When the Coronavirus shut us down, clubs and festivals ceased, and everyone was essentially forced inside with no definitive end in sight, DJ Times wondered: How is our tribe coping? How are DJs getting by? So, we sent out our “Coronavirus Questionnaire” to DJ/producers from all musical genres to find out. During this period, DJ Times will continue presenting the questionnaire responses from talented music-makers from all over the world. Here’s our latest entry, this time from Israel, the Tel Aviv-based high-energy, electronic talent Guy Scheiman.
What’s it like where you’re living? Here in Israel, the situation changes all the time. We were doing pretty well during the first wave, but then the numbers went crazy to a high of up to 4,000 a day. That’s a lot for a country with 7 million people, so the government has decided to put us back into quarantine for three weeks, with different limitations.
Do you believe club world will be able to rebound from the pandemic?
I think eventually, yes. Here in Israel, some bars and clubs with outside patios have been able to open. Once the pandemic is over, the big events will be amazing because people will want to go out and celebrate like never before.
What happens if clubs don’t open for another few months? Honestly, I don’t know. Everyone in the
industry has had to survive doing other things outside of the DJ booth. Luckily, I have my productions and record label so, for now, I’m doing OK. But the situation isn’t easy.
How much business have you lost during this pandemic? I lost all of my bookings from March through September. Some have been postponed for next year, but most just got canceled. All and all, I had a major loss of income.
Are you doing anything now that can or will produce music-related income? I managed to secure some official remixes, which has been helpful – plus the production work for my label has kept me busy. I also do some live streams for brands that generate income, but nothing like what I get from real club gigs.
What are you doing now that’s ultimately constructive to your music life/career? I’m concentrating on my production work. “Disco Dance,” the 79th single release from my record label, Guy Scheiman Music, has been climbing the Beatport charts.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve realized during this period of social distancing? People are still not following the social-distancing guidelines – it’s why we are still in this pandemic! If we would all simply follow the rules and regulations, we would see a quicker end to this madness.
Are you live-streaming? Oh yeah, I’ve been doing streams two to four times a month on Twitch. Any tunes recommended for the moment? Sure, follow Guy Scheiman Music on Spotify and SoundCloud. I’m always posting my hottest new tunes.
How do you access this year for yourself and the working DJ/producers out there? Too many DJ/producers have gone underground, stopped making music and chosen to wait out this horrible year. I think it’s important that we all keep doing the things we love, especially artists who need to maintain their artistry, even if there isn’t much hope of an income for the foreseeable future. My goal from the beginning of my career has always been to make people happy through the power of arm-raising music. That hasn’t changed because of the virus.
To check out more Life in Lockdown interviews, click here.
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