Interview with Justin H. Rothberg, December 19, 2020

Partial Transcript: Okay. This is Kopana Terry and I am talking with Justin Rothberg and it is December--huh?

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg grew up in New Jersey and practiced guitar constantly as a way to cope with his dysfunctional family. He has a learning disability and gravitated to music instead of traditional academics. His high school had a strong music program.

Keywords: Childhood; Family; Friends; High schools; Influences; Interests; Jazz guitar; Joe Federico; Learning; Music books; Music classes; Music education; Music education programs; Music lessons; Music programs; Music teachers; Music tutors; New Jersey; Practice; Private lessons; School bands; Schools; Self-taught; Sisters

Subjects: Bands (Music); Disabilities.; Families.; Guitar music (Jazz); Guitar.; Guitarists; Individualized instruction.; Jazz.; Learning disabilities.; Music teachers.; Music theory.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music.; Musicians with disabilities.; Musicians.; New Jersey; People with disabilities.; Practicing (Music); Teachers.

Partial Transcript: Uh, yeah, went to music school in Philadelphia.

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg went to college for music for three years but dropped out when he started getting paying gigs. He cold called a teacher to get guitar lessons and the teacher encouraged him to go back to school to finish his degree.

Keywords: Advice; Commuting; Costs; Dropping out; Expenses; Freelancing; Gigs; Guitar lessons; Harlem, New York City (N.Y.); Income; Jobs; Music degrees; Music education; Music lessons; New York City (N.Y.); Professional musicians; Rent

Subjects: Apartments.; Bands (Music); City University of New York. City College; Gig economy.; Guitar music (Jazz); Guitar.; Guitarists; Housing.; Individualized instruction.; Jazz.; Music teachers.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music.; Musicians.; New Jersey; Philadelphia (Pa.); Practicing (Music); Teachers.; Temporary employment.

Partial Transcript: You know, I basically, I basically was playing jazz and teaching out of school.

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg taught music for a while after graduating college. An old classmate hooked him up with a reggae band. He had a cycle of teaching then going on tour and losing his students and then teaching again. He talks about the difficulty of that lifestyle.

Keywords: Dr. Ring-Ding (Artist); Eastern Standard Time (Artist); Europe; Gigs; Greenwich (Conn.); Income; Japan; King Django (Artist); Live music; Live performances; Live shows; Money; Music education; Music lessons; Music students; Music styles; Private lessons; Professional musicians; Recording; Reggae; Sets; Touring; Tours

Subjects: Alcohol.; Bands (Music); Concert tours; Drinking of alcoholic beverages.; Ensemble playing; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitar music (Jazz); Guitar.; Guitarists; Individualized instruction.; Jazz.; Music teachers.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music.; Musicians.; Practicing (Music); Teachers.; Temporary employment.; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Did that for a while and I started to realize that--I had a friend, a sax player friend that I went to college with, and he was doing really well.

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg had a friend who was very successful as a Broadway and studio musician who introduced him to the connection he had. He started getting Broadway gigs and was playing at the same level as some of his mentors.

Keywords: Broadway; Broadway (New York, N.Y.); Conductors; Friends; Gigs; Guitar lessons; Learning; Mentors; Music lessons; Musicians unions; Private lessons; Recommendations; Studio musicians; Subbing; Substitutes

Subjects: Bands (Music); City University of New York. City College; Concert tours; Drinking of alcoholic beverages.; Ensemble playing; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitar music (Jazz); Guitar.; Guitarists; Housing.; Individualized instruction.; Jazz.; Music teachers.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music.; Musicians.; New Jersey; Philadelphia (Pa.); Practicing (Music); Teachers.; Temporary employment.; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Anyway, enough of the positive stuff.

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg was doing a Broadway gig in New Jersey that ran until March 1st and everyone got the flu, though now he thinks some of it could have been COVID-19. They had to keep doing the show anyway.

Keywords: Aladdin (Musical); Broadway; Broadway (New York, N.Y.); COVID testing; Cast; Conductors; Fevers; Gigs; Illnesses; Influenza; New Jersey; Papermill Playhouse; Precautions; Shows; Sickness; Subbing; Substitutes; Transportation

Subjects: Actors.; Broadway Theatre (Organization : New York, N.Y.); Broadway Theatre Orchestra; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases.; Ensemble playing; Epidemics.; Epidemiology.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitar music (Jazz); Guitar.; Guitarists; Music in the theater; Music.; Musical theater.; Musicals.; Musicians.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Public health.; Sanitation.; Symphony orchestras; Temporary employment.; Theater

Partial Transcript: So were--what happened when, when they closed the shows? I mean, take me through the night that you found out they were gonna shut down.

Segment Synopsis: When Rothberg found out they were going to close Broadway, he was at a rehearsal for a children's benefit. He talks about his initial reactions and says he feels lucky because others' circumstances were worse than his. He discusses the hoarding of disinfectants and toilet paper, discrepancies in access to supplies based on socioeconomic class, and early sanitation suggestions.

