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 the crisis, DJ Times will be presenting the questionnaire responses from talented music-makers from all over the world. Here’s our latest installment, this time from Frankfurt: Germany’s melodic techno wiz Gregor Tresher.
Lockdown went into place in Germany late last month. What’s it like where you are? You definitely recognize life is different now. Even before the full lockdown, regulations are visible everywhere, and people took care to keep the distance to other people, which is a good thing.
What income-producing work did you lose? Basically, all my shows in March, April and May were cancelled. I make most of my income by playing shows, so it is pretty scary. I’m hoping at least some of the shows in summer are still going to happen. But since it’s mainly festivals in the summer months, I’m more than concerned as I don’t see huge events happening in the near future. I´m hoping we get to a point where at least clubs with small/medium capacities are going to be allowed to open during the summer. I´m devastated and very worried for all the promoters right now – they are the ones suffering the hardest.
Are you doing anything now that can or will produce music-related income? Well, I can always make music, but obviously there isn’t much money to be made from selling records nowadays. But, of course, I’m in the studio and trying to make the best of it.
What are you doing now that’s ultimately constructive to your music life/career? Just producing music. It all comes down to the question: When can the nightlife commence again? I’m hoping for the summer, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Unfortunately, the club/rave scene will be the last to be allowed to run events again.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve realized during this period of social distancing? Well, pretty much every “young” person in the Western world has never had to go through such a substantial crisis in their lifetime. I guess we were very lucky until now. Personally, I realized how much I love what I usually do.
Are you doing anything online? I am doing a few live streams and podcasts, but obviously it can never replace the real thing. I recently did the United We Stream/ARTE Concert from Die Rakete club in Nuremberg.
Any theme tunes recommended for the moment? Depeche Mode’s “Shake The Disease.”
Any advice on staying sane & relatively positive through this situation? It’s a challenge for all of us… maybe limit the time on news portals every day. It can be overwhelming to be bombarded with this topic 24/7. Read the news once or twice a day. Try to focus on other things, and remember this will be over one day – maybe not in weeks or months, but definitely in a year from now. We will all dance together again!
To check out more Life in Lockdown features, click here.
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