Many artists rely on charity. The Actors Fund, an arts service organization, has raised and distributed $ 18 million since the pandemic began for basic expenses of 14,500 people.
“I’ve been with the Actors Fund for 36 years,” said Barbara S. Davis, director of operations. “Until 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the 2008 recession, industry outages. There is clearly nothing to compare with that. “
Higher-paid television and film actors have more protection, but they have also suffered disappointments and missed opportunities. Jack Cutmore-Scott and Meaghan Rath, now his wife, had just been cast for a new CBS pilot, “Jury Duty”, when the pandemic ended filming.
“I tried on my suit and we were going to read the table the following week, but we never made it,” said Cutmore-Scott. After several postponements, they heard in September that CBS was withdrawing completely.
Many live artists have looked for new ways to develop their art, using video, streaming and other platforms. Carla Gover’s tour dancing and playing traditional Appalachian music, as well as a folk opera she composed, “Cornbread and Tortillas”, were canceled. “I had some long dark nights trying to figure out what I could do,” said Gover, who lives in Lexington, Ky., And has three children.
She started writing weekly emails to all of her contacts, sharing videos and offering online dance and clogging classes. The response was enthusiastic. “I found out how to use hashtags and now I have a new type of business,” said Gover.