SECTION E SUNDAY • NOVEMBER 15,2020
FACES OF THE ARTS SHUTDOWN THE Musicians
STORIES BY GEORGE VARGA PHOTOGRAPHY BY EDUARDO CONTRERAS
or musicians here, there and everywhere, the silence brought on by the coronavirus pandemic has been deafening. Concert halls, clubs, theaters and venues of all sizes have been shuttered nation- wide since March. San Diego, like nearly the entire state of California, currently does not permit live performances with in-person audiences, indoors or outdoors, apart from drive-in concerts. In Sep- tember, we profiled 10 stagehands whose behind-the-scenes work is just as pivotal as that of the struggling performers whose stories we have been telling for the past eight months. Today, we focus on the musicians and explore how they have been coping with life in the time of COVID-19. These are F their pandemic stories. SEE PAGES E2-E6 $14.1 BILLION As of Nov. 2, financial losses to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in the United States
Source: Americans for the Arts (findings based on 19,800 survey responses)
BOOKS McConaughey waxes poetic in his new memoir, “Greenlights” E9 TRAVEL As winter approaches, ski resorts focus on virus safety E13 E2 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY • NOVEMBER 15,2020
FACES OF THE ARTS SHUTDOWN THE MUSICIANS
Number of admissions lost due to event cancellations
Source: Americans for the Arts (findings 478 MILLION based on 19,800 survey responses)
NATHAN HUBBARD PERCUSSIONIST ‘As far as I know, everything is off the table’
BY GEORGE VARGA
athan Hubbard was a double- winner in July N at the 2020 San Diego Music Awards,where he won the Best Jazz Album award for “This Stream” by the Nathan Hubbard Trio and shared Best Hip Hop or Rap Album honors for “The Bully Pulpit” as a member of the group Parker Meridien. ■ His acceptance speeches, like the entire awards ceremony, were delivered remotely online because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was an all too telling illustration of the virtu- al reality conundrum now faced by myriad musicians whose performance schedules evaporated in mid-March and have yet to return. “Things are at a standstill,” said Hubbard, a genre-leaping percussionist, band leader and composer. He lives in San Carlos with his wife and three children, two of whom started high school this year entirely online. Apart from a Sycuan Casino date and a few fleeting music jobs at restau- rants, his calendar has been empty. EDUARDO CONTRERAS U-T PHOTOS “I’ve always been the guy who works at night and is here for the What I was going to be doing the taking their school classes online Until eight months ago, he cians whom he could not afford kids in the day, picking them up past six months of all went up in from home, Hubbard has as- would rehearse, record, perform the expense of flying and housing from school and driving them to smoke.” sumed new responsibilities. and exchange ideas face to face in San Diego. karate class and ballet rehears- So did a Santa Fe Christian These include “making sure the with his collaborators. Now, he “Rather than going to band als,” Hubbard said. “Now, it’s High School musical theater Wi-Fi is always working” and does so almost exclusively via the rehearsal or a studio session, it’s shifted. Instead of running out at production Hubbard was booked helping his kids stay focused and Internet. That’s a major disad- now a matter of recording sound night, I’m doing gigs from home to play. Originally scheduled for grounded. vantage in many ways, although files and transferring it to some- on the Internet. This would not October, it has been pushed back “My youngest son is in first Hubbard notes that he is able to body, doing videos and using all be possible for me if my wife to May. grade and now has to do all these record long-distance with musi- kinds of technologies that weren’t didn’t have a very good full-time The likelihood of doing any live things he’s never done before. He so important before,” he said. “It import/export position.” performances does not look prom- doesn’t know how to type, so it’s makes you wonder if this is the In a typical week before ising, even if health protocols are been a technological challenge,” new paradigm, or if things will COVID-19, Hubbard performed strictly implemented. Pragmatic Hubbard said. “Are my kids get- eventually shift back to how they an average of five to seven nights by nature, Hubbard accepts this ting the education and informa- were before. per week. He worked steadily in as a situation well beyond his tion they need? Do they under- “On a purely musical level, it’s various musical theater produc- control. stand what is going on? Clearly, “On a purely challenged me to focus on things