A large dose of caution, as the threat of Covid-19 spread through Spring and Summer 2020, led my hosts at public libraries, retirement villages, social clubs, fraternal groups, senior centers and churches to cancel their Vintage Music Concerts. Then, in the Fall, several of these events were optimistically rescheduled for 2021.
But the pandemic continued into the Winter of 2021 and it was clear holding concerts for older adults gathered in congregate spaces was not a good idea. Sweet Jesus, in the last year 127,491 people died of Covid-19 at 29,351 long-term care, assisted living and skilled nursing sites in the U.S. They were staff and residents of these facilities — the people I work with, the people I sing to. *
Sadly, a few hosts — program managers, life enrichment directors and concert bookers — still don't realize the danger of the virus or the jeopardy we all face. To wit, in recent weeks I've had to turn down requests to perform this winter and later in 2021 at senior sites, life care villages, public libraries and cultural centers. To my dismay, not one of the hosts identified — until I asked — health and safety measures they'd institute for the audience, performer or facility staff at these concerts.
Lest it go unsaid, Vintage Music Concerts work best — make people happy and feed their hearts — when they are performed in front of live audiences as I sing love songs and tell tall tales, then look 'em in the eye and see the smiles. Maybe you haven't heard, but singing to cameras in empty auditoriums and chapels or zooming songs to a laptop screen are not concerts.
So, any rescheduled dates made at this time would be tentative at best. It's even possible such events may be delayed further if Covid-19 — even with vaccines — continues to endanger people.
We’ll be glad to let you know when it's safe to hold a Vintage Music Concert at a public library, senior site, community center, church or club. Lest it go unsaid, I look forward to singing and playing for folks with great joy. And lots of smiles.
Until then, take care.
Ken .
* https://covidtracking.com/data/long-term-care
www.nytimes.com/2020/12/31/opinion/sunday/covid-nursing-homes.html?searchResultPosition=1
