News
“It will allow more people to return to work
and the public to get back to more of the
things they have missed.”
Prime Minister
Boris Johnson on
easing lockdown
restrictions, as
business event
pilots resume
20,000
Members in the
Delegate Wranglers,
which hits a new
milestone
80%
Thousands gather for ‘Red Alert’ protest in London
Thousands of event professionals
gathered along London’s Southbank
on Tuesday 11 August, to demonstrate
the critical condition of the events
industry.
Eventprofs in red shirts lined the
entire Southbank from Westminster
to the Tate Modern, as part of the
#WeMakeEvents ‘Red Alert’ campaign.
They came from all corners of
the events industry, including the
live music, festival, exhibition and
conference sectors.
At the same time across the UK,
event venues and landmarks were lit
up in red.
In London, a barge bearing a bright
red #WeMakeEvents logo sailed
down the Thames, ahead of a boat
filled with politicians and journalists
who had been invited to attend by
the Professional Lighting and Sound
Association (PLASA), which organised
the day of action.
Bryan Raven, who was on the boat,
is managing director of lighting and
production supplier White Light.
He said his reaction to seeing the
huge crowds dressed in red was a
bittersweet one: “I think we had
about 2,800 people register in the
end, and about another 1,000 walkups
who didn’t register. When I saw
all these people in red I thought: “Ah,
it’s fantastic to see so many people
come out. But then the follow up
thought is: ‘every one of these people is
unemployed.’”
White Light partnered with fellow
suppliers Event Concept and TSL,
collectively contributing around 1,000
red lights to the day of action. The
White Light team were stationed at
the Tate Modern, at the end of the
Southbank route.
The mood at the London event was
one of togetherness and celebration,
although it underscored the financial
difficulties and struggles being faced
by the events sector.
Eventprofs waved their phones, lit
with red lights, while cheering and
chatting. Many brought speakers and
played music.
5,000
People attend a PHEmonitored
event at
East of England Arena
& Events Centre
62%
Of people ready to
return to live events in
next 12 months, says
survey
Of people have
attended five
or more virtual
events in the
past month, says
Eventbrite
25%
Average drop in income
of freelancers across all
industrial sectors, says IPSE
September — 07