tions, with club dates, recording “As far as I know, everything is social interaction is null and void, that maybe I skipped over. Be- sessions and periodic cocktail- off the table until we get to the so how do we keep them from musical level, cause I was busy enough perform- jazz receptions in between. next state clearance level,” the La going stir-crazy?” ing, I didn’t have enough time to “I did one preview perform- Jolla native said. “Even then, it will That is a challenge their dad, a it’s challenged focus on technical things, both ance of ‘La Cage aux Folles’ at be a challenge. A smaller theater San Diego State University classi- musical and electronic, like video Cygnet Theatre in March before that has to give up two of every cal percussion-performance me to focus editing or finding better ways to it got shut down,” Hubbard said. three seats for social distancing? graduate, now faces as well. With record my drums. “That was supposed to have run It’s hard enough for them to make his regular live dates canceled at on things that “So that’s been a nice silver for eight weeks, seven shows a money at full capacity. So I can’t least into next year, Hubbard is lining to be able to step back, and week. I was supposed to then do imagine how that will work until creating and honing his music — maybe I skipped think, ‘OK, I don’t have anything ‘An American in Paris’ at Moon- there’s full clearance from the from hip-hop beats to wildly to do for the foreseeable future, so light Amphitheatre, followed state to operate without any so- ambitious extended instrumental over.” what do I want to work on?’ ” there by ‘Ragtime.’ All that went cial-distancing protocols.” compositions — almost com- away, as did all my club work. With all three of his children pletely at home. Nathan Hubbard [email protected]
LAURA CHAVEZ GUITARIST ‘This is the first time I have ever busked in my life’
BY GEORGE VARGA thing Chavez was happily director and was featured tanced guitar lessons to unaccustomed to before on three of her albums, as three students in Ocean- he coronavirus the pandemic struck. well as in the charismatic side. pandemic has led As the guitarist in two singer’s autobiographical With her career on hold, to many firsts for bands — one led by North musical “The Toughest Girl Chavez has been able to pay Tthe many musi- Carolina singer Nikki Hill, Alive,” which debuted in her bills while trying not to cians who have had no the other by Philadelphia 2013 at Moxie Theatre. dip into her savings too venues to perform in since saxophonist/singer Kane died of cancer in much. Without a second the lockdown for live events Vanessa Collier — she is 2016.Chavez, one of her government stimulus bill, began in mid-March. For constantly traveling. closest friends, was devas- she is understandably con- blues-rocking guitarist Chavez is also the fleet tated. Six months later, in cerned about the long-term Laura Chavez, the pan- six-string ace in the house early 2017, she accepted an impact of the pandemic. demic has led her from band for the annual Blues invitation to join the band of “Financially, it’s rather those shuttered venues to Caravan tours, which are blues, rock and soul singer bleak, but everybody is the streets — at least when produced by Germany’s Hill. All of the guitarist’s dealing with one thing or it comes to performing. Ruf Records and crisscross tour dates with Hill since another,” she said. “The “I’ve been busking in the European continent. March have been canceled, music industry has been hit Little Italy every weekend This year’s edition, which as have all her shows with so hard, and it will take so with Chickenbone Slim and was curtailed after its Feb- saxophonist/singer Collier. long to recover, that I’m his bassist and drummer, ruary leg because of the “Lots of dates from this thinking way more about and this is the first time I pandemic, also featured year are rescheduled, hope- the future than I ever have. have ever busked in my San Diego singer Whitney fully, for next year,” Chavez I’ve been a professional life,” said Chavez, who Shay. She and Chavez did a said. “A lot of the big festi- musician since I was 18, and usually does at least 250 separate one-week tour of vals we were booked for are Idon’t think I’ve ever made concerts a year on the road. Russia in January. planning to recycle their adollar doing anything else. “Busking was never “I’m usually out of town 2020 lineups in 2021. But it’s So, I don’t know what I something I thought I 300 days a year,” the de- so hard to plan, because I would do.I think about it. I would do,” she continued. voted guitarist said, speak- feel a lot of them will start wonder. But I’ve made it “People in Little Italy have ing from her Hillcrest