Classical music

If they are unemployed they at least get the extended benefits on that front...and depending on the state those groups can be funded by tax dollars.   New York taxes have a dedicated amount set aside for arts and entertainment.

Honestly, most actors, musicians, dancers (even on Broadway) dont make very much.   Maybe the top violinist makes a good salary...but the Tuba player is probably making crumbs.

I had an old girlfriend who sang in the Chicago symphony choir.    She was 1 of a thousand people selected to be in that role...and she made minimum wage.     Being an NFL Cheerleader or Vegas Performer falls into that same category.   People do those jobs because of their passion for the craft - not for the money.

I'm confident that we're not supposed to concern ourselves with the economic ramifications of Covid lockdown policies.  Those who talk about such economic issues only care about money, and there should only be a concern for the safety of Americans.

Discussing the ramifications of unemmployment is evil.

Widespread and uncontrolled sickness and death are extremely expensive. The economy is adversely affected when people sicken and die.

You, with your pro-death stance, have never understood this.

Kevin, I have never been pro-death and you know it.  Is your concern about your inability to listen to your music of choice, or are you worried about the cello player starving?

Both. I can listen to any of tens of thousands of recordings. But a live symphony performance is a unique experience, and IMHO one of the greatest.

If performers are forced to leave the profession because of economic conditions, not all of them will be able or willing to reassemble when conditions improve. A symphony orchestra, like a sports team, is more than the sum of its parts. The longer they stay apart, the less likely they'll be able to regain their cohesion.

Not exactly what I'm talking about per se, but I have a friend who was a massage therapist before she had to shut down her practice. She went to work shunting around cases of liquor at BevMo--until she broke her elbow when a case of whiskey fell on her. No permanent damage--but what if she had been seriously and permanently hurt? As it is, she won't be able to use her left arm for two months. There's societal damage when skilled professionals are forced into low-paid shit work.

And just to be clear, I am NOT saying that the leave-everything-open-let everyone-die approach is or ever was correct. I support compensating people who are out of work through no fault of their own.