The live events industry had a moment of solidarity on the evening of Sept. 1, when venues across the U.S. and Canada were bathed in red light, reports our sister publications group MeetingsNet. The action was organized by #WeMakeEvents, a coalition of businesses, unions and event workers who have come together to advocate for the live events industry during the pandemic.
Using the hashtags #RedAlertRESTART and #WeMakeEvents, supporters flooded Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms with photos of venues bathed in red lights or of a favorite live event from the past treated with a red filter.
In addition to raising awareness about the devastating loss of jobs for people behind the scene at events—from lighting crews to trade-show booth designers to stagehands—the group is calling on Congress to pass the RESTART Act, which would extend the Paycheck Protection Program and establish a loan program for small businesses affected by COVID-19.
Visit MeetingsNet to see some of the participating venues