March 17, 2020
The Beach Music Community has been heavily affected by the Covid-19 outbreak in the recent weeks and from the looks of things this will be the norm for quite some time. The industry has seen events both postponed and canceled and this will have an impact on everyone from the venues, DJ's, bands, shag clubs, venues, charity organizations and events. This is our time to shine as a community and we can still enjoy everything about Beach Music and support those who keep the industry alive.
- DJ's and Beach Radio
Tune in and call your favorite DJ's and stations and request your favorite songs. Most do it for the love of the music but operating a station and/or show can become costly and they rely on their sponsors to keep things going. The sponsors want listeners to hear their ads so the more we can increase their numbers the more it can help. Show them love on their social media pages and keep in touch as you can always find the greatest music on earth playing on one of the great stations available to us. If you haven't tried streaming shows outside of your normal listening area, try it on apps such as Tune-In, IHeartRadio and Live365. Several stations also have apps you can download specifically for their broadcast.
- Bands and Artists
The many artists and bands will see a huge impact from the Covid-19 outbreak with attendance becoming limited in an attempt to control the spread. Shows have been canceled or postponed from Virginia to South Carolina and for many bands and artists this is their only source of income. Interact with the bands online to keep their social media pages active and let them know how much you appreciate what they do everyday. You can also purchase their music from outlets such as BuyBeachMusic, Judy's House of Oldies and other streaming sources such as iTunes, Amazon Music, GooglePlay and more. What a great time to go through your phones and upload some of the videos and photos and tag the bands and even invite your friends to like their page. They're just as eager as you to get back on the road and let's do what we can to help promote their brand and music.
- Shag Clubs
Although we may not be able to come together and our way of life has come to a screeching hault, that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy sharing and fellowship online. Working on new moves at home? Share it online! Check out the many shag groups available online, meet new friends and invite others to join in the lifestyle. The world may stop but the music never does and anything we can do to promote it will keep things going during this difficult time while putting a smile on our faces.
- The Industry
If you haven't renewed your membership for the Carolina Beach Music Academy, take the time now to download and print the forms and/or pay online. With everything being affected, we assume the United States Postal Service could also see a decrease in speed so it's best to get your CBMA forms in the mail today instead of waiting. Don't forget, you can also purchase your CBMA Award show tickets on the Alabama Theatre website. We know many wait until the last minute but we encourage you to secure your seats because after this hiatus, everyone will be ready for some fun in N. Myrtle Beach.
- The Venues
Venue owners and management probably don't have a lot of time during their normal business hours to respond to emails and inquiries but now would be a good time to thank them for supporting live music, dance events and of course Beach Music. Maybe there's a band you'd like to see at their club that hasn't been included in their lineup. Why not let them know? The venues which also includes restaurants and bars will also be hit pretty hard with this along with their employees. If they're able to still offer curb-side and carryout, please support these local people who support the lifestyle we enjoy. Without the venues where will we go to continue the tradition?
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire country and we hope that each of you and your families will remain safe. There's no other community like ours and this is the time we need to come together, support one another until this storm has passed.
Andy Lucy & Jonathan "JJ" Sharpe
Flip Flop Live