"The last words about Corona" or why I no longer feel like writing about it. As a self-employed DJ, musician, or artist, in 2020 I was told by politicians and society that I was neither systemically important, nor worthy of sensible and effective emergency aid measures, nor even recognized by society as being at risk of what is actually going to hell in a handbasket. Anyone who has ever been to events, concerts, parties, weddings, or other occasions appreciated that special something in everyday life, the opportunity to switch off and LIVE. But nevertheless, the majority of society doesn't really take the whole thing seriously or even acknowledge it, judging by the sometimes irresponsible behavior of people on the streets.
Purposeful optimism doesn't pay the bills.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I was still very calm and relaxed, letting things unfold naturally, while other DJ colleagues were already trying to force their DJ sets on everyone with more or less successful streaming services. And let's be honest, anyone doing live streaming as a DJ probably hasn't discovered Spotify's playlist function yet, because what was being presented in terms of DJ sets was nothing more than a live-mixed Spotify playlist. This quickly resolved itself, however, when the streaming provider " Twitch " banned live DJ sets from its platform, thus saving us from live-mixed Spotify playlists with 70s/80s-style rhythmic gymnastics videos and various online drinking games. THANK YOU FOR THAT - Corona is bad enough without knowing how some people decorate their homes.
I didn't participate in those campaigns where people tried to promote themselves, attract attention, or even generate donations. Instead, I redesigned my websites and created a site where professional musicians could easily present themselves and link to each other. You can admire the result at MUSIK4MUENCHEN...
A little is not enough
Wedding celebrations are now possible again, albeit with restrictions. It must be said, however, that these restrictions are being interpreted very loosely in the hospitality industry, as they are not being enforced at all. Other parties and events are still not permitted, and even if they were, I think it will be quite some time before people decide to hold an event again after all the media-driven panic. The situation is somewhat different in the live music sector, where public performances are allowed again, but under very strict conditions and with a minimum number of attendees, which depends on the size of the venue. (Social distancing and all that – it's difficult for a 100-square-meter basement stage – it's not exactly economically viable.)
I'm glad for myself, and I'm happy for my live performance colleagues that they at least have some prospects again, even if it's not exactly profitable. But what about all the rental companies, technicians, etc.? Oh yes, they're now switching to conference and streaming technology, and it's great that they can do that. At least some jobs are preserved, which are already subsidized by short-time work allowances until the end of 2021. Better than nothing, but for the self-employed, it's another slap in the face, as further emergency aid measures are neither planned nor under discussion for one of the most flexible and future-oriented sectors of the labor market. All one can say is "Old Economy" first...
Tired of the discussions
Each of us notices and recognizes now, during a pandemic, that people in our social environment suddenly change, have different perceptions and priorities, and what becomes more apparent is selfishness...
What does a DJ or live musician do who can't currently perform? Obviously, they travel. Sometimes to areas that are relatively safe, but sometimes knowingly to high-risk areas, all with a shrug. Sure, you can get infected with Corona in Germany, but for crying out loud, at least you caught it in Germany and not, say, in Bulgaria or Mallorca, where you unknowingly, already infected, still have to sit out another week of your package holiday, thus driving up infection rates in those holiday destinations. This then leads to borders being closed again (currently Romania), regional lockdowns, and expanded mask mandates. Then you come back from your selfish holiday, and since you don't feel sick anyway, you consider the testing requirement more of a suggestion, or you simply give a false name (like on restaurant contact tracing forms, etc.) if you can't get past the airport security checkpoint.
I find it incomprehensible how artists, musicians, freelancers, and DJs can travel abroad during these times, when these sectors of the workforce and economy are among the hardest hit and receive the least support. But who am I to deny anyone their "well-deserved" vacation? All I can say is, well, you all seem to be doing too well, and this is evident in the near-total absence of efforts to improve emergency aid and attempts to engage in dialogue with politicians. Other German states are still trying to draw attention to the precarious situation of those affected, but in Bavaria, it's currently vacation time, so the complaints will be loud in the fall/winter of 2020/21 when restrictions are reintroduced (or the nationwide limit on the number of people at private parties and events is finally enforced), guests stay away because no one wants to sit indoors due to aerosols, and infection rates continue to rise.
What I find most amusing are the DJs and artists who go on vacation and then complain that they're allowed to sit crammed together on the plane, but they can't perform. "Then stay home," they say, but no, that's not an option either, because then their right to personal expression is restricted (keyword: selfishness), and besides, it's so cheap right now anyway, it won't affect me...
If I had received one euro every time, from March until now, for saying "it won't get me" and "do you know anyone who has Corona," then I could relax and enjoy a staycation until the end of 2021, assuming I had a balcony...
We already had DISTANCE before Corona
The selfishness of the individual becomes more obvious and comes to the fore when people have to adhere to uniform rules for the common good. Oh damn, that sentence contained so many words that some people have forgotten, except for the word SELFISHNESS...
Yes, I'm also tired of Corona, and the whole topic is just annoying now, unless you find people who approach it objectively and rationally and prefer a pragmatic approach, unlike those who subscribe to the classic, tabloid-style rhetoric with phrases like "it's not that bad anyway" or "don't let the government and the media manipulate you," and the ever-popular "the virus is the means to implement a new world order." The tone is getting harsher, both in real life and on social media. In real life, I can avoid such people or give them a piece of my mind (okay, not a very good Corona joker), and online, I'm increasingly avoiding Facebook, for example, because that's where they all are—the ones who've been buying up all the aluminum foil supplies since the first LTE tower was built...
Therefore, I will now dedicate myself to what should and will secure my economic survival, and will no longer write about Corona and the stupidity of people, as well as the disproportionate nature of the politically motivated actions of the government (2021 is an election year, after all) to contain the pandemic and its consequences...
To be clear, this is not to say that for me Corona is over and no longer exists; quite the contrary, Corona is here to stay, and if we don't change our behavior and replace individual selfishness with cooperation, then we're doomed, heading down social and political paths that we in Germany never wanted to see again...
I´m OUT...
