Wednesday, September 13, 2023
WDBJ7 Investigates: Blue Ridge Rock Festival canceled after nearly 200 stagehand workers strike
www.wdbj7.com: A strike ended the music at Blue Ridge Rock Fest, but it may not have been from lightning.
WDBJ7 is investigating what some are calling the ‘nightmare’ Blue Ridge Rock Festival (BRRF), and what led to its cancelation.
The organizers stated they canceled the festival because of the weather. But some people are saying that’s not the full story.
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3 comments:
I commend the stagehands on walking out from the horrific working conditions at Blue Ridge Rock Fest. Stagehands are so integral to a show running smoothly that it is shocking how little they were taken care of from the start of this festival. The festival should have provided enough facilities from the moment the stagehands arrived. Having only six porta-potties is disgusting. Any outdoor event must be adequately prepared for anything the weather may do, including storms and extreme heat. Blaming the cancellation on weather rather than owning up to the fact that stagehands were striking is such a horrible move on the festival’s part. There is no way that the news of over 100 people striking a festival wouldn’t spread, so it’s crazy for Blue Ridge Rock Fest to think that they could cover up the strike at all. I think this will lead to only more bad press for a festival that has an already tainted reputation.
This article broke my heart and got me feeling very angry and I knew it would just by reading the title. One thing I am so incredibly passionate about is safety and proper accommodations for artists. How are artists supposed to create the art they are being paid to create if their basic human needs are not being met? How is anyone supposed to do any type of work without their basic needs being met? Things like this cannot happen. And the fact that it was covered up and the company tried to hide the real reason for the show cancellation makes it even worse. It means they knew what they did wrong and did not want to own up to it or solve it. I am so grateful the real story was revealed and I hope it is catching people's attention. If I could fix one thing in our industry it would be this. No one should have to worry about having a safe and clean place to live while they are working.
Time and time again you read disappointing stories like this. Why is it so difficult for business leaders to do the right thing? Why are workers quality of life so expendable? It was the right thing to do- strike- stop working- force the leaders to do something. Unfortunately the guests and the workers took the hit- not a surprise. Corporate greed is at an all time high- if people don’t push back- it’s scary to think what will happen. It’s incredible that the festival is blaming the weather as a way to get away refunding tickets. I hope the reporters and workers not let up until the truth is out there and people are compensated for the gross negligence of the festival leaders.
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