Gerard Zappa Cincinnati

Gerard Zappa, a Cincinnati musician and bass guitar vocalist for the Steve Augeri band, has witnessed the effects of COVID-19 on the music industry firsthand. Live performance venues have been most impacted by COVID-19, with an estimated $10 billion of sponsorships lost within the first six months of pandemic-resulted shutdown. While legislation like the “Save Our Stages Act,” signed by President Trump in December of 2020, has tried to keep venues for musicians like Gerard Zappa open, as many as 90% of venues could still permanently close in 2021. Despite these current challenges, Gerard Zappa and other Cincinnati musicians continue to pursue alternatives to in-person performances like streaming virtual concerts and hosting meet-and-greets with fans.

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