 hours ago, Gigmeister-8YMGf said:

It's not much worse than the flu. The news media is portraying it to be so. People who have had the vaccine are faring worse and so far close to a million Americans have already died after getting the poke. Let's stop obsessing over this disease and use the space to communicate about music and music related topics.

So about 843,000 covid deaths in the US so far and you say close to a million have died after getting the poke. Link to your bullcrap claims

[Notes_Norton]

16 hours ago, Gigmeister-8YMGf said:

It's not much worse than the flu. The news media is portraying it to be so. People who have had the vaccine are faring worse and so far close to a million Americans have already died after getting the poke. Let's stop obsessing over this disease and use the space to communicate about music and music related topics.

Ask my dead uncle, my sister-in-law who spent a couple of weeks on a ventilator and in isolation thinking she was going to die, my cousin who will probably never smell or taste again in his life because the brain damage is so bad, the girl singer who will probably never sing again due to lung damage, the musician in my friend's band who died, and my brother-in-law who is a world-famous doctor among other doctors and has no reason to lie to me that says, "You want to avoid this at all costs."

If your faux news pundit or politician who secretly got vaccinated tells you any different, perhaps you should choose another.

According to multiple health departments I googled, unvaccinated people are 20 times more likely to die than vaccinated who catch COVID, and over 100 times more likely to catch COVID in the first place.

I think I used this as a music related topic.

I'm getting over one gig per month because other bands are playing indoors and getting "Darwined out" of the entertainment business due to them catching COVID..

I'm pretty much a moderate, I lean a little left on social issues, a little right on fiscal issues and think both left and right extremes are wrong. In this case, I've used my own experience, that of my relatives, that of my friends, and my bro-in-law who is on the front lines and has no reason to lie to me.

If any pundit tells me that this disease is just like the flu, I will consider that person a propagandist and will not believe another thing he/she says.

My suggestion to my fellow musicians is to avoid indoor gigs if there is a possibility of an unvaccinated person in the audience. You can't sing or play a wind instrument with a N95 mask on. There is no Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z if you get COVID, and there is a possibility it will end your music career and possibly your life.

Insights and incites Notes ♫

 

[DeepEnd]

On 1/17/2022 at 4:24 PM, Gigmeister-8YMGf said:

Let's stop obsessing over this disease and use the space to communicate about music and music related topics.

Lessee. Notes posted about getting gigs through unfortunate circumstances and then you came along with BS and conspiracy theories. Which one of you took things away from music again?

[banditt11]

On 1/17/2022 at 5:24 PM, Gigmeister-8YMGf said:

It's not much worse than the flu. The news media is portraying it to be so. People who have had the vaccine are faring worse and so far close to a million Americans have already died after getting the poke. Let's stop obsessing over this disease and use the space to communicate about music and music related topics.

Thank you. Getting rediculous. Had this crap year ago October and doing fine. Covid is a money making operation. Your going to get it. Your going to get it mask or not. This stuff needs to play out. 

[daddymack]

I'd rather get it with the full vax and booster than without...

But I have no intention of getting it.

On 1/17/2022 at 2:24 PM, Gigmeister-8YMGf said:

It's not much worse than the flu. The news media is portraying it to be so. People who have had the vaccine are faring worse and so far close to a million Americans have already died after getting the poke. Let's stop obsessing over this disease and use the space to communicate about music and music related topics.

Are you serious? Does the flu kill 5.5 million people world wide?

Blame the news media? Are you kidding? This would have to be a conspiracy of impossible proportion to involve the international news media,  WHO, every government on earth...

FACT: No, a million people have not died in this country that were vaxed...where do people find this nonsense?

FACT: Only 858000 Americans have died, most in the time before the vaccine was available.

FACT: Vaccinated people make up less than 1% of deaths since the vaccine became available.

Spreading disinformation here is not permitted. Perhaps you need to look into some serious actual research before you post ridiculously inane claims about something that you obviously have no understanding. But you will have to do that somewhere else...because you...are ...toast!

