Hurricane Ida Destroyed My Equipment

My name is Ben, I'm a Santa Barbara native and have just begun my final semester of my bachelors degree in Jazz piano. I am also active in the music community, performing gigs in New York and New Jersey in a wide variety of styles, as well as teaching students of all ages.

A couple weeks ago Hurricane Ida destroyed multiple of my musical instruments which are my livelihood. While I was preparing to play a gig in New Jersey, the venue flooded, completely filling my synthesizer, case, cables, and other equipment with water. Because live entertainers are classified as independent contractors, the venue insists they will not cover any of the damage with the insurance money. At the same time, my apartment in Manhattan also flooded causing water damage to my most expensive and prized possession: a Rhodes piano. I use both of these instruments every day for both my school studies and primary income. I have exhausted all legal options to claim any insurance money, and am left to raise the money to fix my equipment so I may continue my education and move on with my career.

The total damage includes the piano I bring to gigs and teach lessons with- a Nord Stage2, my 1976 Rhodes Piano, several power cables, ¼ inch cables and 3 pedals. The total value of damaged instruments is $9,822. This is beyond what I can afford, and I am put in a position to have to ask for your help to support. There is a detailed breakdown of the cost to fix or replace the equipment below. I hope you are in a position to help, any little bit is so appreciated.

Nord stage 2 HA88: $3,300

Rhodes 1976 Mark 1 77 Key: $4,700

Gator Piano Case: $620

Nord Legs: $300

Nord Pedal: $100

Expression pedal $60

Nord Triple pedal: $400

DI Box: $50

2 Mogami Gold 25ft cable : $172

4 Eic Power cables: $120