MOSES LAKE — From behind a plastic sheet, under a canopy set back off a path in McCosh Park, musician Tom Taylor delivered Moses Lake Farmers Market’s first musical performance of the year Saturday.

After taking precautions, Moses Lake Farmers Market was ready to welcome its first musical guest.

Taylor’s performance was perhaps his most unusual one as patrons and passersby watched his silhouette through the plastic as his songs rang out to the surrounding booths.

Making the trip from Boise, Idaho, Taylor said he unfortunately hasn’t been very busy performing recently, given the restrictions on performances in both his home state and Washington.

Taylor said Idaho didn’t remain in Phase 3 of its reopening process for long before reverting back to Phase 2. That meant that many of his gigs had been canceled, put back on and then quickly canceled again.

“The reason it worked there today is because they put the tent way back, and then I set it back more,” Taylor said. “We had a plastic sheet, and then I had a fan blowing everything backwards. And then I wore a mask everywhere around it. I was, and so were they, being really cautious of all of it.”

It was Taylor’s fourth performance at Moses Lake Farmers Market after first being contacted about the event by the previous organizers.

He said the reception from market patrons on Saturday was great.

Dawn Leslie, manager of Moses Lake Farmers Market, said visitors seemed really excited to hear a familiar voice through the market.

“Patrons were able to use the larger, grassy spaces on either side of the path to enjoy Tom’s art,” Leslie said. “I saw a few patrons rubberneck (when they heard him), one saying, is that Tom? It made my heart smile.”

While he was excited to get back to performing, Taylor wonders how long the opportunity will last.

“It’s going to be tough,” Taylor said. “I’m sure I’m going to be stopped before I even start going again. It was nice to do this one show. Fortunately, I’m making money doing other things back home, and then I did get unemployment as a musician.” Taylor said he had originally been slated to perform in Walla Walla on Saturday night after his first show, but that venue had to cancel.

While he feels perfectly fine health-wise, Taylor said he has tried to remain on the side of caution concerning the coronavirus.

“They say you can be a carrier without even knowing,” Taylor said. “So I pretended as if I have it even if I don’t. I’ve been really cautious, and I don’t want to put anyone at risk.”

Taylor said the break from performing has given him the opportunity to work on some new original music, adding that he’s working on getting another CD out soon. Moving forward, he said he has considered talking with state representatives in Idaho to see if they can devise a plan that will allow musicians to continue to perform while following all the social distancing guidelines.

Making changes such as surrounding the stage in police tape, putting up sneeze guards and playing in more open, outdoor venues are some of the ways Taylor suggested musicians could find safe ways to keep playing.

With a plan like this in place, Taylor said he hopes then everyone would be ready to put it into action so performers can keep working.

“I think it can work, and work safely,” Taylor said. “But I know a lot of musicians would take advantage of that. Some people could not pay attention to all of it, and get call on it. And then that’s held against all musicians as being unsafe.”

Moses Lake Farmers Market has scheduled Curtis Nettles as its musical performer this weekend.