LETTER | The neglect of musicians and DJs during MCO entertainment ban

LETTER | The Covid-19 outbreak and the movement control order (MCO) initiated to curb the virus' spread has affected the bread and butter of many in this country.

While the government has spared some thought, listened to, and assisted Malaysians, certain segments of the population have been neglected. Some of the most severely impacted communities have been live performance musicians and DJs.

Like the rest of Malaysians, these live performers have livelihoods and families to look after. But many of them are not studio artistes. They are not part of the formal arts scene. Though some of them are established enough to perform at functions and events, those jobs do not come every week.

Their survival relies on performing on a daily basis, at restaurants, pubs, bars, and clubs. Even before the pandemic hit our shores, some talents were already struggling with only one performance day per week, for a measly couple hundred ringgit, if they were fortunate enough.

Since the presence of Covid-19, and the enforcement of the MCO, they have lost their main incomes. These forgotten members of the music and entertainment scene dedicated their blood, sweat, and tears into perfecting their art for their whole lives, with little skill or knowhow to survive through other work options.

They have tried to bring their performances online, but have seen dismal returns. That is if they even have funds to invest for such a set up in the first place. Some bands booked studios for socially-distanced online performances and lost money. DJs shared their mixtapes with their listeners with no monetary returns.

The stage is their best ammunition. Their passions are as great as the sacrifices they have made, in order to touch the lives of many people, for celebrations or commemoration events, from local audiences to tourists. They perform with their whole being, translating their thoughts into melodies for their audience's pleasure. They are entertainers. They need entertainment outlets.

As the MCO now evolves towards a recovery phase, they are still marginalised. The extended lockdown until the end of August still bans the outlets in which they can express themselves and earn their incomes. Opening up only indoor busking severely restricts jobs to limited locations that leaves them open to exploitation.

The government of Malaysia and related authorities may consider opening up live entertainment outlets for our entertainers. They should create the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for entertainers to abide by. While these outlets are adjusting to the new norm, waiving relevant licences and permissions for the time being can encourage the employment of these musical talents.

These outlets can operate without alcoholic drinks. The unspoken truth is that entertainment has little to do with alcohol. The SOPs can be set to restrict close contact. These gifted individuals still have the tools to provide audiences with momentous joy.

As the outlets would observe social distancing, leading to fewer crowds and lesser budgets, some subsidies may be given for them to pay musicians and DJs for a few months. Granting temporary licences are an option and this may mean opening doors for everyone to adapt to 'new norms' of live entertainment.

Musicians and DJs need to be embraced as entertainment servicemen for Malaysia. They speak a musical language that enhances communities and deserve to be provided with opportunities to continue beautifying people’s lives. The energy of live music performances should never be extinguished during these turbulent times. It should be empowered.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.