The biggest test of whether or not this country learns anything, anything at all, will be to see if there is major, systemic change in how the people who do the most labor (yet are currently paid the least) are treated. If wages had kept up with inflation, minimum wage would be $24/hr right now but we've got people making six figures who never have to worry about health care or any other expense, convincing people who make $25-$30/hr that people making minimum wage are the problem (and all the while Jeff Bezos rakes in over $71 BILLION during the pandemic alone). This will either be a watershed moment or it won't. Of course I thought the mass murder of 20 children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, CT would be a watershed moment for this country (I mean they really don't care at all about life when all of the children and adults except one who are murdered are white, in an upper class enclave in Connecticut and nothing changes - in fact MORE MASS SHOOTINGS THAN EVER have happened since then.

America is not bright. American worships money. America is a death cult that hates all life that does not do the work to support the wealthiest of the wealthy.

The cost structure of the smaller venues doesn’t permit a living wage for most that work there. That’s the unfortunate reality. It’s a bar with bands you may have heard of. Many of the same people that complain about the paltry wages in the clubs are the same ones that complain about $10 cocktails and $50 tickets. That’s what it costs to support the business model. The money is in slinging drinks. The door largely goes to the acts for a pro touring and recording band.

Live entertainment will not disappear. I know because I’ve been doing it for more than 40 years. And I also haven’t worked since March. Some of the players will or already have left. Others will follow. Other venues will take their place once this shakes out. There will still be demand but many of the venues involved now won’t be around. Looks like the relief round that may be passed this week has some of the relief from the Stages Act so hopefully local venues can take advantage of that. It appears that local and regional theater (ACT, On The Boards) will have access to those funds as well. Too late for many and not enough for others but hopefully it will keep the wolves at bay.

As an events industry worker in some way for over 10 years, I can agree that a paradigm shift needs to happen with the support staff, and that our local venues are at risk... I'm thankful for my variety of trade skills under my belt, without that i'd be pretty sunk... That being said, there are many in the events industry which I feel were just expected to adapt and find employment elsewhere. I have an associates in audio engineering which could be adapted to other forms of covid-friendly work, however with much else of the industry clamoring for any work in this field, what's still left of it leaves few options.

I find myself working on cars nowadays in my canopy carport while some of my peers in the industry are attempting to ride the 'unenjoyment' train. Some have hired with another job (that they will surely leave) once the industry comes back alive. Some are burning their savings and selling their possessions (and in at least one case I know of, their home) hoping that a resolve happens to their career they dedicated so many of their years to.

A huge problem with this industry is that you (especially as a stage hand) may work "on a temporary basis" or as an independent contractor, or for multiple employers or any mixture thereof to get enough hours. The work can often be scattered around... As an example, you work a 4 hour room conversion at key arena, and then in the evening two separate shifts pushing boxes at a concert... That next morning your 3rd employer has you working some AV gig at the T-mobile offices in Bellevue. All bright eyed and bushy tailed, three hours of sleep, a belly full of coffee and catering food from the show last night and a hour plus commute on I405, you make it to the next gig in the morning.

You worked 57 hours this week and it's not even Saturday. Your three separate employers won't pay for your collective overtime. Your not going to be provided much of any benefits often provided to the more typical working class. You gotta manage your own shit. Tax season can be a total mess, you may have to keep a savings if for some reason you messed your filing or worked as a contractor. You may have to work weird hours and schedule them yourself, and your gonna have to maintain your own health insurance. Often you may have to drive wherever the work is, or are expected to have a car due to the random nature of location. Your employer may use an app to schedule people for shifts. often your schedule may change depending on a delay, or you may have to keep an eagle-eye on your phone to take a shift that just popped up randomly and is scheduled in two days. The nature of the work can be very technical, detail oriented, quick, and dangerous depending on what you do as well.

You do all this crazy shit because you love the industry in some bizarre and for some, self destructive way. There's a certain satisfaction with looking at a stage you helped build, an event you helped power, a wedding you helped light. You stand back and respect (in one's own way i guess) that "damn, i helped build that."

You may do it because the job often works with interesting people, and can foster a sense of comradery or appreciation not seen in many employment settings. The career can provide a greater sense of community by participating in the production of events. I wish that the world can get to a safe and comfortable place soon for these events to come back to life. till then i'l be busting my knuckles on some shitbox car my friend just bought on offer up.

I sure hope that this industry can suffer the least as possible, and right now, i see little relief federally or from the state. It's on behalf of the often creative and multi-talented people who once worked this industry that are able to somehow navigate the mess we are in. Some were not doing well and were not to begin with, before this shit happened.

The venues, support companies which provide the equipment, and staff associated with this industry are silently suffocating financially. With rent for venues warehouses and their respective staff through the roof, it was already an issue to begin with. Those venues, especially the small to mid-size ones are not doing well at all. If they default on their rent, a 7 story monolith of mixed development may build on top of the space which contributed to so many experiences over it's lifetime. I'm personally not going to just say "oh well" and give up. I'll be ready to throw some cables, run audio for a show and push box when it comes back around, but without any venues preserved through this time, there's not gonna be much besides coachella, and i'l fucking man-cry if that's my options...

The call based nature of the business is more similar to construction work calls. You work when there is work. Companies can’t pay us when we’re not working. That’s not going to change. The Northwest is a tough market. There are more workers than work for the most part. Unless you’re on the A list for the 15 or at the Center, Benaroya or an STG house gig the work can be random even in the best of times. Now all bets are off, no one is working. If you guys can get other gigs you’re fortunate compared to some parts of the country. There is nothing here except Amazon and Walmart for less than what our unemployment is.

It will come back. There will be gigs, there will be venues. Outside of bigger entertainment hubs it’s going to be more toward 2022. It’s a disaster down here. General unemployment rate is 15% or so and the entertainment/event industry is 90% plus. We’ve come back online at limited capacity only to be shut down again when the cap was set back at 50 last month. There were 15 smaller shows operating under the 250 mark though all but a handful shut again when we went back to 50. The show I’m on is big and not likely to even start into preproduction until late summer or fall.

I know it’s tough but hang in there. You may hate it but the car side hustle it a good one. Keeping at it may help you avoid crappy calls just to make ends meet when this blows over. It’s a good feeling to know you have the ability to not take all calls and have something else to make up the difference. Or know that you can take the small, cool festival or art show call and not have to work as a generic push box pull rope at the Enormodome.

@1 Ding, ding, ding!

Unfortunately, the Capitalist Death Cult only values profits for those at the top, and ultimately consumes the folks at the bottom in the quest of those profits. But hey,if they destroy our music scene, we can always turn to Guillotines for mass public entertainment.

I'm with you there Greenwood Bob.

We need basic income for all paid for by the 1% Capitalist Death Cultists and universal improved medicare provided if the super rich don't want their heads chopped off.

It would take a big fight but that is what it always takes.

If other countries less wealthy than the U.S. can do it - it absolutely can be done here.
No excuses. Off with their heads!

The service worker talks like they have a skilled trade that is no longer applicable. It's an entry level job. That's why it pays nothing.