Covid-19: NI live events staff struggle as sound of silence continues
By Alan Haslam
The live music and events industry has been a high-profile casualty of the coronavirus crisis.
We all miss the collective, communal excitement of the gigs and festivals banned under current restrictions.
But what about those who work behind the scenes?
The future looks highly uncertain for sound engineers, lighting designers, riggers, backline techs and others who help to bring live events to life.
Approximately 7,500 people work in Northern Ireland s live events industry and most have been without employment since the pandemic struck last March.
Despite the arrival of vaccines and rapid-turnaround tests, there are still uncertainties about when they can return to their jobs.