Press release from d&b audiotechnik Americas:
#WeMakeEvents #RedAlertRESTART represents a major call to action on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, imploring the US Congress to pass the RESTART Act (S.3814) as quickly as possible, offering economic relief to the Live Events Industry, which has been shuttered since March 2020, putting millions of people out of work. The movement is to support ExtendPUA.org in their efforts towards continuation and extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to provide relief to those without work due to COVID-19.
On September 1, 2020 and in solidarity with the events industry, d&b audiotechnik Americas headquarters in Asheville, NC and regional office in Signal Hill CA will join over 1,500 buildings, structures, and residences to light up in red from 9 pm – 12 am (local time in each market) to raise public awareness that the Live Events Industry is on Red Alert for its very survival and create congressional pressure to act now! The Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville is participating along with Echo Mountain Recording Studio both of which will light up their respective buildings as well. Pisgah AVL is supporting d&b on lighting of the Asheville facility as well as The Orange Peel and Wortham Center for the Performing Arts.
“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 very limited basis,” states Larry Italia, President/CEO, d&b audiotechnik Americas. “The entire industry is impacted, from engineers, technicians, sound companies, stagehands, to manufacturers, and distributors of entertainment technology, with no clear re-opening in sight.”
94% of the crews supporting all aspects of entertainment are currently unemployed.
Singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel told BBC.com “A lot of high arts have now been given some support, but people working on the festival side of things and in live events have been forgotten about. Many of these people are freelancers so don’t fall under furlough schemes. So right now, they are feeling the pinch very badly.” Members of The Cure said in a statement, “Without major, immediate support from government, the entire live events sector supply chain is at risk of collapse.”
The #SaveOurStagesAct is a new $10 billion grant program for live venue operators, promoters, producers, and talent representatives provides grants of either 45% of gross revenue from 2019 or $12 million (whichever is less), as well as supplemental grants of up to half the original grant if the entity is still experiencing 80%+ revenue loss as of Dec. 1, 2020. The grants can be used for payroll and benefits, rent, utilities, mortgage interest payments, interest payments, insurance, personal protective equipment (PPE), existing loans, payments to 1099 employees, and other ordinary and necessary business expenses.
The #RestartAct (Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards a Recovery) is a new loan program that provides funding for six months of payroll, benefits, fixed operating expenses, PPE, accounts payable, and other ordinary and necessary business expenses, with loan amounts of either 45% of gross revenue from 2019 or $12 million (whichever is less).To learn how to become involved, visit www.WeMakeEvents.org.
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