By Jessica Bayley
A Leeds musician, currently out of work due to the pandemic has bridged the income gap by launching her own food delivery service in Headingley.
Musicians across both Leeds and the UK are finding themselves out of work as social distancing measures remain in place and music events continue to be rescheduled, postponed, and cancelled.
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future of many jobs within the arts sector and the Musicians’ Union estimate tens of thousands of musicians to be out of work.
At present, there is no date set for when music venues will be once again allowed to open their doors and host concerts ‘normally’.
Sunday Lendis, a jazz musician, and recent graduate of Leeds Conservatoire is one of these musicians currently out of work.
She told Yorkshire Voice: “I’ve been trying to get over this feeling of being unviable.”
To combat this feeling of being “unviable” Sunday has begun her own food delivery service on Ash Road, Headingley, “for students who are missing home or people who are self-isolating.”
One customer who ordered from Sunday’s described the food as “really nice and brought home comforts to university.”
Iona Kay, 21, a student at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Sunday’s food is like my Mum’s cooking”.
Sunday’s has been run weekly, between 6-8pm every Sunday since its first week on 25th October.
Sunday said her main inspiration for starting the delivery service was Annapurna, a food delivery service also based in Headingley, the food of which Sunday described as “authentic, delicious Indian food.”
The current unpredictability, has led to anxieties and difficulties for many of those who are working within the arts, including musicians.
Keith Ames, from the Musicians’ Union highlighted the importance of the arts sector for keeping people employed as he said: “Somebody stands on a stage and a lot of people get work”.
“Hundreds of thousands of people rely on events culture”, Mr Ames stressed how many jobs are created not only behind the scenes but also on the stage and in the venues.
The MU representative explained that Sunday was not alone in her feeling of being “unviable”, as their research showed that “about 90% of the people we surveyed in September came back and said they don’t think the Government have supported freelance.”
He said: “We don’t want to lose a first-class workforce” and urged people not to give up on a career in music.
For more information on Coronavirus support for musicians, visit https://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/coronavirus