Cleveland Goes Red To Support Pandemic-Battered Entertainment Industry

Downtown Cleveland was bathed in red lights Tuesday night as part of an effort to support the live events industry.

Called the "RedAlertRESTART Day of Action," the idea was to raise public awareness about the economic plight of concert venues and theaters across the country on Sept. 1. More than 25 local buildings and attractions, from the Playhouse Square chandelier to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, were involved.

The theatres and buildings of Playhouse Square, includng the Idea Center, glowed red Tuesday night as part of the RedAlertRESTART Day of Action. [Gayle S. Putrich / ideastream]

In addition to red lights and blaring music, the Rock Hall  sported projections of #WeMakeEvents and #RedAlertRESTART on its sides. [Gayle S. Putrich / ideastream]

The demonstration was organized by a coalition of theatrical trade workers, businesses, and music clubs, among others, and was part of a show of solidarity in more than 1,500 locations across 50 North American cities.

“We got sent home in March and there hasn’t been a lick of work since,” said Mike Sinclair, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 27 member.

Sinclair and more union members stood watch in Public Square Tuesday night beside a video display highlighting how hard behind-the-scenes event workers have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic and related restrictions on events and large gatherings.

Mike Hach (left) and Mike Sinclair, both IATSE Local 27 members, were part of the 9 p.m. to mignight vigil in Public Square Tuesday night for the RedAlertRESTART Day of Action. [Gayle S. Putrich / ideastream]

According to a survey by theater and events trade publication Projection, Lights and Staging News (PLSN), 77 percent of live-events industry workers have lost their entire income since March and 97 percent of “gig workers” — or 1099 employees — have lost their jobs.

In addition to raising public awareness about the economic plight of the live events industry, the idea was to urge Congress to pass the RESTART Act, a bill meant to fill gaps in the federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP) as well as extend federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) that expired in July, as well as financial assistance to affected workers, organizers said in a press release.

David Shimp (left), owner of Ghostlight Productions, lit up the Bop Stop Tuesday night in solidarity, alongside Blaine Brinton (center), a tour manager for national act, and Brien Boothroyd (right). [Gayle S. Putrich / ideastream]

“We want to take this opportinuty to show the world the scale of what it takes to make live entertainment events happen and demonstrate how much this crisis has affected our community,” said Brad Nelms, director of WeMakeEvents North America, in a press release. “This is a human issue, not a political issue, and it requires immediate action. While we realize there are a lot of issues going on right now, and other organizations will be staging events on other dates, we feel very strongly we must act now to save our industry.”

The fast-breaking nature of recent news prompted some last-minute changes to Tuesday night’s demonstration in Cleveland. Some of the event’s main sponsors decided not to participate. Plans to include a rally and march were postponed out of respect for the recent deaths and ongoing social justice demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisc., and Portland, Ore., local organizers said.

More than 35 Cleveland-area businesses, venues and buildngs turned themselves red in support of live events and the workers who make them happen on Tuesday night. [Gayle S. Putrich / ideastream]