[leftyjay]

I've had a couple Covid gigs fall into my lap. I have one for Saturday. I do play in doors. I take in consideration the stage is big or high so I can move back 7-10 ft from the front. I don't leave the stage once I get setup. I definitely don't hug or shake hands with anybody. If someone comes up to the stage, I talk to them from behind my keyboard and rig to make distancing easier. It's worked well so far. I've had all the shots (Covid vax, Booster, flu). I bought some of the BinaxNow home tests. I just ordered the free tests from covidtests.gov. I've done all I can do to keep my gigs going. I tend to think the senior parks are more likely to be Vax'd. I play in the 60 and over communities. But I'm sure there are a few that don't want to follow along. So I stay distanced from everybody there and I dont share my microphone with anybody.

I just lost another buddy I played music with back in the mid 1980s. Great bass player and a golden voice. But, he didn't believe in Covid or the Vax. He contacted Covid mid October. 90 days later, he died of Covid in the hospital. They gave him all the meds (Remdesivir, and antibody cocktail) plus a ventilator. His anti-vax buddies came in daily to see him slowly dying. They posted on his Facebook "please pray for Tim". But alas, he didn't make it. I hope all his friends learn from this, but I doubt it. This marks number 5 on my Covid death list of musicians I use to play with. None were Vax'd.

[Notes_Norton]

People, I didn't intend to bring anti-covid propaganda into this thread. If anything, the intent was to help my good friends here to make decisions about what they need to do about this disease. There is no need to get on a soap-box.

I'm a moderate, middle of the road guy who has voted for Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and "third party" candidates.

I consider the far right and the far left both to be far wrong, and feel the real solutions almost always lie somewhere between the two extremes. In the case of COVID, I personally feel the anti-vax, anti-mask, right is definitely wrong. Science and experience seems to point to this.

Judging from my experience, I know that COVID is much worse than the annual flu. How? I know more people who have died or have been permanently and extremely damaged from COVID than I have known in my entire life from the flu, and I've been on the planet a long time.

IMO, anyone who still touts the "it's only the flu" has been brainwashed by the faux news propaganda media. And the faux news propaganda is very convincing and conceived by some of the best advertising copy authors in the business. However, I've been wrong before, reserve the right to be wrong again, but going by my experience and that of my family and fellow musicians, COVID is much, much worse than the flu, and something I will take precautions not to get stricken by.

That doesn't mean I'll stay locked up in my home, and it doesn't mean I'll throw caution to the wind and ignore it.

The point for me between the two extremes is to only take outdoor gigs, keep away from closed, crowded indoor facilities as much as is reasonable, wear a KN95 masks if I have to go in, limit my time there as well, no hugging, and keep my health up.

I don't go to concerts, movie theaters, indoor restaurants and other places that are not necessary.

But that's just me.

I believe anyone who is eligible for the vaccine has the right to refuse it. However, since the government (that's you and me) pays $80/shot, and we have been offered 3 jabs. That adds up to $240.00. So if you refuse the vaccine and get covid, the government should pay the first $240 of your treatment, and you should have to pay for the rest yourself, or forego treatment. After all, why should we all play millions when you turned down the best prevention offered so far? It's not about punishment, revenge or any negative reasons, it's about you accepting responsibility for your own decisions.

The first time I covered a gig for a COVID stricken, vocal anti-vax singer, I felt sorry for her. I still do. She has so much lung damage that she will never be able to sing again. I still feel sorry for her. I like the girl, and she was a good singer. But she is paying the price for her decision, and she just has to accept that.

I feel sorry for the musician in my good friend's band's family. He died, he didn't have life insurance (what full-time musician can afford that) and he has a small child. If he got vaccinated, the odds are 99% that he would have not died and left his family in a lurch. So they are paying the price for his decision.

The 6-piece band that all got COVID, probably gigging in that Indian Reservation Casino, confirms my decision to have turned down that gig. It's indoors, in the least vaccinated county in the state, full of people who still smoke (it's OK in the Casino because it's not state land), and still fly flags for someone who lost the presidential election. That led me to believe it's a dangerous place for me to play.

