Red Alert September 1
Red Alert is a nationwide event taking place on September 1, 2020 to call attention to the plight of all live event/entertainment workers who have no work, no income and seemingly nowhere to turn for help. Consider this:
Live events employ over 12 million people.
Live events contributes over $1 trillion annually to the US economy.
95% of live events have been cancelled due to COVID-19.
96% of companies have cut staff and/or wages.
77% of people in the live events industry have lost 100% of their income, including 97% of 1099 workers.
On September 1st, 2020, #WeMakeEvents, a coalition of trade organizations, businesses, unions, and live events workers, will light up their venues, homes, and cities in red at over 1,500 locations across North America to raise public and media awareness in support of the live events.
That's a great idea! How can I help?
Share your story about what live events mean to you, whether you're on stage, backstage, or in the audience.
Post on social media with the hashtags #WeMakeEvents, #RedAlertRESTART, and #ExtendPUA
Light up your home, porch, apartment, etc. in RED on September 1 — be sure to take photos and share them on social media!
Is this for real?
Absolutely! We personally know directors, designers, production managers, stage hands, stage managers and performers who haven't worked since March, and who have no expectation of going back to work before March of 2021 at the earliest. Yes, unemployment insurance has been extended (at least in New York), but without the extra $600 unemployment for many is only enough to cover rent - so all other expenses have to be paid with savings, for as long as savings last. How many of us have enough savings to cover 12 months of expenses? And let's face it, with an average of one million new unemployment claims every week for over 20 weeks, almost no one is going to "Find Something New".
All of the theatres that Studio T+L has designed over the years are dark. The venues that are in construction will sit empty when they are finished. We know that many people are hit hard by the economic impact of the corona virus, but the entire live entertainment industry closed. Please do what you can to help!