(This is the last day I'm pushing this - consider supporting the vast network of people who make a living connected to events. There are a lot of them.)
I try not to ask people to do anything other than tolerate me a couple times a week, but there's a bill offering grants to convention supported businesses that needs support. Its purpose is to recognize that conventions have essentially been impossible, that they provide value to the communities they operate in, and that the state has an interest in supporting that industry - an industry that enables other industries.
I tweeted about it earlier, Senate Bill 5770/House Bill 1879. These bills are in committees with very short sessions, only a few more days. I never use bold tags on this website, that's how important this is. I even spoke to the government about it, and I wore a button-up shirt, long an indicator of adult seriousness. I had to sign into the Zoom at 8am, but my part wasn't until way later. It was a chance to see all kinds of people advocate for things that were important to them, and I sorta thought that's what I was gonna do, but it wasn't just me. I heard a speaker from the convention center in Yakima who'd had to cancel dozens of events. Then we heard from other convention organizers. Then we heard from the people whose business takes place at conventions. It's even written so that even people who sell their art or games at a con get support. Like I said, I try not to bother people with shit. But you can probably figure out that a couple years of the world being the way it is makes things terrible on literally every axis. Federally, they've kicked out the supports, as though this thing is over. It ain't over. It dug a hole that people will be trying to climb out of for years, and the programs that do exist barely function. If you know, you know.
After the presentations I saw I'd be surprised if the budget in the original proposal was even up to the task. So, this is what I would like to ask - please put in a word of support for the people sustained by the convention ecosystem, and encourage the legislature to expand their grant proposal to do so. Right now the pot they're trying to establish is 5 million total for everybody wrecked by this thing, which ain't gonna cut it - the community of people connected to this in Washington is too big. I know it's kind of a pain, but there are a lot of people in my state this could help - everybody who works here included. So, how can you do it? Well, you can start by letting the twitter accounts for the Legislatures know that this is important:
@WAHouseDems
@WaHouseGOP
@WashingtonSRC
@WASenDemocrats
Next, emails to the Senate Ways & Means Committee and House Appropriations Comittee. The Chairs and Vice Chairs listed at the top of these pages are good people to contact, but democracy is a social instrument, which means that the more specific you can get with your representatives the more salient it will be. Our own Laura Frohmwerk even made these cool letters if you need a place to start from:
[Local / Events Enthusiast]
I'm a constituent from **//ZipCode//** and I'm writing to express my support of Substitute Senate Bill 5770 and House Bill 1879, which would grant up to $5M total to convention-reliant businesses in Washington state.
The impact of Covid-19 on large gatherings cannot be understated, and the people and businesses who rely on the events industry for survival have been in constant struggle for almost 3 years. While virtual gatherings and events have been a lifeline for communities, sustaining an online presence takes time, resources, and skills that many conventions don't have the ability to provide, and some have shuttered completely. Artists, artisans, and performers can't sell their wares or ply their trade as easily online, and competing for attention in a virtual landscape is in many ways a nightmare.
I encourage you to pass these bills and expand the budget beyond the $5M allotted. These events, and the communities that surround them, all understand the importance of staying home, healthy, and distanced for as long as possible to mitigate the spread of the virus. This grant program not only allows the industry and those who support it to remain active and working; it rewards the time, effort, and sacrifices they've made in the service of keeping their communities safe.
[Out-of State/ Events Enthusiast]
As a regular attendee of **//PAX, SakuraCon, OrcaCon//** I'm writing to express my support of Substitute Senate Bill 5770 and House Bill 1879, which would grant up to $5M total to convention-reliant businesses in Washington state.
The impact of Covid-19 on large gatherings cannot be overstated, and the people and businesses who rely on the events industry for survival have been in constant struggle for almost 3 years. While virtual gatherings and events have been a lifeline for communities, sustaining an online presence takes time, resources, and skills that many conventions don't have the ability to provide, and some have shuttered completely. Artists, artisans, and performers can't sell their wares or ply their trade as easily online, and competing for attention in a virtual landscape is in many ways a nightmare.
I encourage you to pass these bills and expand the budget beyond the $5M allotted. These events, and the communities that surround them, all understand the importance of staying home, healthy, and distanced for as long as possible to mitigate the spread of the virus. This grant program not only allows the industry and those who support it to remain active and working; it rewards the time, effort, and sacrifices they've made in the service of keeping their communities safe.
[Events Professional]
I'm a **//constituent from Zipcode or Job Title from City, State//** and I represent my company, **//Company Name//**. I'm writing you today to express support for Substitute Senate Bill 5770 and House Bill 1879, which would grant up to $5M total to convention-reliant businesses in Washington state.
As someone whose work relies on large events and conventions, I have a clear interest in supporting both bills---but the impact of this legislation would extend far beyond my business. Over the past 22 months, I've watched many in this industry try to capture the spirit of an in-person gathering online with mixed results. Virtual gatherings may have allowed us to chat with strangers and trade information with potential customers, but many artists, artisans, and performers find their work can't be distributed as easily online, let alone at a competitive rate. Larger businesses have had to lay off or furlough their staff, and some have had to close their doors forever. For smaller businesses, the outlook is even bleaker, many having to choose between exposing others or being exposed to a deadly virus and making rent for the month.
We're well aware of the impact this pandemic continues to have on our food and hospitality industries, but the making of a convention takes more than room and board, and their absence has been felt. Union laborers who help build, rig, and light our exhibition halls, manufacturers who produce and house the wares we sell, share, and donate, transportation services who help our carefully-designed pieces reach their destination---all of these and more make up our industry, and they need our help. SSB 5770 and HB 1879 could be just the relief they need.
I encourage you to pass SSB 5770, and expand its budget beyond the $5M allotted.
-------
Thank you. I'm going to spend the rest of the week praying to Tymora.
(CW)TB
