Nashville Buildings Go Red To Support Live Events Industry

Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Ryman Auditorium/Instagram

Venues and companies across Nashville turned red on Tuesday evening (Sept. 1), as part of the #WeMakeEvents #RedAlertRESTART campaign, to raise awareness and support for the 77% of live events workers who have lost 100% of their incomes during the COVID-19 pandemic (including 97% of 1099 workers), according to wemakeevents.org.

More than 1,800 venues and companies across the nation took part in the event. Among the Nashville companies that pledged to take part were the Country Music Association, Red Light Management, 4 Wall- Nashville, Bandit Lites, Bradfield Stage Lighting, Brantley Sound Associates, Center Stage Events, Chris Lisle Lighting Design, Fireplay, Gallagher Staging, GO Live Productions,, Mo TV/Steelmill, Morris Light & Sound, PRG-Nashville, Pulse Lighting, Pyrotek Special Effects, Room 1 at SIR Nashville, Soundcheck/Crew 1, Thunder Audio, Ascend Amphitheater, Bridgestone Arena, Marathon Music Works, Nissan Stadium, Ole Red, Grand Ole Opry House, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Ryman Auditorium and more.

Nashville was just one of several cities that took part on Sept. 1, with others including Washington D.C., Huntsville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Baltimore, Las Vegas, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Boulder, Fayetteville, Lexington, Louisville, and Canadian neighbors including Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Nissan Stadium. Photo: Daniel Rehbein

The event implores the U.S. Congress to pass the RESTART Act as soon as possible, to offer economic relief to the live events industry, and potentially expand pandemic unemployment benefits.

According to wemakeevents.org, the live events industry employs more than 12 million people, and contributes more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy. 95% of live events have been canceled due to COVID-19, with 96% of companies cutting staff and/or wages.

The live events industry was among the first to shut down and will be among the last to reopen. Live events powerhouse Live Nation recently reported its revenues dropped by a staggering 98% in the second quarter of 2020.

The U.S. #RedAlertRESTART event on Sept. 1 followed a similar event on Aug. 11, the #WeMakeEvents Red Alert Day of Action, when over 700 buildings were lit red across the U.K., calling attention to the same plight affecting the live events industry there.

Bridgestone Arena. Photo: Bridgestone Arena/Instagram

Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Grand Ole Opry/Instagram

The Steel Mill. Photo: The Steel Mill/Facebook

Country Music Association. Photo: Collin Nixon/Morris Light & Sound