Page 44 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2021

Veronica Lewis, 17, finished and released her debut album despite the pandemic. Photo by Benjamin Esakof, Halo Creative Group, LLC
first show with Mike Zito, and Can’t Stop the Blues (CSTB) was Facebook, Instagram Live and Zoom, but the technology
born! We’ve been a volunteer organization from the start, was not built to serve the specialized needs of the music
with all tipping going directly to the artists’ own accounts. industry. As musicians ourselves, we saw an opportunity
We’ve broadcasted over 400 individual one-hour shows, to revolutionize live streaming for the music industry.” The
and generated over $200,000 for those artists.” HowLive digital platform not only boasts 1080 video and
Learning the technologies involved with Google Drive, hi-fidelity sound, but also includes built-in features like pay-
Facebook, YouTube, OneStream, social media marketing and per-view, donations, merchandising, advertising, sponsor
broadcasting was a big undertaking for Gottheimer and many placement and social engagement. The platform uniquely
on the CSTB team, but, as she says, “While everyone else was enables consumers to experience performances via live
trying to figure out how best to do it, we just jumped in and streaming, on-demand or linear live streaming. Padua says,
got ’er done. It wasn’t always pretty, and it wasn’t always “Fans enjoy live performances and the feeling as though they
fantastic audio and video, but it was real, intimate and from have front-row seats. We are passionate about ensuring the
the heart, and everyone loved it!” She adds, “We’ve heard fan feels like they are at the event.”
from many artists that their first show with CSTB was pivotal Other musicians have thought “outside the box” to keep
in breaking through their depression and helping them find their careers moving forward, give their creativity an outlet
themselves and their creativity again.” and bring joy to their fans.
HowLive is another platform that provides a supportive Tom Stewart, blues artist/drummer and leader of the
tool for artists. CEO and Co-Founder Gino Padua explains, Backwater Blues Band of San Diego, CA, says, “In July 2020,
“When COVID-19 began, the live music industry was turned I built a flatbed trailer with full backline and a generator
upside down, directly impacting the way that venues, artists plus lights, so we could roll up and perform for people in
and live music fans host and enjoy events. Artists found parking lots, hospitals, fire departments, first responders and
new ways to play and engage with fans on platforms like restaurants… We even play on streets for tips. I call it ‘Music

42 Blues Festival Guide 2021