D.C. Jazz Audiences: COVID-19 Resources

Are you a gigging musician? Check out our artists resource page for tips on increasing your online reach, plus an up-to-date, D.C.-musician-specific list of relief fund resources.

The COVID-19 crisis has caused regular paying gigs and in-person lessons to dry up almost overnight, meaning many freelance musicians now confront daunting financial challenges. And audiences are now without access to live music.

— WHAT CAN I DO? —

1: SUPPORT AN ARTIST DIRECTLY BY BUYING AN ALBUM OR A LESSON

2: WATCH LIVESTREAMS (AND PAY/TIP!)

CapitalBop’s live music calendar has turned into a livestream calendar for the duration of the shutdown. Tune in to artists’ shows over social media or dedicated streaming platforms, and pay/tip where you can.

3: CONTRIBUTE TO ARTIST RELIEF EFFORTS

We recommend pitching in to the new D.C. Area Jazz Musicians Benevolence Fund organized by D.C.’s “jazz church,” Westminster Presbyterian. Two other great options for donations to D.C. relief efforts are the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation (who don’t have a discrete fund at the moment but are distributing aid to their house band musicians) and the DC Legendary Musicians relief fund, which assists members of that organization.

If you want to donate now to a national effort too, you can find one at CapitalBop’s musicians’ resources page.

4: ADVOCATE FOR ARTISTS AND VENUES IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Now is the time to reach out to your local community and government representatives — particularly councilmembers and state representatives — to:

  1. Lobby your councilmember for support of local business relief bills, and for the adoption of the Music Venue Relief Act, a piece of legislation drafted by a coalition of musicians and organizers (including CapitalBop leadership).
  2. Raise awareness about our resource; share your love of your local scene!
  3. Spread the word about the Westminster D.C. Area Jazz Musicians Benevolence Fund as a centralized resource for donating directly to the musicians of the D.C. jazz scene.

5: CONSIDER A DONATION TO CAPITALBOP

If you have contributed to a musician through one of the methods above and have a little left to give, please consider supporting our organization. Our 10th-anniversary year has been derailed by the crisis, and the coming months will be a huge financial trial for grassroots nonprofit organizations like ours. We appreciate anything you can offer!

The D.C. scene literally couldn’t survive without you. Together, we can persevere through the unknown and deepen the connections between audiences and artist communities. Please reach out to us with ideas and suggestions about new ways to support artists around you — and share your stories of support so we can amplify them.

We are in this together. Thank you for taking the time to read this resource and take action.

With love,

The CapitalBop Team

CapitalBop