The pandemic has completely upended schooling in some states and certainly caused disruptions in most.

Teachers were once notable for booking excursions and incursions way in advance. It wasn't unusual for SFS to receive booking enquires for 18 months hence. That completely changed last year of course. Teachers had no confidence in the distant future being predictable, so most bookings were made only weeks in advance, if that.

Both artists and teachers in Victoria, in particular, grew understandably tired of rescheduling a rescheduled performance

Artists who had a full year of work last year found they had none. This year has seen little change in Victoria as well as seeing artists in NSW diabolically affected.

On the bright side, bookings for 2022 are starting to flow as well as for Term 4. Perhaps some confidence is returning. We just hope artists have managed to sustain themselves and want to stay in the sector.

Image: From "Phillpe et Jacques" Popular Melbourne performer of French, Italian and Bush Music shows, Phil Carroll, who hasn't taken his work for schools online. Bookings are open for next year!