that my callouses pretty canceling again since through half my life doing been respectful. They keep apartment. “Everything much wore off. I don’t have a there’s no real for-sure time music, so it’s hard to imag- their distance, wear masks was set up for me to be here car, and I’ve never had a that this pandemic will ine what it would be. and enjoy the music safely. two to three days at a time, driver’s license, so I’m walk- end.” “This has definitely been And we’ve actually come then go back on tour, which “Financially, ing everywhere.” Chavez played a mid- ablow to my livelihood and out fairly well, money-wise is what I’ve done since I Chavez grew up in the August drive-in concert at psychological outlook. I was (from tips), about the same moved to San Diego from it’s rather bleak, San Jose/Mountain View the Del Mar Fairgrounds used to being constantly as we would if we played a the Bay Area two years ago. area, took up guitar in grade with Shay, whose most busy performing music. It’s weekend club or restaurant “So, it’s weird to have but everybody school, and has been a recent album features the an emotional outlet, and it’s gig here in town. We all kind been here since March, and professional musician since guitarist. Apart from a more than just an occupa- of look at it the same way. I’ve started to rearrange is dealing with 18. She became a favorite private party, some infor- tion or career. With all that’s Busking is fun. It gives us a things to make it a more with audiences here, and mal front-porch concerts going on in the world right chance to play. And we’re permanent living space. It one thing or beyond, after joining the and busking on weekends in now, it’s really hard to have doing more than if we were was a big adjustment, band of San Diego vocal Little Italy, Chavez has had that ripped away so sud- sitting at home not doing especially at the beginning another.” favorite Candye Kane in few non-online performance denly.” it.” of the pandemic. I didn’t 2008. Chavez subsequently options. She commutes by Sitting at home is some- touch a guitar for so long Laura Chavez became Kane’s musical train to give socially dis- [email protected] THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY • NOVEMBER 15,2020 E3
FACES OF THE ARTS SHUTDOWN THE MUSICIANS
Source: Americans 96% 95% 63% for the Arts (findings based Percentage of nonprofit arts and cultural Percentage of artists and creative workers Percentage of artists and creative work- on 19,800 survey organizations that have canceled events who have reported loss of income ers who have become fully unemployed responses)
CLAUDIA GOMEZ TAP-DANCING PERCUSSIONIST ‘Now is a time when people need their spirits lifted’
BY GEORGE VARGA
laudia Gomez is an expert at putting her best foot for- Cward, as befits a skilled tap-dancing percus- sionist and yoga and dance instructor. But her usually impeccable timing was thrown off in a big way by the coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted her as a per- former and as the owner and operator of Tap Into Yoga & Reiki, the North Park studio she opened in July. “It’s not an easy situation,” said Gomez, who had to close her new studio after holding just one event there this summer. She was only able to reopen it this fall. “I was hoping we could contin- ue and not get shut down,” Gomez said. “But all of a sudden, everyone had to shut down again. Iwent from being able to teach a small percentage of people in the studio with limited capacity, to nobody, which was a bummer.” “I was hoping we could contin- ue and not get shut down,” Gomez said. “But all of a sudden, everyone had to shut down again. Iwent from being able to teach a small percentage of people in the studio with limited capacity, to nobody, which was a bummer.” She decided to move her classes to Balboa Park, a few blocks away, even though doing so eliminated any potential earn- ings. “I was like: ‘OK, let’s keep this going,’”Gomez said. “I took it as apositive thing and a way to safely create free classes, outside, to promote the studio once we were able to open again. I figured the shutdown would not be forev- er. And now is a time when people need their spirits lifted. They need to dance, make music, create art, do yoga and really get into the mindfulness aspects with everything going on.” Health considerations are a key concern for Gomez, both for her students and personally, since her chronic asthma puts her at higher risk should she contract COVID-19. “I’m a one-person operation, and — since my studio reopened —Ican have no more than six to eight students at a time, instead of the 30 I could normally have per class,” she said. “People have to pass a check- point and answer questions before they