From The Inside : Rosie Kate
From The Inside shares stories and open letters from those in the Industry as we deal with COVID-19.
Rosie Kate (DJ/Producer) from Brisbane shares an incredible insight into the effects of Covid-19 on our industry and her life in a heart felt letter to the public via her facebook page. (here)
One day I did not magically walk into my dream job. For me it took days, weeks, months and several years of work to be in a position where I call myself a Sole Trader. It meant playing gigs for free, eating meals at the venue because I couldn’t afford proper groceries, borrowing money when I fell short for bills, my family paying for me to join in with events like Christmas. (And the list goes on)
The first sign of things going well meant instead of all of the above I would work 12 hours a night, with the only break being I would literally run to my next venue. Great. I’m absolutely killing it. Life is good. But performing does not come without expense. For every gig theres the cost of music, the equipment we need, the cost of transport, the ongoing cost of having the right clothes for the client (and for many the cost of “looking the part”), insurance, subscriptions to essential platforms for marketing and this isn’t free money, we pay tax just like everybody else. (And the list goes on)
So we do the gigs and there’s a great sense of pride, self-sufficiency and achievement. This is the success of our investments into equipment and learning paying off! Great! Life is fucking mint. But then gigs are canceled on the spot when you’ve arrived at the venue with a USB full of music you bought that day. Venues change management and whole rosters are fired days before the weekend. Uni exams are on so not many of us are needed right now. The client changed their mind and went with someone else. The venue decides they want the manager’s mate’s son’s brother to play some tunes instead. The venue that was wildly successful last year, isn’t this year. (And the list goes on)
Even in the best of times, our peak times for our industry when the corporate masses are throwing cash at their Christmas party functions at venues, we are still fighting to get invoices paid. Some of us are having to choose whether paying for legal support is worth it to get what we are owed or to just cop it on the chin for now and “hope” they pay us soon. And if you name and shame, you’re considered difficult so say goodbye to being booked again. And if you’re thinking, that’s on you mate get another job. Fair enough, but would you say that to your plumber mate who hasn’t had his invoice for fixing your shower paid? You’d say nah that’s a dog act, take em to court or something. A service industry is a service industry. Invoices are created to be paid.
So we are no stranger to uncertainty. But where this becomes surreal is when it’s not just you and a couple of mates who have lost a venue. It’s all of us. And it’s all of the bar staff, glassies, cleaners, security guards, duty managers, event managers and owners. The suppliers don’t have a client anymore. Accountants and legal are advising insolvency. The Uber drivers who helped us all get to work don’t have our rides anymore. There’s no late-night purchasing at Night Owl anymore. The coffee shop we visited during the week while we worked on music doesn’t have our custom anymore. (And the list goes on)
This is just one story for just one industry affected this week. We are by no means the only people affected. The government is yet to recognize sole traders and casual hospitality staff in an effective and inclusive benefit. We are not asking for handouts from the public but we are asking for help to share awareness that everywhere, life is changing. The list of who this affects has just started and it will go on.