A new website called I Lost My Gig (ILMG) has been launched to assist the ailing creative industries currently experiencing the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ILMG website is a co-ordinated response by the Australian Music Industry Network and the Australian Festivals Association to develop initiatives focussed on supporting workers experiencing loss of income as a result of extensive event cancellations and postponements.As of 16 March 2020, the industry reported nearly $50 million in lost income over a 48-hour period, impacting more than 190,000 people across the creative industries. And these numbers continue to grow.
With partners across the entertainment industry, ilostmygig.net.au provides a running tally tracking lost jobs, loss of revenue, cancelled events and jobs impacted, while working to provide support to people and businesses that have been affected.
This includes performers, production staff, crew, hospitality workers, booking agents and more, all of whom depend on a healthy live music and events industry that until recently has been worth $3 billion to the Australian economy.
The website also lets you know how you can help support these vulnerable workers.
Meanwhile, all is not lost as the industry comes together at this time and there's still lots of ways to help support artists, check them out below.
Follow the tally and also share your story using hashtags #ilostmygig and #ilostmygignz
9 Things You Can Do To Keep Supporting Local Musicians
1: Stream music2: Buy merchandise
3: Buy music
4: Ask radio stations to play Australian music
5: Subscribe to live streams of concerts
6: Spend your refunded concert ticket on future concerts
7: Donate to artist fundraising
8: Donate to Support Act / CrewCare
9: Write to politicians and ask for venue tax relief and other cost-saving measures
Also, just be excellent to one another.
If you or someone you know needs support, help is always available: Support Act Hotline (1800 959 500); Lifeline Hotline (13 11 14 or text: 0477 13 11 14).