come in, and wear masks throughout the entirety of their visit. They can’t come in if they have sniffles or allergies. They have to be very healthy. Right now, I’m teaching three classes a week inside and three outside.” Gomez’s finances have suf- fered because of the pandemic. It not only forced the North Park resident to shut down her studio for several months but also led to the cancellation of all her per- formances with Besos Jazz Trio and Trio Gadjo. To further compound mat- ters, as a dance instructor at San Diego’s Keiller Leadership Acad- emy — where she has taught for nearly a decade — Gomez is not paid during the school’s summer vacations. That made the open- ing (and quick subsequent clos- ing) of her studio all the more financially perilous. “In the summer,I was not able to pay my rent, so I had to rely on help from others,” she said. “Plus, all the studios where I had taught as an independent contractor for the past 20 years were also closed. I had very, very little to work with and was barely scrap- ing by. And my unemployment checks never arrived, so I’m still EDUARDO CONTRERAS U-T kind of behind. I’m catching up a bit. But now I have to pay my learn and utilize such teaching response when they perform tap dance on and uses her feet taxes, and I can’t push that off. apps as Flipgrid and WeVideo, together. Because eventually, as and body movements to provide “It’s definitely been a struggle rather than teach as usual on part of the class — when we’re percussive propulsion. to make ends meet. But I feel it campus. “It’s definitely back in person — they will perform “It’s not a gig,” she stressed. won’t last forever. I’m positive “I feel very fortunate to be at with the school’s jazz band and “We’re just playing outside be- things will get better, somehow.” Keiller teaching dance. That’s my improvise together.” cause we need to. It’s not a show. Things began to improve for love,” she said. been a struggle to This summer, with no concerts It’s very casual, and we’re doing it Gomez when she resumed her “Because tap is an instrument, or club gigs on the horizon, Gomez for free. We need a place to play, fall-to-spring job at Keiller Lead- my students are percussionists, make ends meet. began leading weekly jam sessions hang out and have fun, because it ership Academy, where she and I teach them basic music in Balboa Park. had been too long since anything teaches tap and jazz dance to theory. When they are learning a But I feel it won’t There, each Saturday, she and was happening. It’s a perfect way about 200 students a week. step, we count in measures and various jazz musician pals play to get together, outside, and make Because of the pandemic, all bars. I want them to be able to last forever.” informally — 6 feet apart, with music.” of her classes are now conducted communicate with other musi- masks on — for the sheer joy of it. online. This has required her to cians so they can have a call-and- Claudia Gomez Gomez brings a wooden board to [email protected] E4 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY • NOVEMBER 15,2020
FACES OF THE ARTS SHUTDOWN THE MUSICIANS
Amount lost in audience spending at local businesses nationwide
Source: Americans for the Arts (findings based on $15.1 BILLION 19,800 survey responses)
HEALY HENDERSON VIOLINIST ‘To not be able to perform ... is unthinkable’
BY GEORGE VARGA “I have had friends, who are not in the music business, say to me, he numbers used ‘You must be so grateful to have all to add up nicely this time off,’ ” she said. “I lost it with one friend and told them: for Healy Hender- ‘This is not a vacation. This is who son. They don’t we are. To not be able to perform T for six months, or a year, is un- anymore. ■ Not counting her thinkable.’ teaching duties as an adjunct “Even my family, who has music professor at South- known me for the last 43 years, doesn’t understand that this is western College, the Bonsall- not what musicians would choose. based Healy has worked con- We’re not getting ‘time off.’ We’ve stantly for nearly 20 years as had our performing careers stripped from us. We’re usually afirst-call freelance violinist playing eight shows a week.” throughout San Diego and Henderson has been a faculty beyond, including at Disney member for the past nine years at Southwestern College, where she Hall in Los Angeles. Orches- teaches music history and violin tral and musical theater per- and viola performance classes. Because of the pandemic, she is formances are her forte. now teaching only her music “Pre-pandemic, I’d do 10 to 12 history class — and only virtually. weeks a year playing in produc- In order to do that, she had to tions at the Old Globe and 10 to 12 upgrade her home computer weeks at La Jolla