Mrs. Notes and I have gotten 4 gigs in 3 months due to COVID stricken musicians. I've been playing music all my life and have never had to cover 4 gigs for sick musicians in all this time. I filled in for a sax player in the 1970s and that's it. Believe me, I'd rather get the jobs on my own, and not due to someone's illness, but I'm happy to get the work.

We all have to make personal decisions as to our personal risk vs reward ratio is in many situations through life. A mountain climber knows the risk of falling vs the reward of making it to the top. That's too much risk for me but OK for the climber. My hope is that by sharing our own personal experiences, and reading scientific information from middle-of-the-road sources neither far left nor right, we can all be better informed to make our personal decisions.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

[banditt11]

blah blah. Your so full of yourself. You bring this subject into the forum and expect most people to blindly agree? I'm out of this dried up forum. You pretty much suffocated the people with all your long winded posts of how great you and your music is. Takes a lot to get me to put a post up like this. But there are way more level headed forums out there. Too lazy to close my account. Please do it for me. 

[daddymack]

2 hours ago, banditt11 said:

blah blah. Your so full of yourself. You bring this subject into the forum and expect most people to blindly agree? I'm out of this dried up forum. You pretty much suffocated the people with all your long winded posts of how great you and your music is. Takes a lot to get me to put a post up like this. But there are way more level headed forums out there. Too lazy to close my account. Please do it for me. 

as you wish....

[Notes_Norton]

I'll never understand the violence directed at someone who simply disagrees with you.

Thanks DM

[Shaster]

Wow, I step away for a minute and again I miss all the fun. I might have mentioned that I picked up a couple of Xmas gigs because the performer had Covid. I don't think she was faking. A close friend's relative is currently on a ventilator, but who knows, maybe they are faking it. I'm sad that we have to debate this. It's like debating whether cigarettes are bad for you - oh no! What have I done!

Anyway, I have a Gospel show with a six piece band, tomorrow in a huge church, but will likely wear my mask because I don't have to sing. I did one gig in January, and the bass player and I wore our masks for the night. My first solo gig is next week at the airport. Last time I wore two masks, so I might need to do that again. I hate singing with a mask, but I would hate it even more with long Covid. I'm basically waiting for the summer, and outdoor gigs.

Stay safe everybody.

[daddymack]

12 hours ago, Shaster said:

Wow, I step away for a minute and again I miss all the fun. I might have mentioned that I picked up a couple of Xmas gigs because the performer had Covid. I don't think she was faking. A close friend's relative is currently on a ventilator, but who knows, maybe they are faking it. I'm sad that we have to debate this. It's like debating whether cigarettes are bad for you - oh no! What have I done!

Anyway, I have a Gospel show with a six piece band, tomorrow in a huge church, but will likely wear my mask because I don't have to sing. I did one gig in January, and the bass player and I wore our masks for the night. My first solo gig is next week at the airport. Last time I wore two masks, so I might need to do that again. I hate singing with a mask, but I would hate it even more with long Covid. I'm basically waiting for the summer, and outdoor gigs.

Stay safe everybody.

Spring is just around the corner!

[Shaster]

On 2/20/2022 at 3:45 PM, daddymack said:

Spring is just around the corner!

Yep. Things are picking up around here, but I'm just not as excited, or is it desperate to get back to work. I played last Saturday, that was fine. Actually remembered all the lyrics and songs. I have a date in March, and a couple trio dates in April. It's just that I can't seem to go out and pound the pavement looking for gigs, where I will be expected to bring the crowd in - and or keep them from leaving. I think I'll need to find avenues where it's about the music, and not about making the 28 year old manager happy. Nothing wrong with managers and nothing wrong with being 28, but combine the two and you get a person that takes themselves way too seriously. That's just my opinion.

[Notes_Norton]

We've got 14 one-nighter gigs this month, with 5 more possible (confirmation or refusal soon). The temps are in the upper 70s or lower 80s (F) and outdoor gigs are plentiful right now in Florida.

