In its 25th year, Stagehand, the original live event production workers charity, is running the third of its Christmas fundraisers, #ILoveLive3. This year's campaign recognises the immense challenges faced by the live event production industry and aims to provide crucial support to UK-based touring and festival crews dealing with serious physical or mental ill health.
As ever, the fundraiser includes items from big names in music, from signed set lists to drum skins. Jonathan Higgs, frontman of art rock band Everything Everything, emphasised the crucial role crew members play in touring activities, stating, "Our crew are a vital part of our touring activities; we couldn't do it without them. I'd encourage all live music fans to get involved and give back to the people behind the scenes." Lighting Designer Tom Campbell of MIRRAD, who has worked with an array of high-profile bands, said that "research has found that touring professionals are 5-10 times more likely than the general population to experience mental health challenges, facing industry-specific challenges such as irregular sleep patterns, performance pressures, and demanding travel schedules: all of which contribute to the vulnerability of touring personnel to serious mental health issues."
#ILoveLive3 runs through Crowdfunder with tickets priced at £5 to remain accessible to all music fans. The prize draw is scheduled for Friday, January 5th 2024, when winners will be announced. Entries will close on Friday, December 22nd. The Pink Floyd poster in this prize draw is an original The Wall poster that was designed by cartoonist and illustrator Gerald Scarfe for the release of the band's iconic 1979 album of the same name.
Since 1979, the poster has been the personal property of the band's one-time live sound engineer Bryan Grant, who has now kindly donated it to the Stagehand fundraiser. Bryan was the Managing Director of the legendary company, Britannia Row Productions, the live sound rental business which was founded by Pink Floyd.
You can buy your entry tickets for the next three days, through this direct link at Crowdfunder.co.uk. Good luck!