Playhouse,” said system. Henderson, whose husband is a “We’ll be staying online until at horse trainer. “I also played with least through spring semester,” the San Diego Symphony, San Henderson said. “I lost half my Diego Opera and Broadway San classes because the enrollment Diego’s touring productions at the now doesn’t warrant the number I Civic Theatre. I worked an average had been teaching. I am making of between 34 and 45 weeks a year about an eighth of what I used to, with those organizations. although I have been able to keep “On March 11, we were in pre- teaching my private students, views for ‘Fly’ at La Jolla Play- which I feel very fortunate about. house. We got an email the next I’m taking new distance educa- day to not come back to work tion faculty training, which I have because the production was can- to do in order to teach online at celed. I have not worked since then Southwestern. And I’m looking at in San Diego. I went from what other positions for online teach- would have been a really good year ing, outreach, adult education of $60,000 in freelance work to and some various extension nothing.” courses. Like many other musicians, “Now that everything has gone Henderson initially hoped things online, it makes it much more would resume this summer or in accessible for me to look at work- the fall at the latest. She has re- ing at places out of state, from signed herself to waiting until well Bonsall. I’ve never done that into next year and cites New York before. I’m also looking at earning as a barometer for live perform- my doctorate in music online from ances nationwide. Columbia or Boston College, “Broadway has canceled all of which both offer programs for its productions through the end of working musicians.” June, and so has the New York With more time on her hands, Philharmonic and the Metropoli- Henderson has been learning tan Opera,” Henderson said. improvisation, bluegrass fiddling “I think the rest of the country and improvisation. She is also will have to follow suit, mainly devoting more time to playing her because the actors and production viola. crews have to start four to five EDUARDO CONTRERAS U-T PHOTOS “I just hope audiences don’t get months ahead of when the musi- too familiar and comfortable with cians come in. So, my hope is we In 2000, she signed a one-year hearing us online and not live,” might get to do one of these 2020 contract with the San Diego Sym- she said. “It would be such a San Diego productions that has phony and moved here in 2002. shame if that happened. Because been canceled or postponed in the While no longer a full-time member, hearing the music live, instantly, fall of 2021.” Henderson is a frequent substitute “This is not what musicians would at concerts and theater produc- An Orange County native who violinist in the orchestra. Or, rather, tions is the essence of what we do. grew up in Dana Point, Henderson she was. Her only two gigs this choose. We’re not getting ‘time off.’ It’s why we’ve studied for all these earned her bachelor’s degree in summer were with an all-masked years.I hope society doesn’t shift music at DePaul University in string quartet at a pair of outdoor We’ve had our performing careers so much that we can’t come back Chicago. She studied at the Mos- weddings in Orange County, which as strong and creative as we were, cow Conservatory in Russia before less stringently enforces Califor- stripped from us.” pre-pandemic.” earning her master’s at the Pea- nia’s prohibition of live perform- body Institute in Baltimore. ances during the pandemic. Healy Henderson [email protected]
RICHARD SELLERS DRUMMER ‘Let’s just get through this week and this month’
BY GEORGE VARGA tal, including specially Sellers was born in Va- tory Drums.” Designed to be prepared and transported lencia. He was playing with used for audio system dem- ow in demand breast milk that had to be such Los Angeles jazz lumi- onstrations and evalu- was Richard packed in dry ice and cost naries as saxophonist Gary ations, it features him per- Sellers before $4,000 a month. Foster when he accepted an forming on nearly three Hthe coronavirus The breast milk was one invitation to join Phazz, a dozen drums, cymbals and pandemic? The numbers of a number of items not San Diego band led by fu- percussion instruments. tell the story for this ace covered by Medi-Cal, which ture Black Eyed Peas music “I did it to try to generate jazz, rock, reggae, blues and Sellers gratefully credits for director Priese “Printz” some income to help with calypso drummer, whose covering the bulk of his now Board. our finances, and I did all many credits include La healthy daughter’s medical That was nearly 25 years the (audio) engineering and Jolla Playhouse and