Symphony violinist describes post-Covid concert dystopia

A symphony orchestra in the Midwest who shall remain unnamed recently rolled out their virus protocol for rehearsals and performances. A serology test upon arrival into town. Chairs separated by 6 ft, and the eradication of stand partners (any musician can tell you of the difficulty this deviation-from-the-norm causes). Absolutely no shifting around of any equipment or it must be re-measured and readjusted by the stage manager. And -- of course -- our issued N95 masks. Wind players are allowed to remove the mask when the instrument actually touches their lips...how benevolent. 

The kicker: The concert was performed outdoors in a baseball stadium to avoid all the dangers of the concert hall. Due to 20mph winds and rain, we performed only a Mozart overture before being sent home.

It was a rough weekend for an outspoken libertarian. Incensed, I returned to my hotel room after the first rehearsal and composed a 1000-word op-ed to the New York Times and a few other publications closer to my hometown of Kansas City. The self-explanatory title: "No, It's Not 'Better Than Not Playing.'" 

No one accepted my writing. Why would they? It doesn't suit the arts-world narrative of "mask up, stay safe, protect your fellow musicians." 

I am in incredible disbelief that virtually no one else in my industry is willing to speak out against this madness. It is crippling our livelihoods, and they ignore the root of the problem. 

Following this gig debacle, I have made the sad decision not to take another restricted playing opportunity until the hysteria has died down. Enough is enough. We're not making music anymore, we're following draconian orders -- usually mandated by some higher-up authority who clearly has no concept of how musical ensembles operate. 

I digress. Thank you for being an arts supporter. Thank you for speaking reason and balance and sanity into the void -- even if it doesn't reach as far as my statist compatriots in the orchestra field. 

Musically yours, 

A disgruntled symphony violinist

~ Email to Tom Woods, October 22, 2020