Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2024 - 43

advocacy. And when I say advocacy, there
are a number of different levels. But as a
service and member organization, we are
a powerful voice of people that, unfortunately
in many ways, are " invisible " by federal
government standards.
We are currently assessed as a $386
billion industry. About two years ago, this
workforce development group came together,
realizing that the majority of the
people that work in our industry are gig
workers. USITT is a part of this group,
along with the Event Safety Alliance,
Music Forward, and a number of other
heavy hitters from different parts of the live
entertainment industry; all are in the room
talking about how to get a tax ID code, how
to look at these structures so that we can
get recognition and federal funding support
for the people in our industry to get
legit apprentices and certified training for
these careers.
So that's a long game goal for us for
USITT to be a part of that. We have a huge
membership. If we can advocate when
there are bills in Congress that do fair labor
practices for gig workers, that deal
with charitable tax credits for nonprofits,
especially for support for education and
training, then this can be a powerful machine
and people's voices can get heard.
We can also advocate for things that are
important to us, like sustainability in our
own industry, but we have to be aware of it
and have the connections. This goes back
to our Regional Sections, this goes back
to all of our membership through commissions
and how to reach the Members
and the multiple ways to say, " Here's our
advocate in Washington, D.C. They've got
a letter template, get in touch with your
member of Congress. "
Those are some of the places where
we're partnering with other parts of the live
entertainment industry, and they look to us
as the ones who have the next generation
coming through our membership and into
the workforce. And that's why it's really important
for us to participate.
Shuron: Is there anything you can share
with the membership about what we're
planning for the USITT conference in
Columbus?
Everett: There's so much to look
forward to in Columbus. We're working
with CAPA (Columbus Association for the
Performing Arts), a community organization
that oversees a great deal of the arts
ISSUE 3, 2024 | THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY | 43
as their head nonprofit. They are working
with us to offer a number of the historic
theaters and other spaces. We are working
with folks there to see if we can do some
workshops in these spaces.
The area where the convention center
is located is just south of what's called
the Short North, the space on High Street
that goes up towards The Ohio State
University, and there are great galleries,
shops, and a whole culture around that.
The German village is worth an Uber ride
to go visit for the German cuisine and see
some of the architecture in that part of
town.
I think the architecture tour is going
to be epic because there are so many interesting
things to see there. And there are
some great organizational partners that
are based there. There is also a massive
drag scene in Columbus, OH-talk about
live entertainment crossover that is important
for us. Watch for some interaction
with that community to take place as far as
our show. Also, it's our 65th anniversary.
So that'll be woven into some of the things
that we do and some of the history.
There will be a larger memorial
event, too. Dr. Joel E. Rubin, who is the
last of USITT's founders to leave us,
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