Context: Live events worker who builds and rigs mainly concerts and music festivals, throw in some conventions and corporate work for good measure. Prior to Covid working rate at heights (full body harness, fall arrest system, etc) might be between $20-40 per hour depending on whether you're working for a union or non-union company as a short term employee or 1099 contractor. A lot of my days were spent sitting around waiting for a phone call from the union hall asking me to come into work the next day, not knowing if there was going to be any work beyond that because that's how this industry is or getting an offer a week before an event is supposed to begin being built prior to the "big show". It really can set up a dynamic that you feel like you have to take all the work that's offered to you because you never know when you might be off for an extended period of time.

So..... After not working for close to 2 years and having unemployment/PUA stopped in May, finances were getting really tight but by September I began getting calls for work that did not reflect appropriate compensation for my time, minimal hours, hazard pay for literally working during a pandemic in an industry where there's a potential for high exposure until the "talent" shows up and Covid protocol, testing, etc. goes into hypermode. Until then they basically don't give a s***.

I'm fully vaxxed and boosted before I took a 13 day gig setting up NYE event in a Southern metropolitan city 20 hours away from where I live. It was supposed to be more days but by the time I got there they had already cut two days off the beginning, three days off the end and included a blackout day in the middle. Covid protocols were very lax as we were for the most part working outside. The state I was working in is currently suing about mask mandates. Hardly anyone is wearing a mask in hotels, bars and restaurants etc.

Because I didn't wear a mask 24/7 I ended up getting covid about 5 days in. Now I'm isolating for the next 10 days in a hotel room in the middle of the country on my own dime (because I'm an independent contractor) during Christmas and I'll be losing out on another $3K next week from lost wages, not to mention I still need to drive 2 days to get back to where I live. 2021 what a bust!

I thought I did everything right. I wanted to return back to the workforce and was eager for the opportunity to apply my craft to help bring live events and hopefully some enjoyment back to people but all I got was really financially f***** after a really hard 2 years.

I'm now questioning whether it's actually even safe for us to be holding live events as Omnicron ravages around the world.

The reality is that most employers could really give two f**** about the workers of the world and that's why I will seriously be considering what my time is worth going forward and shooting for the Moon when asking for appropriate compensation and if I end up working less then so be it. 2022 is supposedly going to be so busy there wil be work coming out of our ears for live event workers. Now is the time to charge the f*** out of employers and contract work.

I will be asking for a minimum of a $350 day rate Plus going forward. F*** that hourly s*** and I don't care if I'm only there for 2 hours you're going to pay me for a full eight.

In summary, stack on an extra $50 to $100 more than what you think you should make in a day and go from there because when you're stuck isolating for 10 days during the holidays on your own dime ain't no one give two f****.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!