As we approach the first anniversary of lockdown restrictions being imposed on the music industry, Folk and Tumble caught up with some of our musician friends to see how they had coped with the restrictions and their hopes for the future. Today it's the turn of Scottish Blues rocker Dave Arcari.
FT: We have been in a cycle of lockdowns and restrictions for a year now.How have you found that year?
DA: It’s been a weird one for sure. Thankfully, the only real challenge has been finances and – as far as I know – all our family, friends, colleagues, etc. – have managed to stay well which is the main thing. In a way, it’s been good to have time to re-assess everything and have some ‘quiet time’. In saying that, I don’t think I’ve ever been busier and been in such a financial mess as a result! Things have definitely been put into perspective though and that’s maybe not such a bad thing.
FT: Have you found any unexpected inspiration during the restrictions and what, if any activity, have you found that has helped keep you grounded?
DA: Probably not so much inspiration itself as the time to actually do something with the inspiration and ideas – not just the music itself, but at a strategic level. We’re very lucky living where we do on the eastern banks of Loch Lomond. I’ve always enjoyed getting out and getting some fresh air, but there’s been a little more time for long walks and mountain biking.
FT: Have you received any government support for loss of income?
DA: Yes, thankfully there have been a couple of small grants from the Scottish Government which were administered via Creative Scotland.
I have also been thankful for some one-off grants from Help Musicians, PRS Emergency Relief Fund, and the Musicians’ Union. While none of them are able to make up for the loss of earnings and other significant financial losses (unrecouped visa costs etc.) as a result of the pandemic, they have been crucial in helping me stay afloat.
FT: What have you missed most about playing live shows?
DA: Audience feedback/interaction and hanging out with folks after shows… That’s the really big one for me. I love playing and being on stage, but I enjoy the social side of playing live just as much.
FT: Many artists embraced the streaming of live performances. Did you, and what are your thoughts on that?
DA: Absolutely! I’d embraced live streaming since it started out long before COVID, but more as a way to promote shows and upcoming releases or just as ‘news updates’ with a couple of live songs thrown in… I hadn’t played any ‘full concert’ live streams or seen it as a way of accepting tips or donations.
When lockdown hit, I started playing a few full-length live stream shows. I really just to try and stay visible and give folks something to watch rather than for any financial reasons, but I did start accepting tips/donations. I didn’t want folks who were being hit hard financially to have to miss out, but I was aware that there are also folks out there who are in a position – and want to – support their favourite artists.
This all worked great for the first six months and I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, generosity, and support – that was what really kept us afloat both financially and spiritually.
BUT… we started to find more and more scammers trying to siphon folks off to watch on other platforms and take credit card info and all sorts, jamming the live comments with spam and really annoying folks. So I decided to make the full-length concerts streams ticketed and moved the more ‘premium’ free content – my various weekly ‘series’, currently ‘Tales From The Road’, to a private group called Dave Arcari’s Wildcat which, so far has been successful in keeping scammmers and spammers at bay.
I guess there is also the strategic view that, regardless of pandemics and lockdown, by charging – even a token fee – helps an artist focus their efforts on those who care and not ‘inflict’ themselves on folks that aren’t interested. A bit like making the move from free entry/pub shows to ticketed venues… much harder to get an audience in, but the audience – while perhaps smaller – is much more engaged.
FT: If this is the last lockdown, when do you think you will be able to confidently take bookings for shows again?
DA: Well, I have three shows booked in England (Newcastle, Manchester, and Liverpool) for July. They’ve been rescheduled two or three times already. Who knows if they’ll need to be rescheduled again! Also, I have some provisional dates in Finland in September but again we just need to keep a watch on things a bit and play it by ear.
I doubt if I’ll make it back to the USA on my current O-1 visa – a three-year visa that runs out in September – which is a bit of a bummer, not least as the cost, time, and stress involved in getting the visa is significant and really (in my case, anyway) needs a good five or six tours to recoup. I only got three in before lockdown and had to pull the plug on my two big USA tours of 2020.
FT: COVID restrictions aside. How do you feel Brexit will affect your career?
DA: Kind of too early to say, really, there is so much confusion. I sit on the Musicians’ Union national committee for live performance and it’s been something we discuss regularly. The MU is doing a lot to seek clarification and campaign for smoother passage etc. for touring artists. The pandemic has been an unfortunate distraction on the real impact so far.
My own view is that it’s going to be a huge pain in the ass rather than an insurmountable obstacle. As a solo artist that can ‘carry’ all the equipment I need by hand, a lot of the restrictions have less impact – but for bands and major tours, it doesn’t appear to be good news.
FT: If you could advise the government on how to proceed with the re-opening of live music venues again, what would your advice be?
DA: I couldn’t. I have no idea.
But I do wish folks would separate the (party) politics from the situation. Personally, I think the health and safety – pandemic/physical/mental – is paramount and there’ll always be a million different views and opinions. I’m not an expert on any of these things so – perhaps naively – I’m willing to go with what ‘the experts’ purpose. Ultimately I’d say: “when it’s safe to do so”.
FT: When things return to normal what are your plans?
DA: Get back on the road… and hit the ground running.