Singing and the struggles of the pandemic

One of the big draws to Wimberley is its music, all types and genres. The music industry today has taken a big hit. Wellknown groups are offering pay-per-view events or free streaming events where donations are welcome. These can be either live or one of the groups recorded performances.

But for most local Wimberley musicians, as good and as fun as they are, relying on local or regional live performances has changed. Their passion and music is hard to get to any audience.

When bars started opened up again and offering food, things changed big time. The cultures at local venues, and with the hope of gaining new followers, now have real obstacles to overcome.

One local musician who has been on the scene for a while, and really the regional scene, is Jesse Stratton. This time of year the weather is especially nice, people usually want to go out and get out of the house and have a good time dancing. But now the rules have changed.

“It started to pick up, but it’s a painful regrowth. We had over 75 shows canceled. Rolling in February the bigger stuff got canceled (with all band members) then the smaller stuff in March,” Stratton said. “We didn’t play from March to June. Then we could play for two weeks, then businesses shut down again. There’s a couple of things happening now. Some restaurants here and there... For the first time in our lives entertainment has been taken away and it feels good when people have been appreciative even if it is just to get out of the house.”

Most of his schedule has not been replaced. “That big stuff on the calendar? I just don’t know. It’s the weirdest thing. Usually the calendar is booked four to six months ahead. We use to plan trips, scheduling trips on purpose.” One of those planned trips always included West Texas, where they also have a following. “It’s hard to promote far from home. Now it’s the immediate area… We’re grateful to play but everything is short notice with little time to promote.”

There are other factors that have to be considered. One is limited capacity on the size of the audience. Then there are the rules to be followed. Most venues now offer food as a part of being called a restaurant/bar following the rules to be open.

“Now, there’s tables on the dance floor or they rope off the dance floor making people sit where people used to stand by the stage. Sitting at a table is not a great listening experience.” He continued.

“Standing in front was to watch the live band. In the back was to talk to your friends or watch TV…Fifty percent of the people don’t care about listening to you, a smaller group cares. It’s a totally different dynamic with tables instead of a dance floor.”

Being an entertainer, there’s another factor that can’t be used. “We can’t use all the old techniques to get people hyped up and out on the dance floor… You can’t get people excited. They can’t dance. “

When you can’t dance or get excited, the event is just considered “one way to get out of the house, instead of caring about the band.” With venues indoors, there’s only a handful open. But outdoor venues can have a bigger audience.

“Some of the bigger ones are Luckenbach, you can spread out there, or Brookshire Brothers in Canyon Lake… Hays City Store has the same stage and the same people. Outdoor venues are good.”

There is also one big factor that has changed, money or lack of it due to the pandemic. “The bars are opening as restaurants and the owners say ‘we can’t pay you as much, we’re way behind on our bills.’ So do I play only acoustic or a duo or bring the whole band?”

That has to be taken into account as the band members have to work for a living, just as he has to. “And there’s four times less tips… it’s a whole lot of problems all at once, across the board. It feels like we have gone back to the drawing board.”

One other thing about not traveling to venues outside of Central Texas is not visiting local radio stations and getting to plug your new music.

“In the past, during Spring Break, we’d take the kids and drive around the entire state promoting songs off I-35… I’ve participated with some radio stations, we’ve done some Zoom events, one was in Colorado where we had three shows canceled.”

Upset patrons can also be a problem with people getting angry at the mask requirement or social distancing. “Shows have very specific rules. They (patrons) don’t stay at their table or don’t wear masks. The venues have to get mad at their customers. The TABC can come in and shut them down. It’s a big mess.”

But as always there is a silver lining. “The venues have been cool to us. The managers or owners I talk to really try their best to accommodate you. They’re trying to help on the most part (saying) we’re just as hurt as you are…but as usual, the music community helps each other out.”

For more information about Jesse Stratton, his band and of course his music, please see the website at www.jessestrattonmusic.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jessestrattonmusic/