James Bookert had had a stroke on his sofa.
“I don’t remember any of that,” said the Austin musician who goes by the name San Gabriel. “I woke up and had an oxygen mask on my face.”
Paramedics rushed him to Seton Hospital, he said, where they ran a series of tests — from brain scans to an MRI.
“Those are all really expensive procedures, which I definitely wouldn’t have been able to afford,” Bookert said.
He got help from the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, or HAAM, a nonprofit organization that subsidizes musicians’ health insurance plans so they can access care. emergency, primary and specialized.
“I don’t know what most musicians would do for healthcare,” Bookert said. “Honestly, I think we would all ignore it.”
Today, San Gabriel and more than 200 Austin musicians perform from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at various Austin venues as part of HAAM Day, the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. .
“Compensation isn’t that great when it comes to getting paid for a gig,” said Paul Scott, HAAM’s CEO. “That’s why we think it’s so important that we take some of this burden off our musicians when it comes to accessing healthcare.”
Scott points out that music has an economic impact of about $2 billion a year in the Austin community, even though 80% of the musicians HAAM helps earn about $24,000 a year.
Partner relationships allow HAAM to add unique benefits beyond traditional health care, Scott said. He also collaborates with an otolaryngologist who makes custom earplugs to protect musicians’ hearing.
HAAM currently helps about 3,000 musicians to access healthcare. To be eligible for the aid, musicians must meet specific criteria showing that they are “working” musicians, have a certain income level and live in the Austin area.
Scott said HAAM expects to raise $800,000 today, a critical part of its budget. Most of the money comes from sponsorships, but Scott said he hopes community members will also donate at the website of HAAM.
Musicians play for free on HAAM Day and there is no cost to attend a show. To know the complete list of artists do click here.
Bookert said it’s an honor to perform and a way to say thank you for Austin’s support.
“HAAM has been instrumental in keeping me healthy,” he said.
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HAAM Day Keeps Austin Musicians and Music Scene Healthy