The world of symphony orchestras has long been a bastion of tradition, artistry, and, unfortunately, gender bias. Over the past few decades, efforts to level the playing field for women musicians have included innovative measures such as blind auditions, where candidates perform behind screens to conceal their identity. Yet, even with these measures, subtle biases persist. One fascinating and somewhat surprising practice that has emerged is the request or encouragement for women to remove their shoes during auditions. This article explores why women might take their shoes off when auditioning for symphony orchestras, the history and impact of blind auditions, the ongoing struggle against gender bias in classical music, and what the future might hold.