San expenses. A 2016 benefit ago. It didn’t take long for mastering myself,” Sellers Diego Ballet productions. concert by an array of San Sellers to become a valued said. “I received at least 13 Diego’s top jazz musicians member of the music com- “I’m living day to day and different 1099 tax forms in helped defray some of the munity in San Diego, where hoping there will be some 2019 for my work in at least uncovered costs. So did his collaborators have in- kind of way to safely perform 13 different bands,” Sellers contributions to a Go- cluded pianist Mike Wof- live, just so we can get back said. “I went from all those FundMe account for Nikki. ford, flutist Holly Hofmann to work and out of this loop different gigs last year to Now, with all of Sellers’ and saxophonist/keyboard- of owing money for rent playing once a week at The once-steady music work ist Kamau Kenyatta. every month. Some people Promise Church in Escon- having vanished because of Eager to keep his drum are acting like it will be dido, which I am a member the pandemic, the stylisti- chops up during the pan- another half year, or longer, of. That is the only thing I cally eclectic drummer finds demic, Sellers has been before things start to return have now that is steady and himself again calling on his performing weekly Face- to normal. I don’t want to the only thing that has faith. He lives in an apart- book Live concerts with hear that. I’m like, ‘Let’s just given me any income, other ment in San Marcos with his keyboardist Mikan get through this week and than the money from my family, which also includes Zlatkovich and other nota- this month.’ California unemployment older daughter, Everly, 6. ble San Diego jazz musi- “I miss playing with all benefits. And, Lord knows, “I owe almost $7,000 in cians. the other musicians and that’s not much. So, I’ve had back rent, and that amount “Occasionally, we asked bands I used to play with — to change all my plans. is steadily growing because if people wanted to donate and not just because of Everything has changed.” there are no gigs. My income performed at Pala Casino online,” the drummer said. (lost) income. But I’m still Sellers and his wife, has been reduced by at least once since March.I used to “But, basically, it’s a free thankful I’m able to play at Snejana, are no strangers to 75 percent,” said Sellers, have six drum students. concert we do every Sunday all. There are musicians challenges — or to the deep who performed at jazz sax Now I have two. We’ve cut just so we can play with here who can’t even play faith that has helped them great Charles McPherson’s “My income has down on all our expenses, other musicians. I am trying once a week, even if it’s only persevere in the face of Oct. 17 Mainly Mozart drive- our groceries, everything is to look for other opportuni- for free on Facebook. soul-sapping adversity. in concertat the Del Mar been reduced cut down. I’m just hoping we ties for work, even cleaning “We’ve just got to make it In 2016, their then 8- Fairgrounds. can get back to work as someone’s garage. I’m try- through until we get back to month-old daughter, Nikki, “I used to play some- by at least quickly as possible. Being a ing to do anything I can.” doing what we do, which is was diagnosed with a rare times two or three gigs a Christian, my background Eager to create new playing music and making form of leukemia. She re- day, starting with 8 a.m. 75 percent.” of knowing the Lord pro- opportunities, Sellers re- other people happy.” quired extensive treatment school performances, but vides for me, so I’m just cently completed a record- at Rady Children’s Hospi- everything is gone. I’ve Richard Sellers trusting in him.” ing project called “Revela- [email protected] THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY • NOVEMBER 15,2020 E5
FACES OF THE ARTS SHUTDOWN THE MUSICIANS
Percentage of Source: arts and cultural Americans for organizations the Arts that have laid off 41% 59% (findings based or furloughed Percentage of nonprofit arts Percentage of nonprofit arts on 19,800 survey 35% staff members organizations currently open organizations that remain closed responses)
EDUARDO CONTRERAS U-T SUSAN WULFF BASSIST ‘I’m an optimist by nature’
