The arts and entertainment industry is already counting its considerable losses, as the coronavirus pandemic leads to the cancellation of many festivals, events and tours nationally.
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Gerringong's Lincoln Piper owns a live music booking agency, production and stage management business, LP Entertainment.
He books acts in pubs, clubs and other venues in the Illawarra and South Coast.
"(The cancellations) will have a significant cost, because it has a flow-on effect because of the amount of people who work in the industry," he said.
"That's from roadies to stage crew to production to tour management to catering to the staff that operate the venues, as well as cleaners, security. It's going to have a massive effect on the arts... It's scary times."
Mr Piper said it was too early to gauge whether the pandemic will deter the majority of people from visiting their local pub or club to catch live music.
He expected that local venues could still be well-attended, unless "it really explodes, then we'll probably see a massive downturn".
"I think we'll have to wait for more announcements from the government," he said. "As long as people are being sensible and listen to what the government is saying... But at present, I'd like to think people will be resilient and say, 'let's go watch a band'."
Mr Piper also organises the multi-venue Country Gold music festival in Kiama, which features local and national acts.
He said was he awaiting instructions ahead of the next event, due to take place on the June long weekend.
Wollongong-based singer/songwriter Lucy Mills, who performs solo as LEO, lives a nomadic existence, staying in her Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van while travelling around the state playing gigs.
Mills said many of the industry people she had spoken to were "on edge" about the coming months.
It's quite scary for all of us," she said.
She said she was already beginning to witness the financial impact of having shows and festival appearances cancelled, as well as dwindling numbers.
"I play as much as I can, including at a lot of markets," she said. "The markets I was playing at in the Campbelltown area on Thursday, there was barely anybody there.
"I put a post online that it was me playing to no one, and a couple of food trucks.
"I played an art exhibition on Saturday, and a few people turned up, but not as many as would have."
Mills said she relied on extra money from other ventures. "I'm already feeling the hit from not as much income from busking," she said.
"I know the opportunities are probably going to shrink as it goes.
"With the fires, a lot of musicians and other performers were donating their time and skills to raise money to help.
"Through the coronavirus, we don't really get thought of (even though) there's some money being thrown around to some people to help."
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