As the coronavirus disrupts or merely threatens a growing list of major U.S. events — from Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle to Miami’s Ultra Music Festival — it has also put wages, tips and even jobs tied to those major gatherings in jeopardy.

Days after the city of Austin canceled South by Southwest, the organizers of the annual music, film and media festival laid off about a third of their 175 year-round employees on Monday.

“We are in the unimaginable position of reducing our workforce,” a SXSW spokesperson told the Austin American-Statesman. “We are planning for the future and this was a necessary, but heartbreaking, step.”

With the 33rd edition of festival supposed to start on Friday, organizers are not just scrambling to take down banners in downtown Austin. The event must also decide how to address contracts with the hundreds of local venues and vendors who rely on the 10-day event.

Roland Swenson, the CEO and co-founder of SXSW, <a href=”https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-by-southwest-hit-hard-by-coronavirus-cancellation-11583711311″ …continued .
[Source: Washington Post]