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Seattle comes together to celebrate people on the front lines in #MakeAJoyfulNoise

by 102 Comments

Let’s make some noise Seattle! Seattle’s cultural community in
association with the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (City of Seattle) encourages residents to participate in a civic wide celebration of people on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Here’s a Twitter Moment, collecting some of the noise you all made on March 26, 2020.

Starting 8 p.m. sharp Thursday evening, we’re asking Seattleites to join a movement that began in European countries, opening our windows, standing on our balconies, from our front yards, backyards and or anywhere you can to make a joyful noise letting the healthcare and front line workers know how much we appreciate them. People can clap their hands, raise their voices, bang some pots and pans to show solidarity and let the front line know how much they are appreciated.

The message is simple #MakeAJoyfulNoise asks us to:

  • Applaud our healthcare workers
  • Celebrate those on the front lines
  • Make a joyful noise at 8 p.m. any night you choose for as long as you want

We are doing this to celebrate the front lines, which include grocery store workers, supply chain specialists, janitors, Fire, Police, nurses and doctors and health care workers, sanitary workers, and so many more. We’d also like to bring some cheer to these dreary days in Seattle.

So please join us and plant a little joy in everyone’s life this spring. Take a picture, make a video and post #MakeAJoyfulNoise as well as #SeattleTogether

Photos by Tim Durkan (used with permission)
Graphic and logo by Billie WildrickRally of Support by Seattle’s Cultural Community organized by Mark Siano

Comments

  1. Thank you for organizing! That was inspiring! Awesome to hear the support ringing through the streets. We’re with you front line workers!

  2. I feel bad for the children of the people complaining in this thread.

    As one of the ER docs at Harborview and a parent myself, I can’t imagine how 20 minutes of music at 8pm is such a catastrophic event.

    First world problems and someday you and your children will get perspective.

    We will keep putting ourselves at risk for you. And no, I’m not worried about my sleep schedule.

  3. Thank you thank you all the doctors, nurses and all the medical professionals ❤️ Want to do this everyday 🙏🏽 @padmarajswati

  4. The joyful noise lasted one minute at my condo complex. It successfully captured the attention of four residents who work in healthcare who felt appreciated. Mission accomplished. The event was not disruptive. Good job Mark.

  5. Just came in from my deck. We don’t live so close that it was any kind of problem… not disruptive to anyone inside I bet. Just a nice bit of sound showing there were others who felt appreciative and connections do matter.

  9. As a emergency department healthcare provider, I really appreciate the sentiment as well as the thoughtfulness of scheduling after we get off shift. Disregard the complainers, there will always be those trying to ruin a good thing! Thank you for your support and for pulling the community together! #makeajoyfulnoise #familyofhethcareworkers #covidsgoimgdown

  10. Tonight at 8:00 I heard clapping, whistling, and a lot of noise outside and had no idea what it was. I found the planned timing of the event on Nextdoor and love the idea in applauding those who are on the front lines! Healthcare, grocery, pharmacy, hardware, gas stations etc.

  11. I tolally agree with Ross Wells. I’m an ICU nurse in Seattle and god forbid you or your family members end up with me as your nurse but I can tell you I will do everything I can to keep you alive and pray to god I don’t take anything home to my family. What more do you want from me.

  12. I was born in Seattle and I am ashamed of my community. Seattleites! You and your kids do not have to get up in the morning to do anything. This is life and death for everybody on Earth. We’re dying by the thousands and the future is uncertain. Your kids will be fine!! Stop bitching and honking at each other. For once, please try to stop being selfish assholes. People on the front lines are putting their lives on the line and are dying to save others. And you’re worried about your precious routines and beddy time?! Please shut up and learn to be a community again like you used to be, Seattle. Dissapointed but not surprised.

  13. We had a great turnout on Harold Place & Ivanhoe… we could hear the cacophony of noise! Brough tears to my eyes!

  14. Thanks, Mark, for taking this effort to a higher level. We’ve been hooting it up in Central Seattle for the last week. And through Nextdoor and school Facebook pages, we’ve spread the word to folks in Madrona, Leschi, Madison Park, Montlake, Cherry Hill, Stevens/Miller Park, Homer/Harris Park and Washington Park. Some from Europe tell us that people in Paris, Belgium, and Valencia (Spain) are all chiming in at 8pm in their respective time zones. Let Seattle be the first city to show this kind of communal spirit!

  16. Doctors and nurses are dying. They are going to work knowing they are putting their lives on the line. And you entitled, self-centered, whiny jerks are complaining about Seattle community members coming together in solidarity to cheer these front line workers on for just a “few minutes?” SHAME on anyone for leaving ANY negative comments here. Seattle freeze is real. On my behalf, I thank each and every person on the front line for showing up and doing their jobs despite the great risks! You ARE appreciated. And I partook in the massive roars of cheering, pan clamoring, clapping and screaming in my neighborhood in West Seattle. Thank you!!!

