Inspiration comes from the strangest of places
Many industries suffered as a result of COVID19, with the live music industry hit especially hard. As venues closed across the state, gigs were cancelled and musicians lost a major source of their revenue, sometimes all of it. Like many of their fellow musicians, Justin and Sara Sherburn suddenly found themselves with no performances on the horizon, a frightening prospect for any band that relies on live shows to supplement their income. Signing up for Unemployment Insurance, they experienced wait times due to unprecedented demand as a result of COVID-19. (For context, from March 2020-March 2021, TWC processed more than 9.5 million claims, whereas in a normal year TWC processes about 300,000 claims.) While some customers drowned out the pleasant, but far from entertaining hold music, the experience inspired Justin and Sara to act.
The hold music they heard throughout the UI benefits process provided inspiration for a creative outlet and they began working on what would become the Texas Workforce Commission Hold Music, a collection of ambient meditations inspired by their experience not just with TWC but throughout the pandemic.
From negative to positive with a helping hand
After applying for benefits, Justin and Sara quickly started receiving regular unemployment checks along with millions of other unemployed Texans. The consistent payments allowed them some flexibility and stability to focus on recovery instead of worrying about how they would be able to pay bills or pay the rent. During the pandemic, many Texans utilized TWC resources available at their local Workforce Solutions Offices to upskill or train for positions in a number of high-demand fields; others, like Justin and Sara, started new businesses. Sara and Justin, recognizing a sudden need for socially-distanced entertainment during the pandemic, started an outdoor movie screening service called Rocket Cinema, which was able to support film festivals throughout Texas this past summer.
Of course, this experience also inspired Texas Workforce Commission Hold Music which Sherburn wrote during this time, and then gifted to TWC to use on their actual hold lines. If you give TWC a call, you may have the opportunity to hear Sherburn’s piece (though KUT has noted it’s become increasingly harder to get put on hold, so you can check it out on his site here).
“Nobody knew what was going on, and all I knew was that I was having my world fall apart and all my gigs cancelled,” Sherburn told TWC. “The financial support I received from the Texas Workforce Commission during the pandemic gave me the flexibility and confidence to start a business. I’m getting back to work performing as well as offering outdoor movie screenings with my new company, Rocket Cinema.”
Texan persistence and imagination never cease to impress – with resilience and ingenuity that keep our great state the best one in which to live and work. Some of our greatest achievements come as a result of difficult times, but with a little creativity and flexibility the outputs can often be pretty special. And if you’re navigating the unemployment system in Texas, give us a call, we’re here to help. We’re working diligently to make sure you won’t hear our new hold music.
Figuring out your next career move
UI benefits are available to those who qualify giving Texans the flexibility and stability to figure out their next move. To help, we’ve got a few tools to help guide you:
- MyTXCareer.com and WorkInTexas.com – Both websites provide a platform for Texans to connect with employers about open jobs across the state. MyTXCareer provides new users an easy streamlined way to list or find jobs in Texas. WorkinTexas.com is a comprehensive online job search resource and matching system developed and maintained by the Texas Workforce Commission. WorkInTexas.com provides recruiting assistance to Texas employers of all types and sizes, and job search assistance to anyone seeking work in Texas.
- Workforce Solutions Centers – TWC’s Workforce Solutions Partners have over 180 offices around the state and help Texans find work. They offer free services such as access to thousands of job postings, job search resources, training programs and help with exploring career options, resumé and application preparation, career development, and more.
- Skills Enhancement Initiative – The Texas Workforce Commission has partnered with Metrix Learning to help Texas residents brush up on skills to prepare for better employment opportunities. The Metrix online learning platform provides Texans free online job readiness courses. The Metrix Learning platform offers courses for more than 130 industry-recognized certifications, including online training in high-demand occupations. Completing and passing a Metrix learning courses count as a work search activity.
- Restaurant Recovery Training (txrestaurant.org) – The Texas Workforce Commission in partnership with the Texas Restaurant Association is providing free and flexible online training to quickly prepare workers for restaurant industry jobs. The restaurant recovery training certification portal can be accessed at txrestaurant.org.
- Virtual and In-Person Job Fairs –Workforce Development Boards across Texas are sponsoring job fairs virtually and in-person to help connect job seekers with employment opportunities.
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