19/07/2020
When people think of Events, they think of big events like Electric Picnic; The Plowing Championships; The All Ireland Finals; and even the Popes visit to Ireland.
The importance of smaller community events run locally in every county in Ireland and, in a normal year, on every weekend over every summer, should not be forgotten. These Agricultural Shows, Community Festivals, Independent Music Weekends and Sports Days are local communities one opportunity to come together each year and show what they can offer to a bigger audience. For many in the Events Industry this is where we give back to the community, and where we discover new acts, new staff and new business partners.
This day 2 years ago over 700 local event workers, volunteers, artists, bands, performers and dj's were all preparing to entertain outside Macroom Co. Cork. This was a small family friendly festival, where the performers went out and mingled with the crowd and International Stars Sister Sledge brought children and fans onto the stage to dance and to sing together with them as one family united through the bond of peace.
This year the fields are empty and the stages are silent.
We work for months, and sometimes years, in partnership with local organisers, communities, and businesses who we see as our summer family. We call these communities home every summer and help them by promoting and supporting their local economy.
The Organisers use local suppliers for posters, for signs, for toilets, for cleaning and for staff catering. They promote local small businesses by providing vendor pitches and craft and workshop areas so local traders can show off their crafts, skills and wares. They provide opportunities for local tourism, health, environmental and ecological organisations to get their messages across, and for local charities to fund raise.
They make donations towards local charity partners. Partners like The Red Cross, Order of Malta and St. Johns Ambulance who provide first aid services to these events and use the donations they receive to fund initiatives within their local community and to provide vital local training programmes during the winter.
The Site Services Teams support local hardware stores; electrical suppliers; plumbing suppliers; paint shops; material suppliers; artists, as well as local plant and equipment hire companies who all provide essential machinery and services to build and decorate a safe, secure, and entertaining site.
The Operations Teams hire local box office; medical and security staff and provide support to local stewards and volunteers, sharing their expertise and providing assistance to ensure a smooth running event while building local experience and skills in event management.
The Production Crews hire generators; lighting towers; scaffolding and safety barriers locally. They give local students a chance to experience what it's like to work in a passionate, invigorating and rewarding environment through volunteer and internship programmes. They spot new local talent, new opportunities and foster new business relationships with local small businesses and suppliers.
As the Artists Services Team, we use local bars, cafés and restaurants for hospitality. We book out local B&B's and hotels for artists accomodation; reserve as many local taxis as we can get and hire local bus companies for artists transport, and in some cases empty shelves in the local supermarkets, for artists refreshments. We support local media by facilitating access to the artists, in return for promoting the locality. We give local artists the chance to meet, chat to, and perform with their heroes within the industry. We make lasting memories of the area by gifting small tokens of appreciation to the performers sourced from local businesses.
In 2013, the Events Sector worked with local communities to show the world how we as a nation could bounce back from the global financial crash. The Government proposes that, on the 10th anniversary of "The Gathering", 2023 will be the "Year of the Invitation". We want to be part of this, but we can only be part of it if we hold onto our highly trained, highly skilled, and enthusiastic workforce for the next 3 years.
These workers are our family. They come together every year, through thick and thin, in good weather and in bad, to put smiles on peoples faces and help make lasting memories.
Our staff are recognised worldwide for their expertise in safety, crowd control and traffic management; in drawing up and implementing safety and emergency management plans. Their experience in building and managing temporary structures, booking and ticketing systems; and queue management is unsurpassed. Their production skills in facilitating training courses, business meetings and community forums, either online or offline, is immeasurable.
These are the same skills that the government needs to keep the Dáil running during the crisis. The same expertise communities and businesses are crying out for to help them overcome the challenges they facing while trying to reopen. We can help, but we too need help. We are the only industry with no road-map and no timeline to reopen.
The Events Sector has never asked for help or support before. We were always the first to respond and offer help in times of Famine, War, or National Need. We were the first to close, and we will be the very last to get back to full capacity.
Our industry reps from the EPIC Working Group and the Event Industry Association of Ireland have engaged the government, but we need help and support from you to ensure our message gets across.
Tell your TD's and your County Councillors how important the event industry is to you and to your community.
The Show Must Go On, and, with your help, it will.
