Live events industry organises day of action

A day of action to raise the alarm about the plight of the live events and entertainment sector has been organized across London and the UK tomorrow (11 August).

The #WeMakeEvents campaign, which has the involvement of a string of industry organisations, aims to highlight the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sector with a series of events to call for government support. 

Indoor performances in theatres and music venues are still prohibited by the government, leaving many who work in the sector without income or facing the prospect of losing their jobs. Open-air gigs, festivals and theatre shows were told they could resume in England last month, as long as they have a limited and socially distanced audience.

As part of the #WeMakeEvents campaign, journalists and politicians have been invited to board a boat at Westminster Pier in London, from where they will sail through a series of ‘arenas’ which will feature many of the capital’s iconic landmarks, all lit up red in solidarity.

Industry members are being asked to line up, socially distanced, on river banks and bridges to create a Red Alert route. In key locations supporters will lower down red rope lights to the boat as it passes, to symbolise ‘throwing us a line’.

• Read more: The cost of coronavirus

Everyone who wants to be part of the Red Alert route must pre-register via Eventbrite, where they can also select their preferred location to join the action.

Those who are part of the route are being asked to wear a red t-shirt and download the MyLight – Flashlight app to turn their phone into a red flashlight.

The organisers also say it is mandatory to wear a face covering throughout the event – and that a red one would be ideal.

Andy Dockerty managing director of Adlib, said: “The events sector has been absolutely devastated by the Covid-19 crisis and there are few signs of any significant restart in the near future. Without immediate support the entire live events supply chain is at risk of collapse and some one million highly skilled professionals face many more months of financial uncertainty. We need the government to understand the urgency of the situation and so we call on industry members to make their voices heard and join us on the evening of 11 August.”

A series of regional events will also take place. More details can be found on the event Facebook page WeMakeEvents: Red Alert - day of action

The industry bodies now involved in #WeMakeEvents include: the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT), the ALD - The People in Performance Lighting, the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), Association of Sound Designers (ASD), Community Leisure UK, Creu Cymru, Curtain Call Online, the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST), Freelancers Make Theatres Work, the Institute of Sound & Communications Engineers (ISCE), MUTA, the MIA, the Music Venues Trust (MVT), the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA), Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), PLASA, Production Managers Forum (PMF), Production Services Association (PSA), Society of London Theatre (SOLT) & UK Theatre, Sustainability in Production Alliance (SiPA) and Theatre & Dance Northern Ireland.

Series of events organised for tomorrow (11 August)

Aims to highlight devastating impact of Covid-19 on the industry

Call for industry members to get involved