News
#ILoveLive Prize Draw: Win EC’s Martin Custom Acoustic Guitar
28 Nov 20
Eric Clapton has donated his Martin Custom Acoustic guitar to Stagehand’s UK prize draw #ILoveLive fundraising campaign to raise vital funds for all the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes in the live music industry. Without them shows just couldn’t happen. For a chance of winning Eric’s guitar and help those in need, entries can be purchased at crowdfunder.co.uk/win-eric-clapton-guitar. Each entry costs £5 and individuals can enter multiple times.
The impact of Covid-19 has been devastating for the entire music industry but particularly for the stage techs, sound engineers, guitar techs, keyboard techs, drum techs, stage managers, production managers, tour managers and other live support personnel who make shows possible.
With no shows since March, crew’s income has been slashed with many finding that they are ineligible for any kind of government financial aid. Many are in desperate need. This applies across the board, from those people that earn a living building and operating shows at grassroots level to those that work with the largest stadium artists. The #ILoveLive fundraising effort will raise money to support them this winter. Stagehand’s immediate plan is to help the crew in most need, those who are close to losing the roof over their head, or those that are struggling to put food on the table.
The Stagehand Prize Draw:
Eric Clapton has donated his custom Martin Custom Acoustic guitar to this prize draw fundraising campaign. To be in with a chance of winning the the guitar Stagehand, the public facing name of the PSA Welfare and Benevolent Fund, is holding a prize draw with each entry costing £5. An individual can enter multiple times. Entries can be purchased between Friday 27th November and Thursday 17th December at crowdfunder.co.uk/win-eric-clapton-guitar. The winner will be announced by Stagehand on Tuesday 23 December.
The Prize:
The guitar is a Martin custom shop OM, made for George Gruhn guitars, from highly figured “sinker” mahogany, from trees which were harvested in Belize between 1880 and 1920. When these trees were cut down, the logs were floated down rivers to the sawmills. Approximately one third of the wood sank during the process. The wood was lost for nearly a century, but with the use of sonar and scuba gear, the wood was found and acquired by Martin Guitars Prior to being offered as part of the fundraising effort for Stagehand’s #ILoveLive campaign this guitar was sat in Eric Clapton’s sitting room and has been played at home since he acquired it. Eric Clapton will dedicate the guitar to the winning ticket holder.
To Enter:
Buy at least one entry at £5 and to be entered into the prize draw. Multiple entries stand a higher chance of winning. Entries can be purchased at crowdfunder.co.uk/win-eric-clapton-guitar. Terms and conditions apply and can be reviewed at crowdfunder.co.uk/win-eric-clapton-guitar.
About Stagehand and The PSA
Founded in 1996, The PSA is the UK trade association for individuals and businesses providing technical production services to live events. A member funded, member focussed, organisation, the PSA membership consists of around 2000 self employed technicians and 300 memberships in technical supply businesses.
Stagehand is the public facing name of the PSA Welfare and Benevolent Fund; a registered UK charity launched over 2 decades ago with the aim of raising and distributing funds for members, former members and their families who fall on hard times through illness or injury. More recently, the trustees launched a ring-fenced fund to subsidise Mental Health First Aid training for self employed members, as part of our mission to improve our sector’s approach to mental health.
The Stagehand Covid-19 Crew Relief Fund
The crisis in the sector caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the focus to those unable to work due to the current crisis. Live production workers and businesses were amongst the first to be affected, it is now clear that many live production crews are reaching a critical point with basic living expenses outstripping income. This applies across the board, from those people that earn a living building and operating shows at grassroots level to those that work with the largest stadium artists. Extensions to the Job Retention Scheme have come too late for many companies; they were forced to make redundancies in the summer. 20% of self employed workers fell through the cracks in support; these are the people Stagehand intends to support through this fund.
Stagehand’s immediate plan is to help the crew in most need, those who are close to losing the roof over their head, or those that are struggling to put food on the table. Grants will be considered to any UK crew worker who is working in the live music sector. They do not have to be PSA members.
CLICK HERE to visit Stagehand’s #ILoveLive Crowd Funder, purchase entries for a chance to win Eric Clapton’s Martin Custom Acoustic Guitar and review terms and conditions.
CLICK HERE to learn more about other #ILoveLive Prize Draws in the fundraising campaign.