For those 'up north' it might be time to start looking for outdoor gigs. People are tired of COVID, and many feel safer outdoors.

 

Notes ♫

[leftyjay]

its been a good start of the year with gigs. I've been playing the senior communities. have also been given some dates that the other entertainers couldn't play because they got covid. My main thing is to set up backed further on the stage than normal to distance myself, no hugs, no hand shakes,  no mic sharing, and not leaving my cubical of my gear during the gig. Averaging 15-20 gigs/month. The crowds aren't filling the venues, but it is comfortable so not to squeeze everybody in.

Outdoor gigs have been quite uncomfortable lately. Florida has been averaging upper 85-90 degrees. YUK! Feels like June/July already. I have one more outside gig on March 18. The rest are all in doors, but the venues are big with nice roomy stages and dance floors.

One thing I noticed was the tip jar increase. When you play private parties, you usually get paid good up front, so tips aren't a factor. If you get $30-40 a night, sometimes even less, you're happy. But this season has averaged $150 a night. I've had some big tips of $50 and $100 found in the jar at the end of the night. They wanted to be anonymous because nobody went out of their way to show me their tip. All I can guess is that the people are glad to be out and listening to music again.

So i've been able to live mainly on the tips and bank the checks. Too bad the season slows down in April.  I need to make up for 18 months of not gigging and 2 surgeries that slowed me down.

Still happy to see a somewhat normal gigging atmosphere.

[Notes_Norton]

We covered for another sick band Friday night, in a new venue, about 30 miles away, that called us out of the blue due to a referral from an audience member. They cancelled, the manager called a few of their regular bands, and they were all booked, an audience member suggested us. It was open, the money was good, so we accepted. I don't know if it was COVID or not, but I'm glad we could cover it.

It went great, the audience was very enthusiastic, and it looks like we will be back. They are booked a couple of months in advance, so I hope they don't forget about us It was on the waterfront in a multi-building Tiki bar setting.

BTW, leftjay, you and I are very different in the heat department. I don't mind the heat at all.

I grew up in Florida before Air Conditioners were common in homes, and today I still choose to live without mine. Not only is it an environmental choice, but a comfort choice.

AC units put more carbon in the air in the US than the industrial sector does. Plus, the little heat island by each unit adds more. It seems a feedback loop to heat the earth more to live in a cooler house, but the hotter environment means more energy and global heating to cool the house at the hotter temperature, which heats the earth even more which requires the AC to work and pollute even more - ad infinitum.

When you live in AC of about 75 degrees or less, you get acclimated to that temperature so when you go outdoors, it seems hotter.

I remember gigging on the road 'up north'. In September, after the summer's heat, 65 degrees seems freezing and people are bundled up. In the spring, after a frozen winter, 65 degrees seems warm and people are going out in t-shirts and shorts.

I painted my roof white, planted shade trees around my house, and when it's 90 degrees outside, it's never more than 80 in the house.

Fortunately, Mrs. Notes was reared in Florida too, and doesn't like AC either.

And when we get that outdoor gig at 85-90 degrees, as long as we are in shade, we are happy (and we don't play without a shelter, in case a sudden rain crops up).

To each his/her own, I guess.

I'm glad you're gigging and the tips are good. I think the 'safer at home' people missed music and are enthusiastic to have it back.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

 

[leftyjay]

yeah, I'm from the extreme northeast corner of Ohio. I lived on Lake rd about 100 yards from Lake Erie. If it gets over 85 outside, I make a beeline from my car ac to the house ac. Guitar playing is difficult for me in the humidity and heat. If i just strummed chords, it would be different, but I need to play all over the neck and my hands get sticky. I'm constantly washing my hands and using "fast fret". I cant use any of my lacquer painted guitars outside. they get real tacky.

Oh yeah, since I play on the west coast, we have to deal with Red Tide. You cant play along the beach venues when the Tide drifts in. It's nasty.

