Live Events Industry Reps Testify to Congress About Need for Pandemic ReliefA group of representatives from the live event industry testified on Tuesday morning at a Congressional hearing titled "Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on the Live Event Entertainment Industry." Among those speaking were David Fay, president of the Bushnell Center in Hartford, Connecticut; Adam Hartke, owner of Cotillion and WAVE, music venues in Wichita; Ron Lafitte, president of Patriot Management; Pete Pantuso, president/CEO of the American Bus Association; and Michael J. Strickland, CEO of Bandit Lites. Strickland most forcefully made the case for the urgency of the situation, telling the members of the committee, "We're here before you with our hats in our hands." Also, he noted, "Thirty percent of the industry is gone now, and if nothing done by February, 60% will be gone." Much of the discussion revolved around the Save Our Stages and RESTART Acts, both of which must be passed if the live events industry is to receive the assistance it needs. To see a video of the hearing, go to: https://www.c-span.org/video/?507290-1/hearing-covid-19-impact-live-event-entertainment-industry&live=&fbclid=IwAR3L12IC5Bn4YJrQySEb3Rbgo3yURDRhkoZ0ExGyM8GGZcLL4V7QkiQQdoA 
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