Stephanie G. Mathis 2020 will be a year full of changes for everyone, including myself. We are navigating a new way of creating, communicating, and living.
Musicians must learn to enhance the community rather than exploit it. It’s time to lift each other. You are in a unique situation to make a difference, as music and creativity have the power to heal.
It can be difficult to know where to start. Here are five simple ways to make a difference in your community.
Find out your passions.
Before you can start organizing others, it’s important to manage yourself.
What causes are you interested in supporting? What groups are you a part of? List the nonprofits and organizations in your area and learn what they do. Sign up for their volunteer program after reading their mission statement. You can get some direction by familiarizing yourself with the programs of these organizations.
We all have personal stories that explain why we are involved in a particular cause. These stories can help to influence policymakers and attract others.
Alayna Renae, a jazz singer and activist, was volunteering for political organizations before the COVID-19 Lockdown began. She also educated herself about local government.
Renae says, “The day following the tornado.” I sat through a Senate meeting that was allegedly canceled. I watched as local politicians pushed forward bills that would have a major impact on the lives of Nashvillians, whether they were aware or not. As my city was in a state of mourning, I knew they would not hear about these bills that could change their lives for many months. “I was correct, and I felt the need to direct musicians into action for our community.”
Renae founded Nashville Musicians for Change in order to mobilize musicians to become conscious activists. She hopes to help her fellow musicians show up and do the necessary work to create positive changes and to use their fan base to bring awareness to issues affecting their communities.
You (and your peers!) should educate yourselves.
You’ll have to learn how your community works and how things are done if you want to know what is going on.
Have you got a local council? What about a local rep you can speak to? What are they currently working on? What are they planning to do in the next few months/years?
Why not take it a step further and organize informative webinars like the one that Renae organized so you and your colleagues can learn about everything at once? Set up a Zoom meeting, invite experts, or start a blog.
It’s easy to contact your local leaders. We were taught that our government systems were difficult to reach and hard to get into, but that was not the case. State representatives, city officials, and senators will usually be happy to set up a meeting or phone call to listen to their constituents.
Donate to causes that you are passionate about
This year has been a tough one for many musicians. Most of my colleagues and I are in the same boat. If you have the money or can find a way to get it, this is a good time to give to important causes.
You can donate some of your earnings to a charity or a candidate who you admire. Even just 5-10% of your profits from a show will help a charity get supplies.
Need proof? Check out This post by Nashville-based worker’s rights organization Workers Dignity to see how far $10 can go!
Create authentic music
It’s probably obvious, but don’t hesitate to write songs that you feel passionate about.
For inspiration, follow the playlist with songs about social injustice. If you’re stuck, find someone with whom to co-write. Join any local Facebook groups of musicians or search for offline groups. You can also reach out to other creatives.
You can also do weekly “song challenges” to keep each other accountable. Each week, choose a new topic. Try another approach if you are struggling to come up with songs. Reach out to local painters, poets, writers, or muralists to find inspiration.
Collaborations and conversations are the key to sparking creativity.
Spread the word about what you have to offer
Asking if you could perform a couple of songs for a charity event you are involved in (virtual or otherwise) is a great way to share your musical talents.
I was able to perform two songs at the Statewide Facebook Meeting for Our Revolution. It’s great to make an effort on social media, but it’s even better to have real conversations. You can also text or call your friends and encourage them to join in.
Ask your music-scene friends and colleagues if they are registered to vote. Ask around the music scene to see how well-informed people are on the local issues and candidates. It’s about sharing your resources, setting an example, and being generous.
It’s easy to try and take on the world alone as an island, but we can’t help our community unless we create a community. It’s up to us musicians to make the most of this time.
This article may have helped you if you were looking for ways to give back to the community. We need each other. We indeed live in challenging times. But it’s also a great time to reflect and encourage others to do so.
