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COVID PUSHES FRAGILE MUSICIANS TO THE BRINK

AS THE PATH OF COVID VEERS OFF COURSE, CAN AN INTERNATIONAL TOURING BAND MAKE
THE RIGHT TURN?

New York blues-rock singer/songwriter Sari Schorr (www.sarischorr.com) — described by

RawRamp Magazine as “one of the best
contemporary blues-rock singers in the
world” — is eagerly preparing for her 2021
autumn tour, which features shows across
Europe, including the UK, Austria,
Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway,
and The Netherlands.

“I’ve spent much of the last 18 months in
isolation. I struggle with depression and
obsessive thinking. Being grounded from
touring has been a persistent stressor.”
says Sari Schorr.

Touring musicians and their crews have
been hit hard during the pandemic, and continue even now as mitigation measures are lifted. There
are still hurdles, obstacles, and pitfalls aplenty. Sari Schorr has faced such stumbling blocks first-
hand and can give honest insights into the challenges facing an international touring band.

Sari laments, “It feels like a frantic game of Whack-A-Mole as Covid restrictions and quarantine
mandates pop up every day. My tour diary has been

revised so many times Neil Young would say, ‘the devil
fools with the best-laid plans.’”

“Every change in the schedule wreaks havoc with our
tour,” Sari points out. “Mandatory quarantines for 5 or
10 days are a financial hit we can’t afford. As a result,
we’ve just had to cancel shows in The Netherlands and

Switzerland. We love touring the UK, but we depend on
the income from mainland Europe and losing shows puts
the entire tour in jeopardy.”

Sari sighs, “As restrictions ease throughout Europe, last-
minute bookings are coming in, but we’re struggling to
find affordable flights and accommodations at short

notice. An international tour can take six months of
planning, but operating under the pandemic affords
bands little more than a few weeks of hasty preparation.
The short lead-time also presents a financial risk since
proper promotion is curbed. Besides, we fear audiences
may not yet return to live music in pre-covid numbers.”

Sari says, “The complications don’t stop there. Rules on
mask-wearing, proof of double-vaccination, and/or COVID-negative tests vary from venue to venue
across the entire tour. There is so much confusion and uncertainty, you can’t escape the anxiety.”