Keywords: Aladdin (Musical); Attitudes; Benefit shows; Broadway; Broadway (New York, N.Y.); Cancellations; Cancelled; Closed; Closing; Food; Groceries; Hand sanitizer; Harlem, New York City (N.Y.); Income; Leaving; Money; Moving; Off Broadway; Pit orchestras; Reactions; Rent stabilized; Shortages; Supplies; Upper East Side, New York (N.Y.); Wealth gap; Work

Subjects: Anxiety.; Apartments.; Broadway Theatre (Organization : New York, N.Y.); Broadway Theatre Orchestra; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases.; Disinfection and disinfectants.; Ensemble playing; Epidemics.; Epidemiology.; Fear.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Harlem (New York, N.Y.); Housing.; Medicine, Preventive.; Music in the theater; Music.; Musical theater.; Musicals.; Musicians.; Off-Broadway theater; Pandemics and COVID-19; Princeton (N.J.); Princeton University; Public health.; Sanitation.; Skin--Disinfection; Sterilization.; Symphony orchestras; Temporary employment.; Theater; Toilet paper; Upper East Side (New York, N.Y.); Worry.

Partial Transcript: So, you know, you, you survived the, the onslaught of, um, shoppers--

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg discusses unemployment and financial problems due to COVID-19. He discusses his union and how they work, as well as insurance, worrying, and being alone. He talks about people who have left the business.

Keywords: Alone; Broadway; Broadway (New York, N.Y.); Finances; Gigs; Income; Jobs; Loneliness; Medical insurance; Music education; Music lessons; Music students; Musicians unions; Off Broadway; Pit orchestras; Private lessons; Quitting; Recovery Plan A; Uncertainty; Unemployment insurance; Work; Worrying

Subjects: Anxiety.; Broadway Theatre (Organization : New York, N.Y.); Broadway Theatre Orchestra; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases.; Depression, Mental.; Ensemble playing; Epidemics.; Epidemiology.; Fear.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitarists; Health insurance.; Insurance.; Labor unions.; Music in the theater; Music teachers.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music.; Musical theater.; Musicals.; Musicians.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Students.; Supplemental unemployment benefits; Symphony orchestras; Teachers.; Temporary employment.; Theater; Unemployment insurance.; Unemployment.; United States. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.; Worry.

Partial Transcript: So I want to talk to you about, uh, the union some more.

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg discusses how the musicians' union works for shows both in New York as well as out of state. He talks about the musicians' contracts and how they get paid for shows. He explains the difference between Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

Keywords: Arts; Broadway; Broadway (New York, N.Y.); Contracts; Dobro players; Doubles; Fees; Gigs; Income; Loopholes; Medical insurance; Money; New Jersey; New York City (N.Y.); Orchestra pits; Papermill Playhouse; Pay; Paychecks; Politics; Producers; Rehearsals; Rules; Salary; San Diego (Calif.); Substitutes; Theater subscriptions; Touring; Tours; Uncertainty; Union gigs

Subjects: Broadway Theatre (Organization : New York, N.Y.); Broadway Theatre Orchestra; Ensemble playing; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitarists; Health insurance.; Insurance.; Labor unions.; Music in the theater; Music rehearsals.; Music.; Musical instruments.; Musical theater.; Musicals.; Musicians.; Off-Broadway theater; Producers and directors.; Symphony orchestras; Temporary employment.; Theater; Travel.

Partial Transcript: What was your first Broadway show?

Segment Synopsis: The first show Rothberg subbed on was "Wicked." He talks about working on a non-union show and how it compared to union shows. He talks about working on "A Night with Janis Joplin," where, as the guitarist, he also had to sing lead for the first song. He has also subbed on "Rocky" and "Aladdin." He discusses these experiences and the connections he made, which led to him working in "Kiss Me Kate" and "The Ballad of Little Jo." He ended up rehearsing for "A Night with Janis Joplin" for Off Broadway but it got cancelled due to low ticket sales.

Keywords: A Night with Janis Joplin (Musical); Aladdin (Musical); Attitudes; Closed; Closing; Connections; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Friends; Gigs; Hair (Musical); Income; Kiss Me Kate (Musical); Memorization; Memorizing; Money; Musicians unions; Non-equity tours; Non-union shows; Pay; Practice; Rent; Rocky (Musical); Roommates; Run throughs; Salary; Shows; Singing; Subbing; Substitutes; The Ballad of Little Jo (Musical); Touring; Tours; Union gigs; Wicked (Musical)

Subjects: Broadway Theatre (Organization : New York, N.Y.); Broadway Theatre Orchestra; Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.); Ensemble playing; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Gramercy Theatre; Guitar.; Guitarists; Health insurance.; Insurance.; Labor unions.; Music in the theater; Music rehearsals.; Music.; Musical theater.; Musicals.; Musicians.; Off-Broadway theater; Practicing (Music); Producers and directors.; Symphony orchestras; Temporary employment.; Theater; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Well, so that makes me think--that makes me wonder what you think is gonna happen when--ha--when do you think Broadway's gonna come back and what do you think it's gonna look like?

