The COVID-19 pandemic shook the entire world at the start of 2020, causing aglobal social and economic disruption. This was especially true for those workingwith large groups of people in places like movie theaters, airplanes and live musicvenues. This qualitative study seeks to explain what kind of professional livesmusicians have had to develop during the coronavirus pandemic through emailinterviews. The research relates to the theory of habitus and field. It also relates totheory of strategies and tactics. The focus will be on how musicians from Sweden,Finland and the United States have adjusted to work. The musicians were devastatedand shocked but quick in using tactics to adapt to the situation. There were bigtransformations in plans already made. Some musicians returned to former jobs.Part-time teachers started teaching more through Zoom. A few held live-streamedconcerts. Some musicians had time for side projects while others sought completelynew jobs, which in one case, turned out in his favor. The musicians were almostuniversally hopeful for a brighter future.