COVID, competition and community

Catastrophic. That's the only way I know how to describe what has happened to the live events industry. This shutdown has had an effect much larger than just the people you see on the stages across the country. From audio-visual companies, decorators, caterers, event planners, florists and even custodial staff, the shutdown of these events has generated widespread fear, frustration and an unknown future.

However, on Sept. 1,

I saw a community of those professionals come together to work toward a brighter future and the momentum keeps going. The goal of the "Red Alert, RESTART" campaign was to light up iconic event venues red to show support for our brothers and sisters in the events business and their struggles. In Oklahoma City, some of the largest and long-standing venues were emblazoned with a beautiful red.

The RESTART program is a federal aid package in Congress that is trying to get through committees to help the people working in the events and entertainment industries, but that's not what I'm here to talk about.

What I saw on Sept. 1 were teams of fierce business competitors who put aside their company colors and worked together, as one community. I saw the people, not just the companies, but the people in these professions who are also struggling. I saw rivals working together and not caring about whose name came first, or who could market their work for more business. This was about all of them equally. Shining above all that, is that their efforts generated attention and goodwill for their cause, but new friendships were built across the board. This industry truly became one force that night. This has led to more learning and sharing to lift up the industry as a whole.

Only time will tell if the RESTART Act gets through, but without a doubt, this community benefited from the work done that night.

What can we all learn from this? Maybe the lesson is that it took a global pandemic for neighbors in our own city to realize they aren't that different. Maybe it is that working together across the aisles can benefit not only ourselves, but our community as a whole. Either way, those lessons are a nice benefit in a difficult year.