22 APRIL 2020 • WWW.LSIONLINE.COMi INDUSTRY ISSUES
struggling - is scrambling to protect its
interests and support its people as part of
a network that is stronger than the sum
of its parts. Like-minded and resourceful,
everybody’s talking.A statement from The Stage Management
Co sums up everyone’s frustration: “The
effects of the actual virus per person
affected will come and go in a matter of
weeks. The effect these mass bans,
cancellations and travel restrictions will
have on the economy will affect us all for
a long, long time after the virus has
gone.”Meanwhile, the Music Venue Trust is
“offering sector support for grassroots
music venues to try and sustain them
through the impacts of COVID-19 ” in
three distinct ways: surveys of members
to collect accurate data about the impact
of venue closures for two to six weeks;
sharing of tips to sustain venue
infrastructure throughout closure,
including across Europe as a member of
non-governmental network Live DMA;
and effective representation of these
venues to government. It’s a package
reflected in all other industry
associations.PLASA has been working continuously to
support its members, as its MD Peter
Heath explains: “Since furloughing came
in within the UK, we’ve been lobbying on
two key messages that impact employers.
Firstly, for the government to include the
events supply chain in the ‘retail,
hospitality and leisure business’ category,
in order to qualify for Business Rates
cash grants. Secondly, for the
government to insist that landlords of
rented business premises support
business tenants through the coronavirus
crisis’.”Heath continues: “We’ve also been
pushing for the freelance community. It
was good to see the launch of the
Self-Employed Income Support scheme,
however, we continue to ask the
government to include dividendspayments when calculating the income
of individuals who operate as a limited
company.”The Association is in communication
with DCMS, BEIS, DIT and is providing
evidence directly to the newly-formed
Treasury Committee for the economic
impact of the coronavirus inquiry. PLASA
is also working with other bodies,
including the Event Industry Forum,
Music Support and AEO, plus PEARLE
who are lobbying the EU on providing
support for our industry across Europe.
PLASA Membership renewal fees have
also been frozen, and members and NRC
riggers with have been provided with
legal and HR helplines along with
a dedicated service from their HR
consultant. Heath summarises: “The
power of community is how we’re going
to get through this, so we urge members
to keep in touch and keep the
conversation going.” For more on
PLASA’s response to the COVID-19 crisis,
see page 19.The Production Services Association
(PSA) has been busy issuing daily
bulletins to its members in urgent need
of clarification and representation as the
government plays catch-up with the
realities of its promised economic
support. General manager Andy Lenthall
comments: “We’re talking to government
and other stakeholders throughout this.
Our channel is The Department forDigital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
and they’ve been amazing, totally open.
We work with the Business Visits &
Events Partnership, the UK Live Music
Group... many more. We’re all around
the same table and we have been for the
last 11 years, and that’s why we’ve got
something now that is stronger than the
sum of its parts. You can’t just throw that
together in times of crisis.”Lenthall confirms reports that rock and
roll trucks are pulling Tesco trailers. “Our
first message was: get yourselves into the
food chain,” he reveals. “We’re now
seeing members in Sainsbury’s uniforms.
In truth, many of our industry transport is
seconded into general freight when
they’re not busy anyway, so it means they
were first in the queue. You’ll see Stardes
reversing into Lidl or Morrisons.. .”RENT IN TWAIN
Many frontline rental companies have
issued official statements. SFL has called
for the sector to “stand by your team”.
The company says in a statement: “In
light of the serious effects of COVID-19,
leading event production supplier and AV
integrator, SFL, is calling on the
entertainment technology and events
industries to stand by their teams and
recognise that people are their most
important asset, particularly during such
a challenging time.” Speaking exclusively
to LSi, MD Tom Jeffery adds: “Installs are
already being impacted and that willD Tradeshows including Messe Frankfurt’s
Prolight+Sound have been cancelledE Transportation usually reserved for
large-scale touring has been put to use
helping with supermarket deliveries