A GUY'S VIEW - How will our entertainers survive?
Early in the morning, last Tuesday, I took the time to listen to a video that I almost deleted without listening to. A woman was talking about the importance of cleaning the light within us. It was only after it was finished that I realised that she might have said something profound.
“There is a light inside of each of us that must be nurtured, that must be cared for, that needs to shine brightly. It hasn’t been addressed; it hasn’t been talked to; it hasn’t been loved.
“Give it the music it wants; give it the dance it needs; give it the sunshine it so admires; give it the stars at night.
“Your light: that thing about you that shines so brightly, that others want to see, needs to be nurtured and loved and cared for. Its been forgotten. We are given this time to really take care of the light.
“Shine, and when you do you give others permission to do the same. Don’t hide your light somewhere under a bushel or in a corner. Shine your light. Take care of it. Nurture it. Love it. The world needs you to shine.”
Her words invited an examination of self in order to find the light that exists in each one of us. But for me, her invitation became a challenge, especially since, on examination, I could not identify the light of which she spoke.
When I think of the light that is within me, I think of the spark of Godness with which I communicate. I am familiar with that light. But she spoke of a different light. She invited the feeding of the good self that lies latent within. Maybe, that good person should not be latent. Maybe, that is the part of us that needs to be massaged and exposed to the world.
In addition to men and women having to reach out to their other partners, one wonders what makes it so difficult for persons to remain at home. Could it be that we have difficulty living with ourselves?
This is not an issue, until we pause and take a deliberate look inward. What do we see in there? Maybe the picture is too awful to look at. Maybe we see deceit. We know the people whose character we assassinate behind their backs. Or a black hole. What happens when the light we seek is darkness? Maybe, then we have to run from ourselves.
In this moment of separation, there is the opportunity to look beyond the surface of our lives and focus on what is important to us. And in the words of the messenger, give that which is in us what it ought to have so that it may thrive.
Her rhythm is a reminder of the importance of persons who master the spoken word, but now have no avenue for expression. We applaud the efforts of the frontline workers in our fight. We wonder how the multi-millionaires amongst us will continue to further enrich themselves. And we know who has their backs. But what of the performing artistes who make a living from entertaining us and our guests?
Musicians, singers, spoken word performers, technicians, sound engineers, owners and operators of recording studios, sound and lighting companies as well as non-music entertainers. These are some of the people who have been directly affected by coronavirus and the attendant measures to contain it. How do they survive without a market for their services?
Crop Over and other major entertainment events have been cancelled. The Crop Over period is the single time when a number of our entertainers do relatively well. Given our size, and the market that our entertainers cater to, few in that field make a good living all year round. In the current environment, their livelihood will be severely challenged.
We cannot patronise places that provide work for our entertainers. Although one may anticipate that we could see a reopening of such places in the not too distant future, that move could be immediately attended by a spate of infections and possibly deaths, and that would shut them down for an even longer time.
These professionals do not make a living if they cannot work. Musicians and those who provide the services that make their delivery possible, are paid when they play or serve. But their play is also their work. Now that tourism is shut down and our normal places of entertainment are on pause, what will become of them?
The talk of an early return to tourist arrivals in Barbados is both dangerous and a joke, but someone is convinced that our people have lost the capacity to think logically. It is being reported that Britain could remain on lockdown for a year. That country happens to be our number one source market for visitors. How would it be possible for them to be unable to travel, but our tourist
arrivals to return to normal?
All of our efforts to tap other markets have not produced numbers that could compete with what we see from Britain. But even if such a market existed, they too would not be travelling in significant numbers.
Yes, all the evidence before us makes it clear that we are irresponsible enough to bring in sick people if they are willing to come, but, fortunately, they will not come.
So whither our entertainers? We give tax breaks to the wealthy. We should consider what could be done for our entertainers and those who provide services to them. They too have families.