This section of the Resource Portal contains COVID-19 resources for organizers, musicians, callers, singers, and sound techs. Check out the other sections of the resource portal (links above) for many other resources on a wide range of topics, in addition to links for online discussion forums.
Resources for musicians, callers, singers, and sound techs
Listed below are some links you may find useful. If you know of any others to add to the list, please share them here.
Promote your online events through our events calendar
CDSS is actively maintaining a list of online traditional dance, music, and song events and we promote the calendar widely through our various communication channels.
Tips for holding online events
For help setting up your online event and creating the best possible sonic experience, we recommend these guides:
| Title | More Information |
|---|---|
| Zoom Resources for Online Music & Dance Events |
2020 Claire Takemori Claire is maintaining a list of resources that provide information on how to plan and implement online virtual dances. Many of the resources in her list are also listed below. However, Claire’s resource also summarizes some of the key information she has learned through her own experience. This resource is supported by the Bay Area Country Dance Society.. |
| An Online Events How-To Workshop for Organizers, Musicians, & Sound Techs |
2020 Claire Takemori & Audrey Knuth This Zoom workshop covers many of the basic information needed to plan virtual meetings and events. Both the workshop notes and video are available online. This resource is supported by the Bay Area Country Dance Society. |
| Tips and Tricks for Successful Livestreaming |
2020 Folk Alliance International This FAI webinar features a panel of experts who outline how to make livestreams look and sound as professional as possible. |
| 7 Virtual Tip Jar Options You Need To Know |
2020 Gigmor This article outlines options for collecting financial contributions during virtual events. Shared by Claire Takemori & Drew Delaware |
| A Guide to Presenting Live Dances and Concerts with Performers Across the Country |
2020 Ian Brehm Ian provides a comprehensive set of tips on presenting virtual performances. This includes equipment for callers, musicians, and sound techs, as well as set-up and operations. This resource is supported by the Bay Area Country Dance Society. |
| Licensing and Permissions Requirements for Livestream and Rebroadcast: A Deeper Dive |
2020 Folk Alliance International This FAI webinar focuses on the broader folk music industry, diving into specific licensing requirements for livestreaming and rebroadcasting of concerts. |
| The Legal Landscape of Livestreaming |
2020 Folk Alliance International This FAI webinar focuses on the broader folk music industry, discussing the legal realities surrounding livestreamed concerts. |
| Opening Virtual Doors to ALL Audiences |
2020 Folk Alliance International This FAI webinar discusses how to offer virtual events in a way that increases inclusion and reaches audiences of all abilities. |
Resources for callers
| Title | More Information |
|---|---|
| AltChoreo email discussion list |
Seth Tepfer, Claire Takemori & Shared Weight In September 2020, a new email discussion list was founded to discuss traditional dance (contra, ECD, community, square, family dance) changed for virtual spaces or distanced choreography during the COVID-19 pandemic. Join AltChoreo and talk shop with other callers with a similar interest! |
| English Country Dancing During the Pandemic |
The Carolina English Country Dancers This site contains a wide range of ECD resources to support callers and dancers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In part, it includes instructions for many dances that can be done solo at home. |
| Adapting Solo Dances: Precepts and Preferences |
CDSS News: Fall 2020 Sharon Green As the title suggests! |
| Workshop for Online Contra Calling |
2020 Jaqui Grennan & Claire Takemori In this workshop, Jaqui Grennan covers many details involved in calling for online dances. Both the workshop notes and video are available. The workshop was facilitated by Claire Takemori. In posting the resource, Jaqui points out that some of the information is ‘old’ as approaches to calling online are constantly evolving. This resource is supported by the Bay Area Country Dance Society. |
| Online Dancing in Toronto and Beyond |
CDSS News: Summer 2020 Cathy Campbell In this article, Cathy describes how the Toronto ECD dance community shifted to holding their dance events online. |
Resources for freelancers/gigging artists
| Title | More Information |
|---|---|
| A List of COVID-19 Resources for the Folk Music Industry |
Folk Alliance International FAI is maintaining a list of resources for folk music artists and presenters. Their list includes information on health and safety, emergency funding, as well as other resources. |
| COVID-19 Resource for the Bluegrass Community |
International Bluegrass Music Association The IBMA is maintaining a long list of COVID-19 resources focused on musicians, many applicable to the traditional dance community. This includes links to emergency aid resources, tips on alternative funding resources, and more. |
| COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resource List |
Freelance Artist Resource As the title suggests! |
| Teaching Online: Music Lessons in a New Learning Environment |
2020 Folk Alliance International During this FAI webinar, the panel shares best practices learned by musicians who teach music lessons, online professors teaching music courses in virtual classrooms, and organizations supporting through technology and scheduling. |
| Livestreaming: Earning a Living and Reaching Fans |
2020 Folk Alliance International During this webinar focused on the wider folk music industry, panels discuss options available for livestreamed concerts, how to promote effectively and connect with fans, how to generate income from livestreaming, and more. |
| We Are Stronger Together: Navigating Crises and Sustaining Healthy Relationships in the Era of Coronavirus |
2020 Americans for the Arts This webinar focuses on the performing arts industry and includes information for musicians/gigging artists. Panelists discuss the current business, legal, financial, ethical, and relational realities we are facing together. |
| Country Dance Music Radio |
Bob Peterson Country Dance Music Radio is a new Internet streaming radio station. It exists to support musicians who are out of work due to SARS-2/COVID-19 dance cancellations. It supports the dance community at large by playing the music and musicians we're used to dancing to. If you listen, please go to the musician pages and find their donation/store links to donate directly to them. If you are a musician,consider providing music to the station for the community to enjoy 24x7. This is a great way for folks to be reminded to donate and to reward them for doing so. |
Resources for singers
| Title | More Information |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 Resources for BarberShoppers |
Barbershop Harmony Society The BHS offers a wide range of COVID-19 resources, many of which could be applicable to traditional singers and song organizers. Resources include webinars and other resources on holding virtual singing events, planning for uncertain times, and much more. |
Resources for Organizers
CDSS Recommendations for Organizers
CDSS is recommending that all in-person participatory dance events originally scheduled through the end of 2020 be suspended or cancelled. It may be necessary to extend this period. For those organizing no-contact, socially distant music or song events, we recommend outdoor or open-air settings only.
