Industry collective #WeMakeEvents has launched a new video campaign to highlight the ongoing hardship and struggles of the live events supply chain. The campaign also launches TEXTING TEXTING ONETWO, an appeal to raise funds for these highly skilled people through industry charity Backup.
Supported by some of the biggest stars in music, comedy and theatre, the campaign aims to raise awareness of 700,000 people in the supply chain, almost all of whom haven’t been able to work for 12 months.
Providing video messages of support, an introduction by Simon Callow is followed by pleas from artists including Sir Mick Jagger, Katherine Jenkins, Midge Ure, James Bay, Biffy Clyro, Enter Shikari, Griff Rhys Jones, Christopher Eccleston, Paul Whitehouse, Angus Deayton, Lucy Porter, Stephen K Amos, Deborah Frances-White, Kevin Day, The Kooks, Sam Fender and Feeder, plus the launch of a new music video by Frank Turner – all of whom explain how, without expert technicians, transporters, logistics experts, caterers, riggers and production staff, live events cannot return.
These are the people behind the scenes that ensure that the show must go on and work across festivals, corporate events, theatre, sporting ceremonies and many other cultural events. This is a £70bn UK market, and without support, 40 per cent of businesses risk folding as a third of employees also reveal they have left the sector according to the latest #WeMakeEvents survey. It’s under severe threat of collapse that will prevent any return of live events in the short-term.
‘The problem extends across the whole live events sector, with many in the events supply chain having been completely overlooked for financial support,’ says Frank Turner. ‘The fact that anticipated events in August and July are sold out is testament to the Nation’s need to enjoy live events again but we need those highly-skilled people in order to deliver these events. Right now, many of them need financial support to get them through to a time where they can do that for us and earn again.’
Simon Callow, Patron and Ambassador for charity Backup says: ‘It has been humbling to receive the thanks from some of the families where the financial support made a difference to them paying the bills that month. The situation for many is financially devastating and heartbreaking. Thank you to anyone who donates – just whatever you can afford, if everyone who loves live events texts ONETWO and donate whatever you can, it really adds up and helps so many people.’
One-off donations can be made by texting ONETWO, followed by the desired donation amount to 70085.
