Live events industry organizes movement for buildings & venues to ‘light up red’ in support of entertainment & arts workers

-Courtesy of CJM Public Relations & Bryan Buttler Media Relations

The Philadelphia chapter of the Live Events Coalition #WeMakeEvents together with local partners IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) Local 8 and PIVOT (Philadelphia Independent Venues Organizing Together) Local Chapter of NIVA #Saveourstages is sending another message to the US Congress imploring them to offer economic relief to the Live Events Industry by passing the RESTART Act (S.3814). 

Shuttered since March, 2020, putting millions of people out of work, the industry is organizing a national ‘Red Start’ (#RedAlertRESTART) campaign on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, when buildings, venues, and iconic locations in Philadelphia and nationwide will light up in Red from 9 pm to 12 midnight to raise public awareness that the Live Events Industry is on Red Alert for its very survival, and create congressional pressure to act now.  

After previous Live Event rallies held in Philadelphia and other major cities nationally, the #RedAlertRESTART/#WeMakeEvents/#ExtendPUA and #Saveourstages campaign wants to make sure their message is heard loud and clear by continuing to pressure Congress with these types of events to keep the momentum going. 

“Our group has managed to gather incredible support for this important movement,” said #WeMakeEvents North American director Brad Nelms. “We already have commitments from hundreds of incredible venues, iconic locations and landmarks nationally who will show their support.” 

Due to Covid-19, 62% of arts workers report that they are fully unemployed and 94% of arts workers report income loss. As theaters, concert tours, festivals, opera houses, trade shows, and other live events as well as film and television production remain closed or open on a limited basis, the entire industry is impacted— from designers, technicians, programmers, and stagehands, to rental shops, manufacturers, and distributors of entertainment technology. Live Events was the first industry to close last March, and will most likely be the last sector to re-open due to the Covid-19 crisis. 

The targeted list of cities for the #WeMakeEvents #RedAlertRESTART #ExtendPUA #Saveourstages event on September 1, 2020 across North America includes Washington D.C., Huntsville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Baltimore, Las Vegas, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Boulder, Fayetteville, Lexington, Louisville, and Canadian neighbors including Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. 

The North American event comes on the heels of the August 11 event #WeMakeEvents Red Alert Day Of Action when over 700 buildings were lit in red across the UK, calling attention to the same plight facing the Live Events Industry there. 

Buildings/Venues and locations in Philadelphia so far include: The Pennsylvania Convention Center, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, and Live Nation venues including The Met, The Fillmore, The Tower, The TLA, and the Live In Drive-In stage at Citizens Bank Park. More locations are also expected to participate. 

For information about joining the event and lighting your building red, please contact: WeMakeEventsNorthAmerica@gmail.com