There are many people who lost their jobs in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people who had 9-5 jobs and no longer had any unemployment benefits from the Employment Development Department (EDD) had to embark on a new journey they did not know was attainable. This unexpected situation has left many people, especially people of color, struggling to make ends meet. During these unprecedented times it is very difficult to determine when people will be able to find another stable job.
According to the U.S. Bureau Of Labor and Statistics, unemployment levels were up to 14.7 percent in April of 2020. Many had to wait months to hear back from the (EDD). Demanjee Dixon, has been in the same position because of no longer working his day job as a valet driver for Apple Headquarters in Culver City, California. He decided that he needed to make money for his family and thought to take a very serious risk and open his own music studio.
Dixon was already in the process of opening his studio prior to the pandemic in 2020. “I stopped working my day job in March 2020. They literally told us, along with the rest of the world in America, that we couldn’t come back because there was a virus going around and people are getting sick and dying,” said Dixon. “That right there was literally the only push I needed to take initiative and open my studio.” Dixon’s studio is located in Mid-City and he has recording sessions with different artists every day. Because he was laid off, Dixon had to file for unemployment through the EDD website.
There had been many delays with people across the country receiving their unemployment benefits. “I did it for 6-7 months before my benefits ended and they cut my benefits,” Dixon said. “There is only so long the government was going to provide me with income, I knew I had to make my own money.,”He feels the pandemic has enhanced his business, as he has been booked throughout all of 2020 despite COVID-19. At his studio, he makes sure to always have his mask, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant spray to clean his space after he is done recording his clients. After every session, he makes sure to wipe down his equipment and the recording room where artists are either singing or rapping into the microphone. He also takes special precautions to make sure everyone is distant during his sessions.
According to the Centers of Disease Control Website (CDC)., “In general, being outdoors and in spaces with good ventilation reduces the risk of exposure to infectious respiratory droplets.” Proper ventilation, constantly sanitizing his hands and wearing his mask has kept him safe throughout all of 2020.
By the end of August 2020, “163,745 total businesses on Yelp have closed since the beginning of the pandemic,” According to the Yelp Economic Average Report.The majority of businesses that had to close their doors because of the pandemic will not be able to reopen.While the majority of businesses may not have had success, there are also many businesses who had success. Like Dixon being able to open his first recording studio, in a city where many other well-known artists also record is like a dream come true to him. Being able to do what you love and make money from it is very rewarding. The pandemic may have caused many to lose their jobs, but for many like Dixon, who is thriving in his own business while still following the CDC COVID-19 guidelines, it is possible to still succeed amidst the pandemic.
As long as safety guidelines are in place people should be able to open their own businesses and continue to provide for themselves and their families. A pandemic should not be a reason why someone cannot succeed and pursue their dreams.