I much prefer a nice roomy stage and dry, cool conditions, easy stage entrance doors. I carry a ton of gear and don't want to be wilted and wore out before I start. As it is, I arrive 1.5-2 hrs before a gig so i can be setup and make sure everything works. Sit, cool down, and relax for 15-30 minutes, change clothes and get ready to start.

I don't have those options if i play outside. I'll show up the last minute and setup just what i absolutely need and start immediately once i'm tuned up. carry 2-3 fans to circulate some air around to dry me off. drink 4-5 bottles of water.

I would love 68-75 degrees everyday, but that's not going to happen in SW Florida.

[Notes_Norton]

I'm with you on that red tide thing, it stinks - literally. Big Sugar runs Florida politics, and they have a license to pollute and send their sludge to both coasts as they please. I don't vote for anybody who gets campaign funds from big sugar. But there aren't enough of us to dethrone them.

I was in a house band for a year in Fort Meyers a few decades ago. I prefer the climate on the southeast coast of FL. There is almost always a nice sea-breeze.

I grew up in Pompano Beach, just north of Fort Lauderdale. When I was young, nobody had AC in their homes. The way to keep cool was to paint the roof white, and plant shade trees around the house. I still do that, and prefer the fresh air to canned AC. I know that makes me weird in today's world, but I've never shied away from being strange.

We also have a lot of gear. I play sax, wind synth, lead guitar, and sometimes flute, Mrs. Notes plays rhythm guitar, and synth and we both sing. I make our own backing tracks since I also play drums, bass, and can get around on keyboards. That's a lot of gear to schlep. The only problem I have with outdoor venues is the threat of rain.

The salt air is hard on gear, but they are just tools that make me money, and when they reach their 'best by' date, I just replace them. By then they have more than paid for themselves.

We have 3 outdoor gigs this week, one is midday, one is late afternoon to early evening and the other is after dark.

Playing music for a living is better than any day-job I can think of

 

Notes ♫

 

[Mikeo]

I just happened to see this thread, but here's my take on the whole thing. You folks can do what you want. 

We are 2 years into the covid pandemic. People a lot smarter than me have done a lot of research  and came up with a vaccine. I got my first vax last April, as I was work for the local Transit Authority, the second one came in May. After leave the Transit company in Aug of last year, I got the booster in December. Yes, the vaccines made me tired, which lasted for a day or so. My wife did the same 3 vaxes, at a few weeks later. The booster made her really tired for a few days.  So the booster effects folks in different ways, just like the covid itself. Some ended up in the hospital, some hardly nothing, and many, as we know, died.

I wore a mask a lot of the time and haven't had a cold in 2 years now. I haven't gone that far, but I'm still out in public. You still have to buy supplies and food. The mask mandates are now starting to lift, but for me, I may look like a fool, but I think I might be wearing a mask in the shops and stores here for a long time to come.  

A covid booster will probably be a year vax, like the flu vax. 

The vax were free too, bought and paid for with your tax dollars. 

So forgive me in advance if I'm still wearing a mask this summer when I'm in the grocery store and you don't recognize me.  When I run my dog or walk the streets, it's no mask time, but I have one in my pocket. 

Scientist and researchers gave you the tools to stay healthier, whether you choose to use those tools is up too you.  Politicians, imho, they are nuts any way.  

Now if and when I ever get to play out again, I may wear a mask till I hit the microphone. 

Like I said, you folks do what you want. I'm not twisting any arms either way.

On that note in the past 2 years, I got 3 covid shots, shingrix 1&2 ( my wife had shingles and almost lost her vision, she spent a year going to the optometrist pretty much on a weekly, bi weekly basis. One steroid was 500 bucks for this little bitty bottle, without insurance.  She went through a few bottles of that steroid. Thank god I have a really good insurance plan)  Tetanus, and flu vax last season and this season.

 

My dog Luka got all his vaxes too. Same with my 2 kitties.

Now we all have the Billy Gates Mirco chip.

 

 

[leftyjay]

Mikeo,

You can only do what you can to avoid getting sick. I use to catch the flu every season down here in Florida because people wanted hugs and hand shakes from me. After they touch me, then they would tell me "I've been sick all week, but couldn't miss your performance." Grrrr!!!!

