RENO, Nev. — The Reno Live Events Coalition hosted an “empty event” rally – a live event with no live audience – on Sept. 26 to gain government support for live event industry professionals who are part of one of the hardest hit industries in the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition is calling for the U.S. government to extend Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) to help live event workers who are fighting for their livelihood. Additionally, the coalition is calling for the Nevada government to lift restrictions for live events to operate at a larger guest capacity in accordance with COVID-19 public health guidelines.
The rally, which took place at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, gathered together the many voices of the live events industry including event producers, caterers, musicians, dancers, technicians, engineers and more. These key players all had a common goal – to push for the much needed assistance that will keep businesses and individuals’ afloat while navigating the massive impact and changes to an industry that once provided not only their income but also over $1 trillion to the U.S economy. Key supporters in attendance included Reno Vice Mayor Devon Reese, Kate Patay of Patay Consulting, Beth MacMillan of the Pioneer Center, Rosine Bena-Porter of the Sierra Nevada Ballet and local singer-songwriter Eric Henry Andersen.
“Our ‘empty event’ brought together so many incredible members of the performance industry to raise awareness on such a vital issue facing their livelihoods right now,” said Kate Patay, who acted as an executive producer for the rally. “With important leaders on our side, including Vice Mayor Reese, we hope to help bring much-needed financial support to these event industry professionals in our community.”
As one of the first industries to be shut down due to the pandemic and likely one of the last to return, the coalition’s goal is to implore the national government to extend federal CARES Act provisions in order to help provide relief for the live events industry, which provides jobs for approximately 12 million citizens that are now out of work. As approximately 1.2 million workers in Nevada’s events industry are out of work, the coalition also hopes to influence the Nevada government to allow live events to commence with larger audiences with strong sanitation, face covering and social distancing rules.
To support and get involved with the Live Events Coalition, go to liveeventscoalition.org/get-involved.
###
About the Live Events Coalition
The Live Events coalition, an organization formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating impact on the live events industry, is aimed at providing advocacy and resources along with creating a network that supports the many voices that make up the live events industry. The group is calling attention to the catastrophic effect of COVID-19 to ensure the industry’s inclusion in National conversations and supplemental Federal relief aid packages. For more information, please visit liveeventscoalition.org.