Don’t Let Live Events Go Dark

Don’t let live events go dark!! When COVID hit in March, our work season was just about to begin. We were literally three days from starting our 2020 work season with a calendar full of events that would carry us through October. Then the ax fell on the live event industry. While the initial statements were “15 Days to Slow the Spread”, the people in our industry knew that wasn’t reality. As 15 days turned into 30 and events were clearing the calendar we had hoped that it would be under control by August, but many of us knew better. We could feel it, while the industry tried to make a comeback, COVID turned up the heat and stomped it out immediately. That’s when we knew we would not be returning to work until 2021 at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the elected officials have opted to take the bit of hope that our industry professionals had for survival and pulled the rug out from under us. All because of the concern that with the unemployment rates people would prefer to stay home than go to work, they took the means of survival from the live entertainment industry. An industry that is anxiously waiting to return to their daily grind. Industry professionals that do not have the choice to return to the careers that they have spent their entire life building. The businesses that have spent millions of dollars building their companies, all sit idle. While we appreciate the assistance we have received thus far, the two months of PPP isn’t going to carry us until April of 2021 or even longer. The offerings of the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans have been helpful, but again, not everyone was able to receive those loans. Being that the income stopped but the bills did not, the loans will eventually run out too. Add to that these are loans that need to be paid back and honestly right now we are an industry that is fearful that we will even survive.

We Cant Go To Work

Our industry isn’t like all the others, we are out of business until people are allowed to gather. We cant open at a lesser capacity or offer takeout. We just wait and worry. We wait and worry while the senate and congress argue over their political agendas, over how much is too much, and what the election is going to look like. Then when they get tired of arguing they go on recess. Meanwhile, the live entertainment industry sits with no work, little unemployment, PPP ran out for most and the worst is we go mostly unnoticed.

The team of people that work behind the scenes to bring you events needs you more than ever. We have spent our careers working hard to bring you events that leave you with lifelong memories. Whether it is large events like concerts and festivals or smaller events like graduations and weddings the live events industry has played a big part in making it all happen.

#RedAlertRestart

On September 1st, 2020 buildings across North America will be lit up red. The initiative #RedAlertRestart aims to call attention to the crisis our industry is facing as a result of this pandemic. In addition, we will be flooding social media with live ent pictures in hopes to attract the government’s attention to the urgent need our industry faces.

How you Can Help

At this point, you may be asking how you can help. If you have ever enjoyed a concert, or comedy show, or any event for that matter please help us by writing your leaders on the We Make Events website at https://wemakeevents.org. In addition, we need support on the mission to extend the PUA at https//www.extendpua.org. We are not staying at home because we don’t want to work, we are staying at home because we do not have a choice. Help our voices get heard so we can get back to putting on shows that will help you create lifelong memories again.