Support for Bowery Boston Production Staff
Hello to all our friends, family, and live music supporters. We’ve all been affected by COVID-19, but our brothers and sisters that work at local venues have been completely blindsided by this. After an abrupt closure in early March, music venues will be closed in Boston for an unknown period of time, probably until at least late April or May or beyond. This has left our freelance production staff of over 60 people at Bowery Boston unemployed, with no idea of when we will return to work. Our bosses at Bowery have been incredible with helping us find resources about unemployment and other outlets of assistance, but the unfortunate reality is that some of our coworkers are living paycheck to paycheck, and their bills are stacking up as we speak.
Most of our freelance production staff will not qualify for much, if any unemployment assistance. These workers are freelance hourly workers, with no safety nets, and now just coming off the slow season of the winter. Everyone has been getting ready for the busy season of spring, where some make a good percentage of their yearly income in just a few months. Their income has completely gone away out of the blue, leaving bills unpaid, and their futures uncertain. The end of March has crept up quickly, and rent is due next week.
We know times are hard for everyone, but anything you can give will help. 100% of these donations will go to our freelance production staff at the Sinclair, and the freelance production staff at Royale for Bowery Boston shows. Any donations are greatly appreciated, this will be immediate help to those who need it for their families, and for themselves to help pay bills and buy food. It takes a lot of us to put on concerts at the Sinclair and Royale, we have over 60 freelance sound engineers, lighting designers, box office people, and stagehands that work between the two venues alone.
It’s very tough asking for donations at all, nevermind at this time when everything is unknown, but I can’t help to think of my coworkers and friends who rely on working events everyday to keep the lights on. Thanks again for your support.
