With live performances still hobbled by the pandemic, N.L. musician pleads for government support

As Newfoundland and Labrador begins the new year in Alert Level 3 of the provincial government's tiered system of health restrictions, a Conception Bay South musician says more government support is needed for the arts.

Country singer Justin Fancy says many performers are struggling under the pandemic and continue to need financial support.

"I consider myself to be kind of an advocate for music in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Fancy.

On Thursday, Fancy published a letter on Twitter that he sent to the provincial and federal governments, seeking support and speaking of the "frustrating" impact of the pandemic.

"With businesses closing their doors, artists have been forced to cancel their gigs and are unable to make any regular income as a result," wrote Fancy, adding that he fears the pandemic will "break the arts community" if help is not received from the provincial and federal levels.

Fancy started recording his first album in January 2020, only two months before the pandemic hit the province — something he says made him more independent of live performances.

But many artists do still rely on income from live performances, which have been decimated by the pandemic.

One artist who doesn't rely on live performances to make a living is comedian Rick Mercer.

Mercer, originally from St. John's, knows that ticket sales are crucial for performers.

"That's the only way they make money. They don't make it any other way. And all of that just stopped," Mercer told CBC News on Thursday. "It was devastating. The ones that kept their heads above water, I'm amazed."

The pandemic, says Mercer, is especially difficult for up-and-coming performers.

Mercer himself was affected by pandemic restrictions — a comedy tour he had planned was postponed several times.

"They say, 'OK, the show can go on, but at 50 per cent.' Well, that's fine and dandy. But the reality is, for example, the tour that I was going to go on, they just immediately cancelled it because it just wouldn't work at those numbers," said Mercer.

"When you're in the live business, you need bums in seats, and obviously we couldn't have bums in seats. And so it's been tricky."