  17. Let’s work together, people. The angry retorts don’t need to be angry. Change the time but understand some people will be impacted one night – hopefully one night per week. Talked to a friend in Vancouver, BC, and it is spreading through the city.

  18. It was wonderful to see and hear neighbors come together to thank those who are taking such great risks for strangers. I would love to see this become a nightly occurrence – the heroes among us deserve that and so much more!

  19. This was fun and an inspiration, we got fired up for our health care workers in North Lake Union! Thanks to you all for risking your lives to take care of the tragic victims of this terrible virus. Stay strong and know that we fully support you and are very grateful for your hard work and dedication.

  22. As a healthcare provider not on the hospital front lines (at least, not yet), I wholeheartedly applaud a community-wide display of appreciation for those in the medical community who are. I would like the shout-outs and clamoring to specifically include my colleagues in Public Health, working overtime to help provide accurate and up-to-date information, provide wrap-around services for the people in our community affected by or vulnerable to this pandemic, and help stop the spread of this virus. And to the many researchers right here in Seattle doing the same!

  24. Thank you, Queen Anne neighbors! I didn’t know this was going to happen. What a nice surprise! Really felt the love!

  25. I’m not from Seattle, but I can hear in my mind the beautiful noise coming from your city as each of you came together to support those on the front line. You are the people who have the heart and soul of kindness, appreciation, and love when it matters most. Uplifting!

  26. Was great tonight! Huge thanks to everyone keeping the basics going & keeping us alive. We’re at the bottom of a hill and could hear the people all over up the hill echoing around us. Beautiful gratitude, Seattle. We’re going out every night at 8pm. Hope to hear you too. #MakeAJoyfulNoise

  27. Just got in from my 11 hours working as a Dialysis Dietitian. Our patients are scared of getting exposed by people not distancing, and have no option but to treat three days a week, and my counseling still goes on with them.
    I didn’t see this until Mark Siano posted an email as did Seattle Public Theater, which helped me understand the Insta posting by my neighbor clapping on his front porch (thanks Steve) and acknowledging the frontline workers.
    We put our lives at risk not being at home, thanks for the acknowledgment!

  28. I heard some noise out here in Mukilteo but didn’t connect… I thought it was on the TV downstairs. I hope people do this again tomorrow so we can participate! It went on for quite a while.

  29. Sad to see some pushback for this great idea to show support for those who are TRULY sacrificing to fight this virus!!
    People who are complaining about a short distribution for their or their kid’s bedtime etc. for one day clearly don’t get it. :-/
    Thank you isn’t enough for those on the front lines!

  30. Can we have this every evening..! It was very motivating specially in this tough time.. it felt like we are all fighting together with our medical staffs and will surely win.. and to all the people with negative comments, if you are not interested then better shut down your homes and windows and sleep! Many homes have kids like yours and I am sure kids would love this more than adults in this monotonous self isolation.. please do it on a daily basis.. a motivation can change a lot in the fighting spirit of people and can definitely bring a good change😇😊

  31. Yes yes yes to every night!!! We are so grateful to everyone contributing in a positive way during this highly stressful and unusual time. It is wonderful to have a way to express it! Very therapeutic ❣️🌆

  32. Thanks for organizing this. We had some reluctant teenagers who participated. And ended up having fun! Nice to hear the noise around the neighborhood

  33. I have 2 front line, part-time jobs and was working last night. My daughter-in-law is a nurse at Swedish Edmonds. While I was working I didn’t hear a peep from anyone on the Education Hill neighborhood in Redmond. This really disappoints me to no end!

    This morning my aunt (in Vancouver B.C.) posted videos of their nightly participation, so I checked out what happened in Seattle. Those who live in high rises were able to make the most noise and it literally gave me goosebumps. Who’d have thunk such a racket would demonstrate such love? Boy oh boy people, did I ever feel the love!

    I’m with those who want to make this event happen daily. For, don’t we think of these folks and appreciate their practices and sacrifices on a daily basis?

    Now, let’s see if the suburbs will get on-board and give a shout out too.

  34. Morale is very important. Acknowledgement, thanks, praise – all are due to workers. And especially in times of need and stress. However I can’t help but thinking this is more about the public “feel good” and less so to those workers. Glad if the workers appreciate it and the public wants to do this now.

    Meanwhile STOP the fireworks for all the usual reasons.

