COVID-19 Update: Roadie Rescue Campaign to Aid Live Event Workers Displaced by Coronavirus Cancellations

A group of leading live event industry organizations has joined together to create a GoFundMe campaign to raise $250,000 in donations to provide relief to eligible freelance professionals affected by the coronavirus pandemic due to event cancellations.

The campaign is initially being sponsored by Alive Risk, Clair Global, the Event Safety Alliance, Griffin360, Merch Roadie, Show Makers Symposium, and Take1 Insurance, with other companies expected to join the cause. The goal of the campaign is to reach out to entertainment industry businesses and live entertainment fans worldwide to raise $250,000 indirect contributions to the Roadie Relief GoFundMe campaign that will then be distributed to eligible freelance professionals through MusiCares. Information about the Roadie Rescue Campaign, who it benefits and how to apply can be found at www.roadierescus.com.

"Everyone needs to join together to help the people in their industry most impacted economically by the novel coronavirus, and in the live event industry that group is the tens of thousands of tireless and dedicated independent contractors, the roadies, who bring every live event to life," Take1 Insurance executive vice president Scott Carroll said today. "The live event industry can provide this relief quickly and most efficiently by working with MusiCares, which has been providing assistance to music people in need since 1991."

According to Event Safety Alliance president Jim Digby, "The Roadie Rescue Campaign is born from the imminent need to help provide assistance to those whose employment has unexpectedly been cut short. The fund calls on one-time or recurring donations from anyone who appreciates the hard-working humans behind the scenes and the products they deliver to bring music and entertainment to life."

"These behind-the-scenes artisans work in the shadows of the stage, beyond the reach of the lights. They are, more often than not, independent contractors who live show to show, lacking the usual financial security other professions provide during state-of-emergency scenarios such as the one our global community faces now," Digby emphasized. "Without the hard work of these unsung, often overlooked professionals, today's extravaganzas would not be possible, performances sometimes dull, and artists alone in the dark. Ultimately, we are all one family and as such we need to take whatever measures are available to us to make it through this unique time."

Alive Risk is a division of All Risks, Ltd. Which is the largest independent insurance wholesaler in the country. Alive Risk's innovative underwriting facility delivers comprehensive specialty solutions for our partners in entertainment, live events, amusement, and sports. To learn more, please visit get.allrisks.com/alive-risk.

Clair Global is wholly committed to customer service and satisfaction. "Listening and responding to our clients is what we do best. We research, innovate and create based on our clients' ever-evolving needs, to deliver results that exceed their expectations." For more information, visit www.glairglobal.com.

The Event Safety Alliance (ESA) is a global advocacy group dedicated to the promotion and support of "life safety first" throughout all phases of live event production. Through the dissemination of safety preparedness information and the creation and development of safety planning, training, and other resources, the ESA is helping to achieve these goals across the world. More information about the Event Safety Alliance is available at eventsafetyalliance.org.

Headquartered in New York City, Griffin360 is an integrated communications agency that has been providing commercial and consumer technology clients with strategically focused, creatively driven public relations, advertising, marketing, and social media services since its founding in 1982. For more information, visit www.griffin360.com.

Merch Roadie is the creator of the world's only road and event-ready vending machines; Merch Roadies. Concerts, tours, festivals, eSports tournaments, and conferences use Merch Roadies to create incremental revenue to merch booth sales, or unattended pop-up experiences. For more information, visit www.merchroadie.com.

The Show Makers Symposium is a three-day gathering redefining the annual "industry conference." It's an opportunity to gather, learn and give back outside of the work environment inside a framework of camaraderie, professional development, wellness, and philanthropy.

US Risk's Take1 division has been servicing the insurance needs of the film and television production industry and has expanded significantly to meet the needs of audio-video and communications industry clients as well. The company's experience includes underwriting film and television production companies, DICE (documentary, infomercial, commercial, educational) producers, touring entertainers, concert/playhouse venues, concert promoters, video game developers, and specialty rental operations focused on audio, visual, and lighting. For more information, visit www.take1insurance.com.

The Roadie Rescue Campaign is a collective of entertainment industry activists and organizations fundraising to support the MusiCares Foundation. Participants perform direct outreach within their diverse and extensive professional networks, communicating the current challenges faced by independent contractors in the event space, and encouraging them to donate to a dedicated GoFundMe page. All contributions received through the Roadie Rescue Campaign are donated directly to MusiCares Foundation to help them support industry professionals in this time of need. For more information, visit the URL below.