Zelienople native Angela Mignanelli, who goes by the stage name of Angela Autumn, was making a name for herself as a performer in Nashville the last six months before the coronavirus pandemic stunted her momentum.

Six months ago, Angela Mignanelli packed up her Chevy Cruze and drove 600 miles from her Zelienople home to Nashville, Tenn., to start a new life.

Under the stage name Angela Autumn, the talented singer-songwriter built quite a musical following with her folk and Americana melodies in the Pittsburgh area.

After she graduated from Duquesne University, Mignanelli decided it was time to bet on herself in one of the meccas of music in the country.

Mignanelli had started to gain a foothold in Nashville. She was playing regular gigs and getting her name out there.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Venues where she played closed. The gigs vanished. Her music was silenced.

“I feel like I haven't really gotten a chance to shine and show what I'm capable of yet,” Mignanelli said.

She's not alone.

Gig workers like Mignanelli are having a particularly difficult time during the pandemic.

Musicians, disc jockeys, freelance writers and photographers are doing what they can to scrape by.

This is an excerpt from a larger article that will appear in Tuesday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article to learn how freelancers are making ends meet.

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