Shaun Kirk - Covid-19 Survival Fund
Donation protected
Hi Everyone,
As you are no doubt already well aware (unless you've been living under a rock), right now Covid-19 is presenting us as a society with one of the greatest global challenges we have faced in a very long time. If not ever.
Lives are being lost, livelihoods are being flipped upside down, and there's no telling as to how long it's going to last or just how severe the implications are going to be. Only time will tell.
I do know one thing however. This is not going to fix itself.
The only thing that's going to get us out the other side of this with minimal impact is ACTION. As a species, as a community, and as individuals we must ask ourselves what our role is in all of this? What ACTION can we take right now to soften the blow, and what action can we take in the future to prevent such circumstances from reoccurring.
On a personal level, though we feel we're not under any immediate physical threat from the virus, my beautiful girlfriend Anita and I (and our handsome old Cat Harper) decided last week that we were going to restrict our movements outside of our home in Melbourne to only essential tasks such a grocery shopping and medical trips. It was a daunting decision to make but we feel it is for the greater good of our community, as we are aware that our actions could well affect those in a more vulnerable position.
As an independent artist working in the entertainment industry, which relies heavily on gatherings of people in order to operate, I'm getting ready to batten down the hatches and hold on for a bumpy ride over the coming weeks and months, as financially it will no doubt be a real challenge.
Our industry, which is essentially made up of self employed entrepreneurs who work primarily on the basis of sub contracts, is proving to be one of the most vulnerable right now. Our line of work does not offer reassurances such as sick leave, holiday pay, and employer/employee benefits to fall back on in the event of a crisis like many others do. And if the government's first stimulus package and their history of cutting funding to the arts is anything to go by, I myself am not counting on any significant government support coming our way anytime soon. I hope they prove me wrong...
Instead, we have to get creative (oh the irony!) and figure out other ways to make ends meet for a while.
As I'm sure you can understand; my scheduled Canadian tour with Matt Andersen, that was set to commence in Toronto tonight has been postponed indefinitely. This tour alone was predicted to provide enough money to get by for the coming months, but instead it's postponement has created a big dint in income, and at this stage it is hard to tell whether or not that will recoup itself later down the line.
Looking further ahead, we're still unsure whether or not we will be forced to cancel or postpone more upcoming shows, but my fingers are crossed this is not the case...
With all that in mind, I would rather prepare for a worst case scenario that doesn't happen, than under-prepare for a worst case scenario that does, and I refuse to let this scenario bring me down. So I am choosing to rise to the challenge, for I see no other option.
Which is why I'm planning to roll out a number of innovative ideas over the coming weeks, which I hope will bring you plenty of value as we roll through this little this rough patch in our history together.
After much thought, and with the great Mark Twain quote in mind "He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who never asks is a fool for a lifetime", I've decided to set up a GoFundMe campaign for anyone who may be interested and able to offer assistance at this time.
But please let it be very clear that I have set this up on a zero expectations basis...
Think of it ask as my guitar case laid out in front of me as I busk my way through the coming weeks and months.
That is, I do not expect a thing from anyone who may be reading this right now. I know that absolutely everyone is feeling, or will feel the impact of this situation in some way, shape, or form over the coming days, weeks, months, and I completely understand and sympathise with people needing to take care of their immediate surroundings before they can offer help to others.
However, I also understand that there may be people out there who are in a position, and wanting to offer assistance, of which would be met with much gratitude from myself and my little family at home.
I would ask that if you are considering "throwing in some of your loose" change to this campaign that you be absolutely confident that you are able to before doing so.
Any contribution will help to cover our basic living expenses during this period, as well as ensure that I can continue to pursue a career in music both during the storm, and once the storm has passed.
On a much wider scale, I would also ask that you please consider donating to Support Act, who are currently working around the clock to put together crisis relief fund for Australian Music Industry workers in need, as some 400,000 people have been affected by this.
Donate to Support Act
As I watch the situation unfold day by day, I'm feeling optimistic about the future. I see this critical moment in our history not as a time of doom and gloom, but as an opportunity for us as a society and as an industry, to collaborate, innovate and re-invent ourselves. To learn from our mistakes, use those lessons, and pass them on to the next generations to create a stronger future.
Wherever you are in the world right now, please stay safe, considerate of others, and thank you for your ongoing support!
We will get through this.