And like you, I haven't had as much as a sniffle the past 2 years with masks and social distancing. I set the rules for the audience and me when it comes to close contact. TOUCHING AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

I stay on stage behind my keyboard and mixer table (my gear cubical). But there is always that one or two people that want to come up and talk to me. I tell them "Stop right there. We can talk from a distance just fine. If you want a request, write it down and set it on the front of the stage." So far, so good!

I don't judge anybody on how they are protecting themselves from colds, flu, covid, shingles, etc. When things were bad I wore a mask. Never bothered me. In fact, I forgot it was on my face. Only thing was, it fogged my glasses till I bought an anti-fog spray for my glasses. If I was at a store and someone was coming the other way down the isle without a mask, I'd just turn around and back track down that isle when people cleared out.

I still carry my little bottle of GermX just in case I slip up and forget what I'm touching. I have shook a guys hand before thinking and immediately reached in my pocket for my GermX, while saying to the guy "No disrespect, but you can't trust anybodies hygiene habits but your own". LOL

I'm gigging just about as much as I was before the pandemic. But my prices, like everything else has gone up. People that booked me has never squabbled over price. Things are as good as they're going to be for a while. I'm doing as much as I can to protect myself. I cant afford to be out of work for another 18 months, so I'll do everything I can to keep myself healthy. And people with any common sense understands my situation. Haven't run into any idiots trying to shame me with my health decisions.

Stay safe and healthy

[Mikeo]

6 hours ago, leftyjay said:

Mikeo,

I use to catch the flu every season down here in Florida because people wanted hugs and hand shakes from me.

You're simple irresistible.

This may be the new hug and hand shake for the rest of my life. I'm ok with it.

Or even power of five knuckle knock. It can be a light touch or no touch.

You can always leave facebook up to converse with folks that have some thing to say. Maybe Google stream your show, for folks that are sick and chose to stay home.

It's a different world now.

 

 

[Notes_Norton]

I wear my mask, am vaccinated and boosted, and I limit my exposure to crowds. We especially avoid indoor crowds, go grocery shopping when the store traffic is light (usually mornings), don't dine at restaurants, and so far have avoided the plague.

We're gigging, but we are only taking outdoor gigs. I can't mask while singing, playing the sax or playing the wind synthesizer.

Since I went on a keto diet (they called it Atkins then) in the 1980s, I've had one mild cold; one day sneezing, one day cough. That was after a vacation in Vienna when I went way off diet (They are famous for sugar laden desserts). I understand that when your body runs on ketones instead of glucose, your T cells are much stronger. I don't know if that's true or not (you can't believe everything you read) but I lost 65 pounds on keto and seem to never get sick.

On the other hand, with COVID, I'm not taking too many chances. That's why, only outdoor gigs for me. Fortunately, in Florida, we have the weather for that.

The one-day-per-week gig on the beach is going so well, they added a second. We now have 14 gigs this month, which for COVID not being gone, is pretty good (especially after 1.5 years of no gigs and sheltering at home).

You can throw caution to the wind and ignore COVID, you can shelter at home and don't do anything, or you can find your spot somewhere between the two extremes. We lean towards the safe extreme, but we do need to work, so we are limiting that to safer gigs.

I've never got a flu shot, since I don't get the flu. But if they come out with an annual COVID booster, I'll probably get it. I think COVID can give the ill permanent damage, that's a lot worse than the flu.

Insights and incites by Notes

[Shaster]

So... I've gone from one or two gigs a month, January to March inclusive, to ten gigs in April. It's like somebody flicked a switch. I'm gonna have to start exercising  to get my gig legs back. Not complaining, just confused at how sudden the shift was. I guess if May works the same, it might just be a trend. Still navigating playing in a pandemic, but I guess I've had enough of a rest to make me less cranky and reluctant. Anyway, I'm busy right now - hanging garlic at my door to keep the variants away.

Happy gigging everyone.