I travel with small scissors in my carry-on all the time. Except for this year, annually over 100K miles domestic USA. Blades less than 4-inches pivot to tip is the TSA rule (3.5 is what I carry, just to be sure don't run into any stretchy rulers). Only once has any TSA agent even pulled them out to look at them.

TSA rules would also seem to cover small pliers: Tools 7 inches or shorter (measured from end to end when assembled) are allowed in carry-on baggage.

Just curious -- has anybody been pulling out musical instruments during the snowpocalypse?

We did not have an actual snowcalypse in my neck of the woods. It was more like a thin coat of snow.
I still played my instruments. It´s fun and good for the mood.
I have a few blues harps in reach on my desk. The guitar and the banjo are less than 6 feet away.