Last Outdoor Show

CORI AND I (HartLyss) play our final outdoor show of the year this Saturday at Tipsy Bricks in Hannibal. We've done three shows there this summer and we always have a blast with our Hannibal crew. Lisa, the bar owner, is very good to us and we always look forward to crossing the river and hanging out by the levee. Bricks has a very nice wraparound porch so there's room to stretch and stay socially distant. The weather forecast keeps getting better and it may cool down a bit at night, but not enough to keep us from hooting and hollering.

Soon fall will roll into winter, and venues and bands are faced with some tough choices. We are seeing more Quincy places open up for live music, and I have tentatively booked a few shows starting next month for indoor venues. But the news this week concerning the spread of COVID-19 in our area isn't good - the positivity rate in Adams County is at 10 percent and Marion County (Hannibal, Palmyra) is at a staggering 15 percent right now, so no way are we playing indoors for the next few weeks.

I am not afraid of COVID-19. I just don't want to get it. So much is unknown about the virus and I'd rather not find out in person how it may or may not mess with me. Both Sheryl and I have said this a million times already but Sheryl has Type 1 Diabetes and has no wiggle room here - if she gets it she will get very sick and that means I'm in charge at the store, which means there is no store. If she has to stay home, there can't be guitar lessons. It's a domino effect that hurts all of us, and could kill her.

Second String Music requires masks and if I do go out (grocery store, etc.) I always wear a mask. I am doing in person guitar lessons but we are 6-8 feet apart and I will wear a mask during lessons if the students feels more comfortable. So we limit exposure as much as possible while still keeping the business open. We feel relatively safe. 

Who knows? In another month things may be better and we may try to play an indoor show or two. But we won't take unnecessary risks and we urge everybody to be safe.