CHESTER BASED VISUAL DESIGNER SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON GOVERNMENT FREELANCER INACTION

A Chester-based Freelance Visual Designer and Lighting Operator who has worked on the some of the UK's biggest live events including Glastonbury has taken part in a national protest which called on the Government to give more support to the live events industry in order to help save jobs.

Alex Douglas, a former student at Bishop Heber High School recently joined some 1300 colleagues from the live events industry for a silent, socially distanced protest at Parliament Square in London to highlight the Government's inaction and lack of support for those who work in the sector.

Alex, 21 studied Technical Theatre at West Cheshire College Ellesmere Port campus and at the internationally acclaimed Backstage Academy before going on to work on large scale live events including Glastonbury and for major international stars such as Beyonce. But along with thousands of his colleagues in the industry, unable to work due to the impact of restrictions on live events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with theatres and live music venues closed and events including music festivals cancelled, he found that unlike those on permanent contracts, there was little financial support in place from the Government for freelancers in the Events and Entertainment industry.

Talking about his reasons for taking part in the protest which was organised by the We Make Events Campaign Alex said " The last 3 years really have been the craziest years of my life so far, all due to working in this exhilarating and rewarding industry. It has also made me aware how big this industry and how much it contributes to the UK economy and how without it, the UK wouldn't be the same without its world-renowned, vibrant arts and events culture. The global pandemic has decimated the industry and the Government appears to have thrown us to the wolves, providing very little in the way financial support for freelancers who make up the majority of those who work in the sector, I had to take a stand and join my colleagues to help raise awareness of the dire situation facing the industry and those who rely on it for a living. The ending of the furlough scheme will also have a huge impact on those companies who directly work in the industry, not to mention suppliers and manufacturers all of whom rely on a thriving events industry."

"This sector is worth over '£100bn to the national economy, 95% of live events have been cancelled due to COVID-19, a staggering 96% of companies have cut staff and/or wages and 77% of people in the live events industry have lost 100% of their income. The WeMakeEvents campaign is simply asking the Government to bring in measures which will help the industry get back on its feet including an industry specific support scheme which would be in place until guidelines change on social distancing to allow a viable return to work, a three-year extension to the reduced cultural vat rate on tickets in line with The Department of Culture Media and Sport recommendations and grants, not loans made available to those businesses in the Events industry supply chain to help them stay afloat and to help them target resources where they are needed most. We also believe that Covid-19 testing for event attendees will also be vital as part of the safe re-opening of venues."

The protest attracted coverage on national TV, press and social media with an image of Alex taking part in the protest being featured online by BBC London.

Prior to the Lockdown, Alex whose interest in working in the industry began with operating stage lighting for a School production of Busgy Malone was enjoying his busiest period of his freelance career to date.  Said Alex "Thanks to this amazing industry that is the Live Events world, I have been given incredible opportunities, developed new skills and met unbelievably talented people. I have been very lucky to have come from volunteering at theatres around Cheshire to being flown to Ireland to be a Lighting Director for Arcadia, working on world-class fashion shows in London and my proudest moment yet, working on Glastonbury where I was a Laser Operator for 2019’s biggest and newest dance stage; IIcon, entertaining an audience of 15,000 plus."

Sadly, all that changed at the start of the lockdown and with no income since March, he had to move back home, unable to afford rent and other living costs.  Alex has since turned his hand to web designing but fears for the future of the industry he has spent so long training to work in. "The only current work in the sector is going to the full-time employees which is understandable. Despite my experience, being a recent graduate freelancer, I am right at the bottom of the pile for hiring at the moment. This has resulted in me finding a part-time job and working on the occasional website design for a small number of existing clients while I watch friends, co-workers and peers slowly lose their jobs, suffer from no work and being forced to find alternatives with no end in sight. The Government has to realise the importance to the economy of the live events industry and the people who work in it, we simply can't allow them to throw us under a bus."

More information on the We Make Events campaign can be found at www.wemakeevents.com

Pictured - Alex Douglas taking part in the We Make Events protest at Parliament Square in London (photo credit BBC London)