NITO, AEG Presents, Bandit Lites & Other Industry Partners Launch #Vax4Live Campaign

Vax4Live
 – Vax4Live

Tour announcements for late summer and fall are continuing to roll in and more festivals are unveiling plans for 2021 – hope is in the air that live events are finally returning. To make sure that happens, the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), AEG Presents, Bandit Lites and other industry partners have launched the #Vax4Live national campaign to encourage music fans to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

 
Fox Theatre Atlanta (GA), Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), the Independent Promoter Alliance (IPA), Red Light Management and Universal Attractions Agency are also taking part in the campaign that began April 22 with “the goal of spreading awareness, gathering support, acquiring partners and preparing calls to action and initiatives that will provide guidance, resources and factual information regarding vaccination efforts and how we can safely return to live events.”
The website Vax4Live.org has been set up with links to articles from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detailing key things to know about COVID vaccines, the benefits of a COVID vaccine, and myths and facts about COVID vaccines.  
The site has a “Count Up To Live” tally, noting that 225,640,460 vaccines have been given as of April 24 – and that “the faster we get the COVID-19 vaccination, the sooner we can more safely open our clubs, arenas, theaters, stadiums, exhibition centers, festivals and all other live events.”
Vax4Live.org also includes a button to “Get Vaccinated” that links to the CDC’s website to search for vaccine providers near you. Fans and industry partners are encouraged to spread the word about the “facts about the vax” to friends, family, neighbors and “anyone who loves live events” by following NITO’s socials and sharing posts on social media. 
“Equitable vaccine access and distribution are the only path forward for live events. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass enthusiastically supports the efforts of Vax4Live and the mission to get music fans properly educated and vaccinated,” Sheri Sternberg, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival’s executive producer, said in a statement. 
As part of the #Vax4Live campaign, the website includes a “Shot in the Arm” Spotify playlist with gems such as “A Shot in the Arm” by Wilco, “Sure Shot” by Beastie Boys, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar and “Magic Stick” by Lil’ Kim. 
One example of the very real effect the vaccine effort can have on live events is Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas, which announced April 20 that it was postponed from May 21-23 to October 22-24 because of a change in Clark County, Nev., reopening plans that requires 60% of its residents to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before large-scale gatherings can take place.
“Unfortunately, the rate at which people get vaccinated before EDC is out of our control. It might happen in time, it might not. Either way, we can’t take that risk,” Insomniac founder Pasquale Rotella announced via social media April 20.