- See our July 2020 Web Chat, Let’s Talk About Reentry: Recommendations and Q&A for Organizers.
- Watch a recording of Dance Flurry's discussion with public health experts and dance community leaders, When Can We Safely Dance Again?
- Meet with your team to discuss ways to keep your community connected and engaged during this time. (Check out our list of crowd-sourced ideas from other organizers or our calendar of online events for inspiration.)
- Add your online music or dance event to our calendar! Be sure to choose Online Events in the Categories box and add your event URL in the Extra Info box.
- Actively monitor recommendations from the WHO, the CDC, and your state health department.
- Plan ahead now for cancelling events:
- Look into the costs you will have to pay facilities.
- Stay in contact with your community.
- Communicate with the musicians, callers, sound engineers, and other talent lined up for gigs, and remember that this is a hardship on those who depend on our gig economy. Be transparent and kind with them.
- Think of individuals in your community who you can reach out to for short-term financial help if needed.
- When cancelling an event:
- Consider providing pre-registered attendees an option to donate all or part of their registration fee to help offset event costs and reimburse talent. Be mindful that not everyone will be in a position to do this. See an example here.
- Also consider creating a way for would-be attendees to contribute to the musicians, callers, and sound techs who are losing income. See an example here.
- At this time, CDSS recommends cancelling all in-person dance events through the end of 2020. If you are going ahead with a modified music or song gathering, please think about ways to reduce the risk of transmission:
- Host the event outside or in an open-air setting.
- Follow social distancing protocols, including masks.
- Inform your community about disease prevention.
- Coordinate in-depth sterilization procedures for the facilities you use.
- Encourage people to wash hands before, several times during, and after an event.
- Think through adjustments to how people enter your event (hand sanitizer, encouragement to wash hands upon arrival, posted
- recommendations, etc.).
- Rather than providing communal snacks and water, encourage people to bring their own.
- Request donations of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.
- Monitor your area’s current risk level:
Various resources for organizers
| Title | More Information |
|---|---|
| Tips for Keeping Our Communities Connected During the Pandemic |
CDSS Many dance, music, and song communities are actively working to maintain connections among their participants throughout the pandemic. They are doing this work for a variety of reasons including fostering friendship, providing a support network during this time, and to be ready to gather again in person when we can. Check out this community-sourced list of ideas for inspiration on what might work for your community! |
| CDSS Pivots to Provide COVID-19 Tools |
CDSS News: Summer 2020 Kelsey Wells This article outlines the early work taken by CDSS in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights a number of new initiatives to support the wider dance, music, and song network. |
| Pandemic Panaceas: Engaging the Body. Engaging the Mind. |
CDSS News: Fall 2020 Emily Rush This article outlines a free online daily workout (via zoom) that is open to anyone who wants to join. Often the workouts include contra dance music and majority of the participants are contra dancers. Consider sharing with your communities! |
| The Clootie Wall: Processing a Pandemic |
CDSS News: Fall 2020 Sarah Gowan This article describes how a personal art project in response to the pandemic expanded to include community contributions. |
| More Resources in the Time of COVID-19 |
CDSS News: Fall 2020 Linda Henry, Emily Addison, and Ben Williams This article outlines specific resources that may be of use for organizers during the pandemic. |
| Cancelled or Postponed: Have Necessary Conversations |
2020 Folk Alliance International Focused on the broader folk music industry (e.g., folk festivals), this webinar explores how to move through the changes of postponing or cancelling events with grit and grace. |
| COVID-19 Resources for BarberShoppers |
Barbershop Harmony Society The BHS offers a wide range of COVID-19 resources, many of which could be applicable to traditional singers and song organizers. Resources include webinars and other resources on holding virtual singing events, planning for uncertain times, and much more. |
| Online Dancing in Toronto and Beyond |
CDSS News: Summer 2020 Cathy Campbell In this article, Cathy describes how the Toronto ECD dance community shifted to holding their dance events online. |