Businesses most vulnerable in the pandemic.

[gordondaviesmoustache]

As I noted in the main thread, this is going to absolutely destroy the livelihoods of most bands, including my brother- and sister-in-law’s, which was on a multi-country tour that had to be cut short with all of their remaining venues closing, had just signed a bigger record deal, and were starting to get national and international attention before the outbreak.

They’re now doing their best to shift everything to virtual shows and ramp up digital engagement with their fans, but most revenue for bands outside of the global elite these days is via live shows and merchandise, and you just can’t get people to pay similar amounts for online performances (for many reasons, not even counting that people are just not going to have the money to spend in the future). I spent several hours talking with their manager recently about how horribly things are likely to go for them this year as even with the shift they’ll probably lose about 75% of their yearly revenue over the next few months, with a large junk evaporating with the SXSW (US) cancellation.

They are genuinely expecting to have to give up touring for a few years (at least) and go back in to the various work they were doing before forming the band with one of their mates five or six years ago. But they have no idea if there will be any available positions or if anyone will hire them given their long absence from those fields.

And they just bought their first home six months ago.

Sad to hear, but maybe we need to re-evaluate. We can’t keep moving round the planet without severe consequences for humanity.

 

[TCIB]

People do not inherrently like to argue, imo, but this situation i feel will show all the nuance of society in a magnified intensified way. For example...

A family has a get together with the understanding all members have been on point with responsibility to stay safe. The mother gets the virus after this family get together due to a member going to a party and becoming a carrier; This gets to be of wider knowledge. That person is then under suspicion of sorts in a tense, accusatory, defensive, atmosphere. What level of sure could we be it is them who is responsible etc? Our inherrent ability to subconsciously understand a situation suddenly has a new variable thowing us of balance. In this case how sure are we it is not another member of the family unless living in a level 5 clean room 24/7. You then have a fractious family life and hightened family tension with peter and paul calling simon with mumbles of his attending a party...

On the surface it seems bombasticly absurd in many ways. If an older person died from flu for example, we would not be having nightmares of Dorris at number 72 sneezing when chatting to your mum mixed with feelings of revenge or otherwise bad feeling. This virus will evoke these paranoid defensive thoughts i imagine.

I am sure it does happen given the situation i describe with flu but we are programmed to know and accept influenza somewhat, this new threat is unregistered to us on many levels. It will just be interesting to see how it plays out.

Sorry for these meandering musings.

 

[TCIB]

Think the authorities will have other things on their minds than a few ravers, mate.

Agreed, i just have a general intrigue for the nuances of society that will see their value and meaning changed. That was one of a few situations i have envisioned. I am mainly referring in general to the day to day nuance of life in our society. Will the law be reactionary, will laws be passed etc etc. It is alll very interesting in many ways.

 

[mikemcfc]

I hear pornhub are only showing vids where the participants stay at least a yard apart.

sounds golden.

 

[The Northern Baptist]

What will happen to the building trade? In a potential lockdown scenario, will builders yards etc be open? Builders may have work lined up and clients with the money set aside to pay for it, but if they can’t get materials in then they can’t work

 

[GBrannan]

What will happen to the building trade? In a potential lockdown scenario, will builders yards etc be open? Builders may have work lined up and clients with the money set aside to pay for it, but if they can’t get materials in then they can’t work

I think the problem there though is that people who had money set aside, of all scales, may no longer have the money because they lost their job... or now decide not to spend it in case they might lose their job.

It’s like you drop a pebble in the middle of a lake and the ripples move outward. This is impacting everyone and everything.

There’s only a handful of industries/ professions well placed here and for those that are they’re likely snowed under doing their job for the foreseeable. Very tough times.

 

[The Northern Baptist]

I think the problem there though is that people who had money set aside, of all scales, may no longer have the money because they lost their job... or now decide not to spend it in case they might lose their job.

It’s like you drop a pebble in the middle of a lake and the ripples move outward. This is impacting everyone and everything.

There’s only a handful of industries/ professions well placed here and for those that are they’re likely snowed under doing their job for the foreseeable. Very tough times.

that’s true, but it will be interesting to see if builders are able to fulfil work for those customers willing to go ahead.