Confessions of a Gig Worker
Credit: Danny Howe
There is no doubt the pandemic has been incredibly hard on industries and businesses across the globe. It has forced businesses to get creative, whether that be going virtual or working around COVID-19 restrictions. However, the live entertainment and event industry—one of the first industries to close and last to open—is yet to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
B.C. (Before COVID)
I had a successful career working with music festivals, large-scale events, and other event planning gigs, such as weddings. When I first entered this industry, I was told it could take 2-3 years to fully build a full calendar year of work as an independent contractor/event gig worker.
Entering 2020, my career had already established success and I was poised to have 2020 be my best year yet. I was proud that I was able to carve out my dream career.
Then, COVID happened.
I lost every single contract and employment opportunity I had for this year. I moved to Salt Lake City to manage a multi-million-dollar event that canceled just days after my arrival. Unemployment had yet to finalize my paperwork, leaving thousands of dollars in a bank account that allowed me to view my balance; however, I had no access to withdraw funds.
The live entertainment industry employs over 12 million people and generates close to one trillion dollars in annual revenue. Even without a global pandemic, it would be hard to make up for that kind of financial deficit or find jobs for that many people. As of this summer, over 60% of the industry was yet to find alternate employment. Not to mention the thousands of venues across the nation that have received little funding or rent/mortgage freezes in these dark times.
At the beginning of quarantine, live streams became the new way for us music lovers to get our fix. Artists, festivals, and entertainers scrambled to create virtual events to keep the masses entertained at our homes. Most of these events, no matter how successful, are not as profitable. As the summer progressed, we saw the rise of drive-in concerts. Overnight, this dying, “old school” form of entertainment experienced a sudden revitalization. This unique concert concept can be profitable and give consumers a supplementary experience. However, risks are certainly a factor: How can you enforce social distancing or act in good faith to prevent drunk driving?
I love what I do; it gives me a sense of purpose. I love orchestrating the chaos of live events into an art form that only even planners can genuinely appreciate. It has been heartbreaking. There have been days where I have contemplated my journey and damned myself for not becoming a dental assistant.
Yet, I am constantly reminded by friends and family, “This is temporary, you will be back doing what you love one day”or “Everyone has been affected, not just you,” which—although true—feels insensitive at times. The truth is, as this new year approaches, there are still no clear answers to when millions of us will be able to get our careers started again.