Big love,
Shaun
As you are no doubt already well aware (unless you've been living under a rock), right now Covid-19 is presenting us as a society with one of the greatest global challenges we have faced in a very long time. If not ever.
Lives are being lost, livelihoods are being flipped upside down, and there's no telling as to how long it's going to last or just how severe the implications are going to be. Only time will tell.
I do know one thing however. This is not going to fix itself.
The only thing that's going to get us out the other side of this with minimal impact is ACTION. As a species, as a community, and as individuals we must ask ourselves what our role is in all of this? What ACTION can we take right now to soften the blow, and what action can we take in the future to prevent such circumstances from reoccurring.
On a personal level, though we feel we're not under any immediate physical threat from the virus, my beautiful girlfriend Anita and I (and our handsome old Cat Harper) decided last week that we were going to restrict our movements outside of our home in Melbourne to only essential tasks such a grocery shopping and medical trips. It was a daunting decision to make but we feel it is for the greater good of our community, as we are aware that our actions could well affect those in a more vulnerable position.
As an independent artist working in the entertainment industry, which relies heavily on gatherings of people in order to operate, I'm getting ready to batten down the hatches and hold on for a bumpy ride over the coming weeks and months, as financially it will no doubt be a real challenge.
Our industry, which is essentially made up of self employed entrepreneurs who work primarily on the basis of sub contracts, is proving to be one of the most vulnerable right now. Our line of work does not offer reassurances such as sick leave, holiday pay, and employer/employee benefits to fall back on in the event of a crisis like many others do. And if the government's first stimulus package and their history of cutting funding to the arts is anything to go by, I myself am not counting on any significant government support coming our way anytime soon. I hope they prove me wrong...
Instead, we have to get creative (oh the irony!) and figure out other ways to make ends meet for a while.
As I'm sure you can understand; my scheduled Canadian tour with Matt Andersen, that was set to commence in Toronto tonight has been postponed indefinitely. This tour alone was predicted to provide enough money to get by for the coming months, but instead it's postponement has created a big dint in income, and at this stage it is hard to tell whether or not that will recoup itself later down the line.
Looking further ahead, we're still unsure whether or not we will be forced to cancel or postpone more upcoming shows, but my fingers are crossed this is not the case...
With all that in mind, I would rather prepare for a worst case scenario that doesn't happen, than under-prepare for a worst case scenario that does, and I refuse to let this scenario bring me down. So I am choosing to rise to the challenge, for I see no other option.
Which is why I'm planning to roll out a number of innovative ideas over the coming weeks, which I hope will bring you plenty of value as we roll through this little this rough patch in our history together.
After much thought, and with the great Mark Twain quote in mind "He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who never asks is a fool for a lifetime", I've decided to set up a GoFundMe campaign for anyone who may be interested and able to offer assistance at this time.
But please let it be very clear that I have set this up on a zero expectations basis...
Think of it ask as my guitar case laid out in front of me as I busk my way through the coming weeks and months.
That is, I do not expect a thing from anyone who may be reading this right now. I know that absolutely everyone is feeling, or will feel the impact of this situation in some way, shape, or form over the coming days, weeks, months, and I completely understand and sympathise with people needing to take care of their immediate surroundings before they can offer help to others.
However, I also understand that there may be people out there who are in a position, and wanting to offer assistance, of which would be met with much gratitude from myself and my little family at home.
I would ask that if you are considering "throwing in some of your loose" change to this campaign that you be absolutely confident that you are able to before doing so.
Any contribution will help to cover our basic living expenses during this period, as well as ensure that I can continue to pursue a career in music both during the storm, and once the storm has passed.
On a much wider scale, I would also ask that you please consider donating to Support Act, who are currently working around the clock to put together crisis relief fund for Australian Music Industry workers in need, as some 400,000 people have been affected by this.
Donate to Support Act
As I watch the situation unfold day by day, I'm feeling optimistic about the future. I see this critical moment in our history not as a time of doom and gloom, but as an opportunity for us as a society and as an industry, to collaborate, innovate and re-invent ourselves. To learn from our mistakes, use those lessons, and pass them on to the next generations to create a stronger future.
Wherever you are in the world right now, please stay safe, considerate of others, and thank you for your ongoing support!
We will get through this.
Big love,
Shaun
Organizer
Shaun Kirk
Organizer
Melbourne, VIC