  35. How annoying! Really, if you want to show your appreciation for healthcare workers, make them a card, buy them a cup of coffee, or fly a banner from your window. This is not New Years Eve. Just another excuse for nutty Seattleites to show how individual they can be while being a collective nuisance. Just stay in your homes, shut the windows, and listen to NPR until this is all over.

  36. Please continue this.

    Yes, lighten up folks. This makes me sick to my stomach to read the negative comments about this (I’m a fellow parent as well). Continue the community involvement and connection throughout this experience we’re going through together. Kudos.

  37. This was so beautiful and so touching! As a hospital worker it made me weep. What a wonderful way to be communal in quarantine

  38. Got 2 tiny kids at home. Risk my health and theirs every time I go to the ER. I generally get no thanks from patients or administrators- to finally be recognized after over a decade of commitment to the sick and wounded, is wonderful. They are starting to do this here in KS. Keep up the good work, everyone. This makes us feel good about the huge risk we take daily to help others. Don’t find any noise to be annoying. Would take a card also 🙂

  39. Petz, This started in Europe….it’s not some “nutty Seattlite thing”. I think it’s wonderful! I mean, why not? You can still do cards, coffee, etc.

  40. Let’s do this at least every Thursday at 8pm until this virus is gone! Or even more often.

  41. Thank you thank you all the doctors, nurses, all the medical professionals and everyone in frontline. It was just us in our community but we still participated including my 16 month old. #MakeAJoyfulNoise

  42. This was so beautiful last night. I am told it’s meant to happen every night for 1 minute at 8 pm. Can you confirm?

  43. A few of us in Kansas City, MO, are doing this… we hate to think, though, we wake up a sleeping healthcare worker after a 10, 12, 14 or 16 hour day. 🤔🙃🙂

  45. I can see both sides. I’m a health care worker, and I really do appreciate all of the love coming our way during this crisis.

    I also worked night shift for years. I am one of those lucky people who could sleep through anything, but many of my co-workers were light sleepers who suffered horribly when their sleep got interrupted and they often couldn’t get back to sleep.

    So I don’t know where I stand. I am definitely grateful for the sentiment, and think it builds a sense of community and relieves stress. For the people who can engage in it. Some of the people who are working, may not feel the same way.

    Oh, and Ross? I don’t know where you are during the Blue Angels and 4th of July, (or the whole damn week after it, before it, not to mention New Years, football games, etc.) but people complain! If it were ONLY those days, fine, I could strategize. But live with a noise phobic dog, or a person, often a Veteran, with PTSD, and you would understand.

  46. I love this idea & send both my thanks and cheers to all our brave & tireless front line, and support workers!
    It’d be nice to bring attention to — the Joyful Noise Making taking place from one’s own residence.
    The last three night’s there’s been a group of disturbing noise makers walking down the streets yelling and shouting. I can’t see them from my vantage point. They’re likely frustrated youth letting off some steam. But it’s disturbing to hear the angst-ridden yelling from this group of people as they approach, and continue on parading through the streets, when most of us are staying-in-place.

    May sane and calm heads prevail throughout, neighbors! Stay safe. And be well friends.

  47. I think that this was really sweet and for all the people who think this was crazy and rude, would you rather have us do NOTHING??? I send cards to the hospitals in Seattle and My aunt works in healthcare, and all the screaming, she said she felt so happy and appreciated. I mean, I understand if you don’t think this is enough, because I think it should happen every week at 8pm ( or every day!). Please stop the negative comments they make me sad and disappointed anybody would even say that stuff. WE LOVE YOU HEALTHCARE WORKERS!❤️

  48. This is a nice sentiment, but it lacks forethought. People work at all different hours and this could massively disrupt people’s schedule if they are light sleepers. I’d hate to think how many off-hour health care workers are being woken by this when trying to sleep after a long shift.

    There’s plenty of ways that support could have been shown without just causing a lot of noise. Furthermore for people who didn’t know it was happening – like us – our neighbors just appeared incredibly rude, blasting music from their deck.

    Tangible methods of support make way more sense to me and loud noise does nothing for them. Petition congress to raise wages, buy your neighboring health care workers gift cards/gifts, pay for their parking, start a donation to a group of workers, order delivery for hospitals. All of these are things that actually do something for the health care workers rather than just saying “good job.”

  49. STFU and what a genuinely stupid idea. Screaming your head off for 15-20 minutes straight every single night was what you came up with to honor dying healthcare workers?! GTFOH. If you’re serious- why couldn’t you have picked ONE single night to show your idiotic form of “appreciation?” Nope! Let’s scare everyone’s animals, wake babies, and be obscenely annoying EVERY SINGLE NIGHT to our neighbors who have been in forced quarantine isolation inside their homes for over 2 months! Really solid move and thanks for that.

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