#SAVEGEORGIASTAGES
Next Tuesday, August 4, venues, promoters, festivals, and artists across the state will join together to promote a Georgia Day of Action, with the state specific hashtag #SAVEGEORGIASTAGES, to call on Senators Loeffler & Perdue and our respective Congresspeople to support the live performance and event industries in the federal stimulus package up for a vote within weeks. Ultimately our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of the national #SAVEOURSTAGES initiative.
This ongoing campaign, focused on creating support for our workforce and businesses, encourages Congressional support of these stimuli:
- RESTART ACT
Provides six months of survival funding for impacted small businesses
- SAVE OUR STAGES ACT
Provides a dedicated lifeline to shuttered live performance venues
- EXTEND FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Supports the workforce that makes concerts, festivals, and events happen
From the 40 Watt Club in Athens to The Wormhole in Savannah to Center Stage in Atlanta, there are hundreds of independent music venues around Georgia. These incubators break local artists, nurture future superstars, and contribute to culture and placemaking across the state. They are the outlets that allow us to consume live shows and creative performances while supporting their economy through jobs and tax revenue. These businesses were the first to close in response to the pandemic and will be among the last to re-open. We need YOUR help to save live music.
The direct-hit suffered by the live music industry accentuates the paralyzing effect of COVID-19 on our local economy and communities. Venues and event production businesses are experiencing upwards of 90% revenue loss and will be closed well into 2021 due to large gatherings’ safety concerns. Without support from Congress, 90% of independent venues surveyed across America say they will close their doors forever.
Live music venues are economic multipliers, community builders, and beloved institutions. A Chicago study estimated that $1 spent at a small venue resulted in $12 of financial activities for neighboring restaurants, hotels, and retail shops. Venues drive revenue to other businesses in cities and towns across the country. What would Georgia and other states look like without them?
The GOP stimulus plan proposed this week excludes live-music specific support. We must raise our voices and implore our leaders to save our jobs and save our music and #SaveOurStages. They MUST act NOW!
Several bi-partisan legislative acts have already been proposed which together provide the support needed by the live entertainment sector, including:
- S. 4258, the SAVE OUR STAGES Act, introduced by Senators Cornyn and Klobuchar (Read the SOS Act)
- S. 3814/H.R. 7481, the RESTART Act, introduced by Senators Young and Bennet in the Senate and Representatives Golden and Kelly in the House (Read the letter to support the RESTART Act)
- HR 7735, ENCORES Act, introduced by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) (Read the ENCORES Act)
Hear what our growing list of artists supporting independent venues are saying and join in on sending this critical message to Congress today.
HERE’S WHERE WE NEED YOU!
It takes just a minute to pledge support to #SAVEOURSTAGES and it can all be done from the comfort of your own home or phone.
Online:
Go to www.SAVEOURSTAGES.com to contact your Senators & Congressional Representative
By Email:
Have a more personal message to share? Email our Georgia Senators’ staff advisors directly:
Senator Loeffler
wesley_coopersmith@loeffler.senate.gov
sydne_smith@loeffler.senate.gov
Senator Perdue
The future of independent venues and Georgia’s once-thriving live event industry is in YOUR hands.
Please support us today so we can bring live music to you tomorrow.
Thank you for helping us #SAVEGEORGIASTAGES.
For more information locally contact: Georgia Music Partners Media Contact: Tara Murphy – 360 Media, Inc. – 404-577-8686 or tara@360media.net
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