By Mike Hazlip–
Each Friday night, music artist Ava Lemert and her husband transform their Citrus Heights living room into a livestream recording studio, complete with a green screen and camera equipment.
Using a mix of high-tech audio and video devices in her home, Lemert livestreams her performances through a variety of social media outlets, with a different theme each week. Comments from viewers pop up during the event giving her a chance to interact with her audience.
Prior to the coronavirus taking the stage earlier this year, Lemert had been a regular performer at Ettore’s, a European bakery and restaurant on Fair Oaks Boulevard. The cafe had booked her for a total of nine shows in 2020 from March through November, but when COVID-19 restrictions took effect, those plans were cancelled.
Lemert said March 6 was her first and last show. The usual weddings and private events have also been canceled, forcing her to find an audience online from her living room.
“The live shows like Ettore’s are wonderful; that’s kind of my bread and butter,” she said. “However, because of that, I get a lot of private events.”
She now uses the equipment she originally purchased for shows at Ettore’s for the weekly live stream.
Lemert says she records her weekly broadcast to stay in the public eye.
“When you’re in this business, you’re dealing with events directors — they change all the time,” Lemert said. “It feels like I’m constantly starting over with new people who don’t know who I am.”
Late summer is usually the time Lemert starts booking holiday parties in the fall and winter, but she’s not optimistic for the 2020 season.
“The holidays will be the next disaster” if current restrictions continue, she said.
The multi-talented Lemert wears many hats in today’s economy. In addition to music, she designers her own graphics and can write HTML and CSS code for websites.
“Every situation I’ve been in, to keep a job, you have to be diverse,” she said.
She hopes the Friday night livestream will lead to more listeners on streaming music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Artists get a small payment each time a song is streamed.
“If people can discover me through the [Fridays] livestream, and hopefully they like what they hear, start following me and stream. Every little bit helps.”
“Luckily I’m the secondary income here,” she said, referring to her family income. “Because there’s no way… you have to tour (to make money).”
Lemert says her goal as an entertainer is to help people forget about their troubles.
“Levity, love and escape from… oh, the world and the news… that is my offering to you.” Lemert wrote in a social media statement. “My mission as an entertainer is to… entertain you, soothe your worries, fears, lift you with joy.“
Viewers can catch Lemert’s next performance this Friday at 8 p.m. on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Periscope, and Twitch. Her music is also available on Spotify and Apple Music.