BY GEORGE VARGA Top 40 and rock oldies band Music Director Rafael Pa- the orchestra visible. special projects director, that also featured her yareand CEO Martha “I’m on the symphony’s narrated it, and I edited brother and two sisters. She Gilmer, Wulff is hopeful The social media team, which it.” usan Wulff’s life was profoundly joined the San Diego Sym- Shell — the orchestra’s has been curating projects Assisted by her son, impacted when the San Diego Sym- phony 16 years ago, after yet-to-open $45 million and putting them together Wulff subsequently pro- phony had to cancel its 2020 spring, earning a double bachelor’s outdoor concert venue — to keep us valid and in the duced and edited an degree in bass and vocal will give it a major advan- public eye,” she said. equally ambitious video summer and fall concert seasons performance at California tage in adapting to safe, “We did a video this featuring performances by because of the coronavirus pan- State University Sacra- socially distanced perform- spring of Lucy A. Warner’s bassists from 16 U.S. or- demic.S Her annual salary as the orchestra’s asso- mento and a Master of ances. The venue can ac- children’s book ‘Zap! Boom! chestras, including her. Music and Advanced Stud- commodate audiences of up Pow! Superheroes of Music,’ Titled #BeAnArtsHero ciate principal bassist was cut by nearly 48 per- ies degree at USC. to 10,000. which is on YouTube. It has #DAWNact, it was created cent, while the symphony’s other members took The pandemic-fueled “I know the symphony 12 chapters, each dedicated to fuel support for the pay cuts of varying sizes. ■ “I’m grateful to have shutdown of concerts has has been looking into ways to a different composer. We grassroots Defend Arts provided her with time to to do smaller-scale perform- got musicians from the Workers Now. The pro- any salary at all, and to have any health benefits, learn new repertoire for the ances and be socially dis- symphony to record the posed $43.85 billion govern- especially since I have my 13-year-old son to take bass. But watching the tanced. One of our saving pieces. Nuvi Mehta, our ment relief fund would symphony and most or- graces will be The Shell, provide financial assist- care of,” said Wulff, who joined the symphony in chestras around the world because — being in San ance to operators, employ- 2004. “We used to go out to restaurants a few times come to a near-standstill Diego — you can perform ees and artists of live ven- aweek. Now, we only cook at home. If we don’t has been gut-wrenching. outside there nearly every ues, recording venues, “My heart was aching month,” Wulff said. cultural spaces and related really need something, we don’t get it.” because I understood that “The Shell has the ca- businesses. live performances would pacity to hold enough peo- “My heart was “My idea with the video She has kept her spirits tive. My son and I both not happen for quite some ple that, even if you socially was: ‘What if we reached up by keeping busy explor- volunteer hundreds of hours time,” she said. “It really distance the audience, it aching because out with each of us playing ing new creative vistas, in for the symphony because brought into focus that the can still be a decent size. I our basses in our closed particular video editing. we’re very passionate about arts need a lot of help right played a solo at The Shell concert halls?’”Wulff She is doing so on her own our organization. Now, now. You can’t have an arts two weeks before the pan- I understood explained. and with her son, Cameron, people have seen the work organization thrive without demic hit for a promotional “The video has been an eighth-grader who is now we’ve done and are hiring us the organization doing video, and the acoustics that live shared over 20,000 times on distance learning from their to do some editing projects. what it does. And we do were stunning. The main different sites, so I’m happy North Park home. Cameron is using part of the concerts. thing will be operating performances the message is getting out. I “I’m an optimist by money he’s been earning “So if we can’t put on costs, and we won’t know want to help remind people nature,” said Wulff, a di- from these video projects to concerts, how do we sur- what they are until we can would not of the joy music brings to vorced single mother. create and build a new vive?” move forward and utilize their lives and also give “It’s very easy to slip into computer.” In contrast with some of the venue. But I do know happen for them a platform to help the dark side and look at all ASacramento native, her symphony colleagues, The Shell was built at the arts organizations of all the things that are wrong,” Wulff was in grade school she does not earn a side perfect time.” quite some sizes.” she continued. “But I don’t when she began playing income teaching music. In the interim, Wulff is find that to be very produc- bass in The Wulff Pack, a Like San Diego Symphony doing her best to help keep time.” Susan Wulff [email protected] E6 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY • NOVEMBER 15,2020
FACES OF THE ARTS SHUTDOWN THE MUSICIANS
Amount artists and creatives expect to lose in creativity- based income in 2020
