Culture
Steve Zarate On Challenges Faced By Musicians During COVID-19 Outbreak
By: Emily Votaw
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Steve Zarate has been a full-time musician for about 14 years. Statewide decrees made to contain the spread of COVID-19 have interrupted Zarate’s profession, as they has for so many. Zarate estimates that due to cancelled shows alone, he has already lost about $1,000 in revenue, but he is already working with other regional musicians to try and organize crowdfunding efforts to support individuals in similar positions.
Between March 12 and March 15, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine banned all gatherings of more than 100 people in the state of Ohio and closed all Ohio restaurants and bars as a part of the state’s harm reduction efforts in containing the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the highly contagious coronavirus. As a result of this, nearly all regional music events have been canceled or postponed as to adhere to the order.
Regional musicians are a part of the rarely discussed “gigging economy,” which is in disarray after the firm and fast movements on the part of the State over the past week. In this series, WOUB Culture is investigating the myriad of ways that these disorienting (but necessary) measures have impacted regional musicians.
Check out Steve’s most recent release, Patchwork of Light, below. Find him on Facebook, too.