Stuttgart, June 23, 2020. Together with numerous other players in the events industry, the Stuttgart-based concert and event specialists SKS Michael Russ GmbH, Gierss Veranstaltungstechnik GmbH, mad music Veranstaltungstechnik GmbH, Music Circus Concertbüro GmbH & Co. KG, and follow red GmbH sent a shining message during the night of June 22–23, heeding the call from the “Initiative for the Events Industry” and LK-AG Essen: As a symbol of “Red Alert” and the industry’s dire situation, countless buildings and structures throughout Germany were bathed in red light starting at 10 p.m. The reason for this is the precarious economic situation in which companies in the events industry have found themselves since the coronavirus crisis began.
The COVID-19 crisis has hit the entire events industry hard. Event agencies, as well as trade show builders, event technicians, and venue operators, have lost a significant portion of their business due to the ban on events in effect since March 10, 2020, and some are now fighting for their very survival. With the “Night of Light” campaign, the events industry has now sent out a symbolic cry for help, intended to draw attention to an industry threatened with extinction. In several hundred cities, event venues, buildings, and structures were illuminated with red light during the night of June 22–23, 2020. Industry participants from all sectors of the events industry took part in the campaign. The “Night of Light” was accompanied by a live stream in which prominent figures from the event industry discussed the current situation and the future of the sector. As event and concert specialists, the partners—SKS Michael Russ, Gierss, mad music, Music Circus, and follow red—have been active in the industry for many years and are passionate about creating live experiences. “By participating in the ‘Night of Light’ campaign, we want to support the industry and draw attention to the plight of the event sector,” says Sebastian Wiese, managing partner at follow red and head of the events division. Paul Woog, managing director of SKS Michael Russ GmbH, adds: “The events industry contributes to a diverse cultural and business life and brings people together—to ensure that this is possible again after the COVID-19 crisis, we need joint solutions and ways out of the crisis now.”
For more information on the “Night of Light” event, visit: https://night-of-light.de/
