Kern County musicians, artists adjusting to life in the social distancing era

COVID-19 has caused us to modify how we do things including how we enjoy music and art.

ABC23’s Bayne Froney explains how local musicians and the Bakersfield Museum of Art is adjusting to life in the social distancing era.

MUSIC AND ART... 23ABC'S BAYNEFRONEY IS JOINING US LIVE INDOWNTOWNBAKERSFIELD WITH HOW LOCALMUSICIANS AND THE BAKERSFIELDMUSEUM OF ART ARE ADJUSTING TOLIFE IN THE SOCIALDISTANCING ERA... BAYNE?THOSE WHO BRING MUSIC AND ARTINTO OUR LIVES HAVE ALSOSUFFERED FROM THE CURRENTPANDEMIC.

BUT THEY ARE STILLTRYING TO IMPLEMENT WAYS TO STAYCREATIVE AND LEARN NEWTHINGS.LOCAL MUSICIAN, MATT MUNOZ, WASUSED TO PLAYING 4 TO 5 SHOWS PERMONTH WITH HIS BAND MENTO BURU,TO NOT EVEN BEING ABLETO HAVE BAND PRACTICES."WE WERE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESSOFRELEASING A NEW ALBUM, SO ALL OFOUR STUDIO PROGRESS, IT JUST GOTCUT OFF.EVERYTHING GOT CUT OFF, THEMONEY FLOW TO FINANCE THEPROJECTS, THEAVAILABILITY."MOVING TO A VIRTUAL LIFE HASBEEN DIFFICULT FOR THE BAND."YOU REALLY MISS THAT INTERACTIONTHAT YOU HAVE WITH THE AUDIENCE,BECAUSEYOU KNOW IT'S A LIVEEXPERIENCE."MUSIC ISN'T THE ONLY ART FORMTHAT IS BEING CHANGED, THOSESELLING ART PIECES ARE NOWSELLING THEM ONLINE VERSUS ATAN IN-PERSON AUCTION.THOUGH THE BAKERSFIELD MUSEUM OFART IS TRYING IT'S BESTTO ENCOURAGE LOCAL ARTISTS TOCONTINUE WITH THEIR WORK."WE FEEL IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TOSUPPORT OUR LOCAL AND REGIONALARTISTS, SO 50% OF THE SALESWILL GO TO THE MUSEUM, AND 50%IS GOING BACK TO THEARTIST."THE ART MUSEUM WANTS TOEMPHASIZE THAT ART STILLMATTERS."I JUST REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGEPEOPLE TO PURSUE THEIRCREATIVITY AS MUCH AS THEY CAN."BURU ALSO HAS A MESSAGE FORMUSICIANS WHO TOO ARE HAVING AHARD TIME IN THE INDUSTRY DURINGTHIS TIME."CLEAN OUT YOUR HARD DRIVE,COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS,PRACTICE, DO A LOT OF WELLNESSCHECKSWITH YOUR BAND MEMBERS."THE MUSEUMS ARE CLOSED AS OFRIGHT NOW, BUT YOU CANSTILL VISIT THE BAKERSFIELDMUSEUM VIRTUALLY.

GO TOOUR WEBSITE TURNTO23.COM FOR ALINK TO CHECK OUT THEIR"MUSEUM AT HOME" FEATURE.

INBAKERSFIELD, BAYNE FRONEY23ABC CONNECTING YOU.RESTAURANTS ACROSS CALIFORNIA,AND HERE IN KERNCOUNTY, ARE STILL CLOSED FORINDOOR DINING... DESPITE KERNCOUNTY BEING TAKEN OFF THE'WATCH LIST' MONDAY.

MANY PLACESARE HAVING TO GET CREATIVE WITHHOW THEY CAN BEST SERVE THEIRCUSTOMERS.

EARLIER TODAY-- JOECONROY WITH THE CITY OFBAKERSFIELD JOINED US TO TALKMORE ABOUT THE PERMIT PROGRAM.OUTCUE: "IN ORDER TO DO THISSAFELY ANDPROPERLY."CONROY ALSO SPOKE ABOUT WHAT'SNEXT FOR THE NEW CITY