- P
Hi there,
As you know COVID-19 is sweeping across the world and is affecting us all. As we protect ourselves and others by "social distancing" or by placing yourself in "self quarantine" it is having a massive affect on the economy and especially on freelancers and small business.
As you may know, I am a freelance opera singer , and this means that I make my money from singing concerts throughout Europe. However, if you don't sing, you don't get paid and there is no safety net or insurance to help out should something go wrong.
As the tsunami of cancellations swept across Europe it also came for me. Easter is the busiest time of the year for concerts and having a disruption during this period is a total disaster for all musicians.
I have now personally lost 100% of my Easter concert season which amounts to roughly 10,000€ in lost income. All of these concerts have been cancelled and not postponed, so the planned income is simply gone.
There is also no other time of year except Christmas where singers are so fully booked, so with these cancelations there is no way for me to stay ahead financially.
I have always had a second source of income for some stability as an English coach, but as businesses suffer, all "non-essential spending" has been cut, so 100% of my clients have cancelled for the foreseeable future.
This has now left me with zero income for an unknown amount of time. and at this point it also seems that the state will not be stepping in to help the "little guy".
So I am turning to you! Many of you know me, or know my photography from Instagram and I have been always very encouraged by your support over the years. I am now, however, asking for some financial help to get me through these extraordinary times.
It is a scary time for us all, but if you have some extra euros, pounds, dollars or whatever, I would greatly appreciate your help.
I am working out how to send photo prints to those of you who help out, but there are some intellectual property details to work out. You know, when it rains, it pours :-)
Thank you so much for your support.
Michael
As you know COVID-19 is sweeping across the world and is affecting us all. As we protect ourselves and others by "social distancing" or by placing yourself in "self quarantine" it is having a massive affect on the economy and especially on freelancers and small business.
As you may know, I am a freelance opera singer , and this means that I make my money from singing concerts throughout Europe. However, if you don't sing, you don't get paid and there is no safety net or insurance to help out should something go wrong.
As the tsunami of cancellations swept across Europe it also came for me. Easter is the busiest time of the year for concerts and having a disruption during this period is a total disaster for all musicians.
I have now personally lost 100% of my Easter concert season which amounts to roughly 10,000€ in lost income. All of these concerts have been cancelled and not postponed, so the planned income is simply gone.
There is also no other time of year except Christmas where singers are so fully booked, so with these cancelations there is no way for me to stay ahead financially.
I have always had a second source of income for some stability as an English coach, but as businesses suffer, all "non-essential spending" has been cut, so 100% of my clients have cancelled for the foreseeable future.
This has now left me with zero income for an unknown amount of time. and at this point it also seems that the state will not be stepping in to help the "little guy".
So I am turning to you! Many of you know me, or know my photography from Instagram and I have been always very encouraged by your support over the years. I am now, however, asking for some financial help to get me through these extraordinary times.
It is a scary time for us all, but if you have some extra euros, pounds, dollars or whatever, I would greatly appreciate your help.
I am working out how to send photo prints to those of you who help out, but there are some intellectual property details to work out. You know, when it rains, it pours :-)
Thank you so much for your support.
Michael