After nearly four months of quarantine, shutdowns, lockdowns, social distancing, and masks, many parts of the United States are beginning to reopen! This means new opportunities for gigs are starting to pick up.
In the excitement and zeal to get back to work, you’ll want to make sure that you and your clients are protected. It’s important that each event is not only in compliance with local guidelines but safe for everyone involved.
Know your local guidelines
Before re-opening your business and returning to your gigs, check on your local and state guidelines for responding to COVID-19. Different cities and counties often mandate different practices, so if you are traveling even a few miles, make sure you are up-to-date with local policies. These often change weekly as the virus spreads or is contained, so stay aware.
If your region is opening in phases, verify which phase your event is in and follow those guidelines. Some clients may not be familiar with local mandates and will need your help. Your state’s Department of Health website will have regular updates to keep you informed.
Consider your clients’ comfort level when booking new gigs. Regardless of lighter restrictions in some regions, the event planner may not be comfortable with them. Use your outstanding customer service skills and work to make their event a success, even if it means a little extra precaution on your part.
While different regions are re-opening at various paces, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) still encourages basic habits and practices to keep everyone safe.
Allow for social distancing
Until March of 2020, most of us weren’t familiar with the concept of social distancing. Now, we’re all experts. This simple, yet highly-effective, practice can prevent the spread of viruses and keep everyone healthy. Social distancing works most effectively when event-goers maintain a distance of 6 feet (or the width of an average-sized car) or more.
In the discussion and negotiation process before the gig, be clear with your event planner or client about how social distancing will be maintained. This is critical to avoid any confusion or awkwardness at the event.
Depending on your service, social distancing could create issues. Musicians performing at parties or venues need to make sure they have ample space. Other services, such as face painters or make-up artists have tougher obstacles. We’ll cover those as we go forward.
Develop sanitizing protocols
The CDC encourages a few basic tips for hygiene and sanitation, specifically washing your hands and disinfecting surfaces. Hopefully, we all learned to wash our hands in grade school, but take a few extra seconds, use soap and warm water, and sing the Jeopardy theme or the chorus to Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” to keep clean.
For musicians, DJs, and anyone using sound equipment or other touchable surfaces, keep disinfectant wipes on hand. At every break, take a second to wipe everything down, including microphones or keyboards.
Service providers or performers whose service requires close contact and proximity should make a quality mask and gloves non-negotiable. For example, face painters, makeup and hair artists, henna artists, balloon twisters, bartenders, caterers, waitstaff, and others need these extra protections.
This article from Jestpaint gives some great practical tips on protecting yourself, including:
- Wear a mask and/or face shield to prevent transmission.
- Insist that anyone receiving your service be symptom-free, including fever or coughs. (You can even require a waiver for anyone you come into contact with.)
- Change your gloves after each client.
- Don’t use a line, but rather a number system so party-goers don’t stand clustered in one area.
- Keep your equipment away from others and clean and disinfect regularly.
- Sanitize everything after the event. Here’s a list of EPA-approved disinfectants.
Have a clear policy on masks
Mask usage has become a bit of a cultural flashpoint, but don’t be afraid to take steps to protect you and your business. If you are laxer in your view of masks, make a commitment to honor the wishes and requests of your client. The most important thing is to make sure you and the event host are on the same page about mask expectations for you and those in attendance.
Many states now require mask usage due to new peaks in the virus cases. Make sure to clarify what your region requires and encourages.
Pro tip: Cloth masks are a cheap way to sell some merch! Branded masks are more fun than plain masks often found in stores. Sites like Swag.com can get your brand onto masks for your fans to wear!
Consider digital tips
Let’s be honest, paper money is filthy. Cut back on the extra chance of germs by choosing plastic over paper. Or consider touchless tips by using digital options instead.
Apps like Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal offer you the means to receive tips at the event without the old tip jar. Put a card out with your “Cashtag” or Venmo handle and invite people to show their appreciation digitally. As always, make sure your client knows you’ll be soliciting tips beyond their cost for your services.
We’re all ready to get back to work and figure out what the next round of normal looks like. Let’s work together to stay safe and healthy and move beyond this pandemic. Taking time to establish safe habits and healthy practices will get us there sooner. 💙
Loves music, reading, and binge-watching TV and eating pizza with his wife. Has three amazing kids. Believes that life is about questions, not answers.
