I just got off a Zoom meeting of my local performing group, which in better times does musical theater.  One member of the Board has been monitoring  state-wide discussion of requirements for performing in NY State with reference to schools as well as amateur community activity.

He reported that the minimum for singers and for wind instrument players outdoors is to have each individual in the middle of a square 10 feet on a side.  String, and I presume percussion, players could be closer together because they are not blowing into their instruments. I believe 6 feet on a side was mentioned for them.

Interior performance is currently out of the question.

For inside rehearsals they are talking about good ventilation, which was not defined in my meeting, with 15 minutes of rehearsal followed by a break to let the room air be refreshed, followed by another 15 minutes of rehearsal. I suspect we are talking about 15 minutes or more for room air clearance, and also that most rehearsal spaces are not adequately ventilated in the first place.

Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com

Hi All,

I have a non-chemical safety question for you.  This is a talkative bunch with many opinions on many subjects, so I figured it’s okay to be off topic.  I am particularly interested in your opinion if you are at an institution in MA.  Is your institution permitting your music/theater folks to do indoor singing or playing of wind instruments for the Fall?  Curious of your or your colleagues opinions on this.  Mine is that this is currently not permitted under theatre and performance sector specific MA reopening guidelines (even though those technically apply to only performances and not classes).  I think it’s splitting hairs to say it’s different if they are in front of an audience or not.  What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Kristi

Kristi Ohr, Ph.D.  (pronouns: she/her)
Chemical Safety Services Manager

Environmental Health and Safety
UMass Amherst
40 Campus Center Way
Draper Hall
Amherst, MA 01003
Office: 413-545-5117

Cell: 413-800-4408

kohr**At_Symbol_Here**ehs.umass.edu

www.ehs.umass.edu

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