Source: Americans for the Arts (findings $50.6 BILLION based on 19,800 survey responses)
EDUARDO CONTRERAS U-T CECIL MCBEE JR. BASSIST ‘I’m practicing at home, all day, every day’
BY GEORGE VARGA booking agents went out of find himself in dire straits. the parking lot at Tio Leo’s One of his musician business.” “At one point, I had a in Bay Park, for which he friends is now “making good efore the coronavirus pandemic, To hear him tell it, four-month extension on and the other two musicians money” by driving for Lyft. Cecil McBee Jr. played as many as weathering the 2007-08 my car payments,” he said. —drummer Barry Farrar Such work is not an option economic crisis was in some “Now, it’s time to pay up, and keyboardist Adam Wolff for McBee, as he is quick to eight to 10 music gigs a week. Now, ways even more daunting and I owe them for four —received dinners, but no stress. the veteran bassist is lucky to score than dealing with the cur- months. As we speak, I’m financial compensation. “No, because I’m com- rent pandemic, albeit for a about to pay my water bill, “We get a meal out of it pletely focused on music,” one or two a month, but he’s not shorter period. and it’s a lot, because I and we get to play,” said he said. “I believe I’ll end up lettinBg his lack of paid performances lead to idle “All of our work disap- haven’t paid it since April. If McBee, who has also per- playing again, the same as I time. ■ “I always like to come out of a crisis better off peared then and almost you do a gig that pays more formed at some audience- always have, and I’m not everything shut down,” than $260, you won’t get free backyard jam sessions. planning to do anything than when I went in, if I can, musically speaking,” McBee recalled. “Unlike unemployment for that “Musicians are hungry to else. I’m an artist and I want said McBee, a versatile mainstay of the San Diego now, we — self-employed week.” do $100 gigs, which won’t to improve my skills. I don’t music scene for several decades. musicians — didn’t get any But getting any live gigs cover much other than, want to be driving people unemployment benefits to now, for any amount of pay, maybe, your cellphone bill around all day because I “One of the benefits of ton among his former help us get through back is a formidable challenge. and a little gas for your car.” need money.I would do being a full-time musician employers. Over the years then. But we survived. The In years prior to the that, if I had to. But I would —even now — is you can here, he has stood out lesson I learned was a spir- pandemic, McBee played at not be a happy camper, and really get a lot of work done, playing rock, funk, pop and itual one — that no matter weddings every weekend Iwould feel like I’m wasting if you want to.I have time to other contemporary styles, how dark and scary things during the summers, earn- my time. ... be constructive, so I’m including a two-year stint get, everything will work ing $200 to $600 for each. “I’m single. For musi- practicing at home, all day, as the bassist in the band out.” The most recent wedding “Even before cians who have spouses who every day.” of now-deceased R&B Yet, even with some he played was before the are working, it’s a little Anative of Tulsa, Okla., vocal favorite Ella Ruth current government finan- mid-March lockdown. His easier, financially, but it who grew up in Los Ange- Piggee. cial aid, life is not easy for other engagements — COVID-19, the might be a little more stress- les, McBee was seemingly “Even before COVID-19, the North Park-based musi- including club dates, casino ful on the relationship. You born to his instrument. The the life of a musician has cian. He currently receives shows and lucrative private life of a never know what will hap- son of a storied jazz bassist, always been unpre- weekly unemployment events and parties for pen to you as a musician, he has the same tireless dictable,” McBee noted. checks for $260, but those hotels and conventions — musician has and you don’t have any devotion to his instrument “There are times when payments will stop in De- evaporated at the same security. It can be kind of as his father. everyone is working, like cember. Unless Congress time. always been stressful sometimes, but it’s The younger McBee is before 2007. And then the approves a second stimulus One of his only two what I do. And I wouldn’t also well-versed performing bottom fell out, because we package, which brought him October gigs was at Valley unpredictable.” trade it for anything.” jazz and counts the late had a recession, and no- an extra $600 a week View Casino, for which he drum legend Chico Hamil- body could work. Even the through July, McBee could was paid. The other was in Cecil McBee Jr. [email protected]