Between Precariousness and Unemployment: Wedding Musicians in the Pandemic

Abstract

After several decades of rapid development, the wedding industry in Croatia came to an abrupt halt due to protective measures aimed to limit coronavirus transmission, implemented by the Government. Although the consequences can still be only speculated upon, it is evident that – after it reached an enviable level of sustainability even during the recession – the wedding industry now faces an unprecedented challenge. In addition to this influencing the couples, the huge impact is equally felt by everyone involved in the organisation and realization of weddings, including musicians, who are now faced with sudden cancellations of planned performances during the usual peak season. Although the fact that they perform live has – over the past five years – proven to be an advantage for enduring the crisis caused by the ubiquitous music streaming services, it had an opposite effect in the current context. Moreover, given that for some musicians wedding performances provide the main source of revenue and that they cannot rely on institutional support, the hazards of this type of musical labour are apparent. This article aims to present how wedding musicians cope with the current circumstances and at the same time, observing the transformed research field, to question the effect of profound social changes on musical labour and practices.
Keywords: coronavirus, pandemic, wedding, wedding musicians, precarious work