Singers (such as myself) have a special concern. Our spit will go further due to the force of our exhale when singing and quantity of what comes out of your mouth – more so then a typical conversation. You can make an inexpensive “Mic Shield” by cutting an “X” in the center of a flat plastic face shield, and push your mic body thru it. This works whether it is hand held, or stand mounted, or both. You will also be able to be seen by your audience, and also see them! Since it is close up to your mouth, it should capture all your ejectable breath.
I am a mentalist and have been working hard on writing a new show where I can still social distance. Mine is an audience participation show so it was pretty tough and some of my favorite pieces had to be removed but I still came up with a great show. Now it’s just getting booked.
As a vocalist/musician – I have started promoting different types of services, like “Socially Distanced” singing telegrams. For safety, no more door knocking! I set up outside, with plenty of distance between the recipient and I. Many of these come in at the last minute. My quotes include health safety information – and NOT TO SIGN if they/recipient/party members are sick, been exposed to Covid19. Most of these gigs are solo and acoustic – quick set up. I don’t accept help to set up – so nobody but me is touching my gear. Masks hinder my singing – but I ask the recipients wear them and make sure I am way greater than 6′ distance. I recently invested in face shields that do not hinder my singing, but offer more protection for my clients and their loved ones. Any small “socially distanced” event works for me. In close quarters or rare indoor occasions, I use the shield as a measure of safety while still maintaining singing availability. I also offer virtual services. Still getting booked! This week, I did a curbside luncheon – where people waited in a parking lot in their cars (or outside by them with masks on). When lunch was ready, the cars drove through to pick up their lunch and take it home. They were thrilled to have entertainment while waiting, distance was maintained, everyone wore masks (except me while singing – but I was set up really far away in the parking lot shade with mic & amps to project outdoor sound).
Last week’s gig was run SO well by my organizers… The audience waited out side until the last minute. The chairs were staggered around a large room. My microphone was disinfected for me and I was the only one using it. At the end of the first show, the audience left by a second door. The organizers had volunteers disinfecting the bathrooms and the chairs. A half hour had been scheduled in for that. The second audience followed the same protocol as the first group. The only problem I had with my act was having faith that people were actually laughing at my jokes behind their masks!
We are going to bring extra music stands, and place them 6 feet around us with a velvet ribbon, just to reinforce the social distancing.
I am seeking any help and suggestions for the challenges Corvid19 presents to Santa Claus. Typically I have the children sit on Santa’s lap and hand out candy canes. Have you or others come up with any cures or suggestions to solve these problems?
I am open to any suggestions and look forward to receiving them.
The Littlest Santa
Steve Weston
Hi Santa Steve, that’s certainly something to consider as the holiday season is approaching. It’s tough to know where our country will stand at that time, but let’s assume things will be close to how they are now. If so, we would suggest that Santas begin offering virtual visits to families so they can still have that one-on-one experience, but in a safer manner. If you do perform in person, it’s probably a good idea to make your entrance with some space between you and the family. After Santa makes his grand entrance, maybe he can give a short explanation about why he’s wearing a mask, and then put on a cheerful, Christmas-themed mask. Passing out candy canes is probably still okay to do, but maybe the children stand next to Santa instead of sitting on his lap. The most important thing is to communicate with your clients and discuss expectations on both sides. You don’t want to assume a family is practicing social distancing when they aren’t or they’re assuming you’re not wearing a mask when you are, etc. It’s certainly a strange time to try and navigate, but you might speak with other Santas and see how they plan to handle events, too. I hope this helps a little and don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help with anything else! Email: help@gigsalad.com, Phone: 417-889-9909
Steve, Mrs Claus and my self have been doing Santa for 17 years now and we are canceling most of our already booked events for 2020. We are not big fans of all the misinformation about the virus but can not, (with clear consciences,) submit our clients to what we believe Santa is all about. If The jolly old elf comes in wearing a mask it will take away from the relationship the youngsters have with Santa, but WE can not see wearing a mask, shield, or any other barrier isolating the interaction between us and our families . We have seen many their children grow up and now are Santa and Mrs Claus to their grandchildren. We truly hope the events of the past year make us better at what we do, but until there is a proof positive scenario and a fact based deterrent we may well opt out at least for this season.,