THE PANDEMIC HAS CERTAINLY
BEEN TOUGH ON MUSICIANS WHO
HAVE FEWER PLACES TO FARM.
JOHN RAMIS REPORTS,
SOMETHING HAPPENED AT ALDEN GAIT
PARK THAT HAS SOME ASKING WHERE
HAS SAN FRANCISCO'S SPIRIT GONE?
Reporter: FROM THE
BAREKNUCKLE DAYS OF THE BARBARY
COAST TO THE FREEWHEELING
PSYCHEDELIC 60s, SAN FRANCISCO
IS A TOWN THAT HAS NEVER PLAYED
IT SAFE.
BUT THERE ARE THOSE IN THE ARTS
COMMUNITY WHO SAY THAT IS
CHANGING, AND IT MAY BE LOSING
ITS SOUL AS A RESULT.
STEVE SCHULTZ IS A PROFESSIONAL
JAZZ PIANIST IN SAN FRANCISCO
WHO OUTFITTED A VAN WITH A
PIANO ON WHEELS TO FULFILL A
DREAM OF PLAYING IN OUTDOOR
SETTINGS ACROSS AMERICA.
BUT WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THE
ROAD TRIP ENDED.
AND SHOULTZ PARKED THE VAN.
I FELT IT IMPORTANT TO STAY
IN THE COMMUNITY AND PLAY FOR
PEOPLE IN THE PARK.
Reporter: SHOWS BEGAN
HOLDING SMALL CONCERTS IN THE
GOLDEN GATE PANHANDLE, AND
SOMETIMES HE BROUGHT ALONG A
FEW FRIENDS TO ENTERTAIN SMALL
GROUPS OF SOCIALLY DISTANCED
PARK GOERS.
THEY WERE REALLY LISTENING
WHICH IS A TREAT AS A MUSICIAN
TO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ABLE TO
PERFORM FOR PEOPLE THAT IS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
Reporter: ON FRIDAY, THE
MUSIC ENDED WHEN A GROUP OF
PARK RANGERS DEMANDED THEY STOP
PLAYING BECAUSE SHOULTZ DIDN'T
HAVE A PERMIT.
THE AUDIENCE DIDN'T APPRECIATE
THE OFFICERS ATTEMPT TO
MAINTAIN ORDER.
WE CAN POLICE OURSELVES,
PEOPLE ARE WEARING A MASK, WE
ARE SPACED OUT IN THIS BIG PARK
AS MUCH AS WE CAN BE.
AND I DIDN'T SEE AN ISSUE
WHATSOEVER.
Reporter: SHOULTZ HAS ALSO
ALWAYS LOVED HIS CITIES LIVE
AND LET LIVE ATTITUDE AND
LATELY HAS BEEN SHOCKED TO SEE
HOW MUCH FREER IT HAS FELT TO
PLAY IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A LOT MORE
TIGHT GRIP THAN ANYWHERE ELSE
IN THE COUNTRY, WHEN IT HAS
SUCH A SPIRIT OF, IN FACT WE
HAVE PARK RANGERS AIRPORT
CRUISING BY RIGHT NOW CHECKING
OUT WHAT IS GOING ON.
Reporter: AT THAT POINT A
RANGER CIRCLED AROUND US
DEMANDED TO KNOW WHAT TV
STATION I WORKED FOR, AND THEN
DROVE HIS VEHICLE OFF TO HIDE
BEHIND A TREE.
A FEW MINUTES LATER HE TOLD A
PAIR OF WOMEN THEY COULDN'T USE
WORKOUT WEIGHTS WITHOUT A
PERMIT.
IT IS SILLY, AND SAD, AND
DISHEARTENING.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO
LAUGH, CRY, OR KEEP MAKING
MUSIC WHICH IS WHAT WE TRY TO
DO.
Reporter: THEY ARE TRYING TO
GET A PETITION TO ALLOW SMALL
OUTDOOR CONCERTS TO PROTECT
HEALTH WHILE UPLIFTING SPIRIT.