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg talks about what he thinks Broadway will be like when it reopens after the pandemic. He says he thinks the producers aren't going to want to rehire live musicians and he hopes the union will recover and will have the power to fight for the musicians.

Keywords: Cost-cutting; Costs; Doubles; Health insurance; Income; Medical insurance; Music tracks; Musicians unions; Payment; Power; Producers; Salary; Stagehand unions; Support; Tourism; Tourists; Union gigs; Vaccinations; Vaccines

Subjects: Broadway Theatre (Organization : New York, N.Y.); Broadway Theatre Orchestra; Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases.; Ensemble playing; Epidemics.; Epidemiology.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Health insurance.; Insurance.; Labor unions.; Music in the theater; Music rehearsals.; Music.; Musical theater.; Musicals.; Musicians.; Off-Broadway theater; Pandemics and COVID-19; Producers and directors.; Symphony orchestras; Temporary employment.; Theater; Worry.

Partial Transcript: So there's been one good thing at least to come out of this so far and that is you're getting ready to release your jazz album, is that right?

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg talks about releasing a jazz album and attempting to play live jazz during the pandemic. They played at a club with reduced capacity but they joked that that was normal for jazz. He played a concert recently via livestreaming and discusses what it is like to perform for an online audience.

Keywords: Audiences; Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.); Cameras; Capacity; Clubs; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Creative dynamic; Crowds; Gigs; Harlem, New York City (N.Y.); Jazz albums; Jazz music; Live music; Live performance; Live performances; Live shows; Live streaming; Masks; Mood; Online shows; Precautions; Promotion; Remote events; Remote shows; Safety; Social distancing; Split screen recording; Trios; Virtual events; Virtual shows

Subjects: Bands (Music); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases.; Concert tours; Depression, Mental.; Ensemble playing; Epidemics.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitar music (Jazz); Guitar.; Guitarists; Jazz.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical performance; Musicians.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Practicing (Music); Temporary employment.

Partial Transcript: How did you record your album?

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg talks more about his jazz album, which was recorded in 2017 and released in 2020.

Keywords: Album releases; Click tracks; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Different; Editing; Fixing; Friends; Jazz albums; Jazz music; Live music; Mastering; Mixing; Notes; Overdubbing; Schedules; Songs; Sound; Takes; Trios

Subjects: Bands (Music); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases.; Ensemble playing; Epidemics.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitar music (Jazz); Guitar.; Guitarists; Jazz.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical performance; Musicians.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing.; Temporary employment.

Partial Transcript: So how, how is it doing?

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg talks about having a bigger audience and income from Spotify than from Bandcamp. He discusses a promotion he did by sending physical CDs to reviewers, bloggers, and radio stations. He discusses his other two albums.

Keywords: Albums; Announcements; Bandcamp (Website); Downloads; Influences; Jazz promoters; Links; Listening; Music styles; Musical styles; Physical media; Promotion; Reggae; Reviews; Sales; Social media; Songs; Spotify; Streaming music

Subjects: Advertisements.; Bands (Music); COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases.; Ensemble playing; Epidemics.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitar music (Jazz); Guitar.; Guitarists; Jazz.; Marketing.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical performance; Musicians.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Sales promotion.; Sound--Recording and reproducing.; Spotify.; Temporary employment.

Partial Transcript: Well, I, I want to--I have a billion questions I could ask you but, you know, it takes a long time to do these interviews.

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg discusses how everyone he knows was having trouble with inspiration during the pandemic. He began to drink more. He had a lot of time alone without a job. He says he had a dark period recently. He started taking classes on production. He's been teaching and playing guitar and piano. He's been thinking about doing instructional videos.

Keywords: Alone; Attitudes; Changes; Different; Inspiration; Isolation; Lists; Mental health; Moods; Music education; Music lessons; Music tutors; Outlook; Partners; Projects; Significant others; Single people

Subjects: Alcohol.; Alcoholism.; COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases.; Depression, Mental.; Drinking of alcoholic beverages.; Epidemics.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitarists; Individualized instruction.; Music teachers.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical performance; Musicians.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Piano.; Practicing (Music); Teachers.; Temporary employment.

Partial Transcript: Well, sweetie, is there, is there anything about this period of time and what you're going through that we haven't talked about?

Segment Synopsis: Rothberg talks about how the pandemic has sped up people's adoption of technology faster than it was already happening. He talks about teaching his music students online and the challenges and benefits that come with the use of technology.

Keywords: Adaptation; Adjustment; Changes; Creative; Innovative; Learning; Logic (Software); Music business; Music education; Music lessons; Music tutors; Private lessons; Pro Tools (Software); Skills; Software; Technology; Work from home; Zoom (Video teleconferencing software)

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Communicable diseases.; Drinking of alcoholic beverages.; Epidemics.; Flexible work arrangements.; Gig economy.; Guitarists; Individualized instruction.; Music teachers.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Music.; Musical performance; Musicians.; Pandemics and COVID-19; Practicing (Music); Teachers.; Technological innovations; Temporary employment.