Steelasophical - “A winner is someone who gets up one more time than he is knocked down.”
Gary Trotman - Steelasophical shares some of his Covid 19 woes with us.
At 11:03am on the 14th October 2008 I suffered an accident at a local garage, resulting in a shattered wrist which required an operation to have a plate and 8 screws inserted followed by almost 3 years of physiotherapy.
At that time, I was told I would never play music again and should think about going back to being a Contacts Manager. #YeahRight
This was just 6 months after setting up Steelasophical Entertainment and Steelband.co.uk. I thought at the time that nothing (barring another accident) could ever be so devastating to me as a professional musician.
Well on March 2020, COVID 19 said hold my coat. As a result, my calendar for weddings and corporate events was totally decimated. Most events were moved to 2021/22, some were cancelled outright. The lockdown in December alone saw a loss of 2 block bookings opportunities worth thousands of pounds. I do not do music as a hobby; it is my main source of income.
Outside of the lockdowns in 2020, I adapted, doing a couple of weddings, funeral day music, corporate bookings for clients such as Amazon Warehouses and even on a couple of Prison parade grounds throughout black history month.
Augmented these with paid virtual performances via Zoom gained through networking and marketing.
I started a Steelasophical Steel Pan Daily Facebook Live where I have perform every day for the last 10 months, on my profile, and then share on various FBK groups.
I have fallen through the cracks for most government financial assistance, so it has been a challenge!
Moving forward; the 2020 model is clearly unsustainable. Since the Bojo announcement however, we’ve seen a flood of enquiries, but not falling for that trick again!! Another lockdown could be just around the corner.
Will still have a focus on weddings, as these are often booked 2 - 3 years in advance. I take a sizeable retainer fee which helps with cash flow, but the effects of CV19 has shown there is an untapped market for virtual services.
I am seeking funding options to build a virtual music studio, where I will be able to monetise performances, demonstrations, personal bespoke recordings, steel pan lessons and other activities. I have music in a James Bond movie and albums selling worldwide, so will look to put my music and midi programming skills to good use, producing music for media, advertising, film and collaborations.
“Gratitude is the attitude” Yours In Pan
Gary Trotman Steelasophical SteelBand.co.uk
8 Times Entertainment Industry Award Winner
• We Bring The Caribbean to You
• Music incorporated in the James Bond 007 Movie Casino Royale
•••(courtesy of ARC Music Prod Int Ltd)
• Steelasophical Caribbean Steel drum Albums Selling World-wide
• Winning Musical entertainment performance on the Channel 4 'Come Dine with Me'
•••(courtesy of 1st Choice Entertainment)
• Compliance with the EAWR 1989
• £10m Public liability Insurance
• 100% Professional Service
Contact Details: Tel: 07540 30 7890 | info@steelband.co.uk | www.steelband.co.uk
