City staff outlines rules for reopening live performances: masking, distancing and festival limits explained
April 06, 2021 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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Ben Van Houten of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development briefed the commission on federal, state and local reopening opportunities and then walked commissioners through health‑based operational guidance for live performances.
Van Houten described the distinctions between activities (outdoor dining versus outdoor festivals) and summarized the key health rules. "Vocalists, so singers and speakers may perform with or without facial coverings outside," he said, adding that masked performers must maintain 6 feet of physical distance from other performers while unmasked vocalists or wind musicians must maintain 12 feet. For audience distance, Van Houten said audience members are generally expected to be 12 feet from performers, though outdoor dining contexts allow 6 feet where performers are masked and using instrument covers.
He also covered wind instruments: a musician using an instrument cover and wearing a mask when not playing can operate under 6‑foot distancing; unmasked wind players must keep 12 feet from other performers, and brass players were asked to collect and dispose of condensate safely. For outdoor festivals, Van Houten noted a 50‑person seated maximum under the state guidance with required health-and-safety plans to be submitted to the Department of Public Health five business days before events.
Commissioners asked for the evidence base behind the wind‑instrument and vocalist rules and whether acrylic barriers could substitute for distancing. Van Houten said much of the guidance stems from state and local Department of Public Health determinations and offered to escalate requests for more detailed evidence from health teams. Commissioners raised practical concerns for small venues about achieving 12 feet of distance, enforcing outdoor festival caps in public spaces, and how vaccination progress or tier changes may alter rules.
Van Houten concluded that the department will continue to support businesses as rules evolve and offered to follow up with additional operational detail for commissioners and operators.
Van Houten described the distinctions between activities (outdoor dining versus outdoor festivals) and summarized the key health rules. "Vocalists, so singers and speakers may perform with or without facial coverings outside," he said, adding that masked performers must maintain 6 feet of physical distance from other performers while unmasked vocalists or wind musicians must maintain 12 feet. For audience distance, Van Houten said audience members are generally expected to be 12 feet from performers, though outdoor dining contexts allow 6 feet where performers are masked and using instrument covers.
He also covered wind instruments: a musician using an instrument cover and wearing a mask when not playing can operate under 6‑foot distancing; unmasked wind players must keep 12 feet from other performers, and brass players were asked to collect and dispose of condensate safely. For outdoor festivals, Van Houten noted a 50‑person seated maximum under the state guidance with required health-and-safety plans to be submitted to the Department of Public Health five business days before events.
Commissioners asked for the evidence base behind the wind‑instrument and vocalist rules and whether acrylic barriers could substitute for distancing. Van Houten said much of the guidance stems from state and local Department of Public Health determinations and offered to escalate requests for more detailed evidence from health teams. Commissioners raised practical concerns for small venues about achieving 12 feet of distance, enforcing outdoor festival caps in public spaces, and how vaccination progress or tier changes may alter rules.
Van Houten concluded that the department will continue to support businesses as rules evolve and offered to follow up with additional operational detail for commissioners and operators.
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