“I think we were one of the first industries to come to a screeching halt,” said John Huddleston, director of Live Events for Upstaging, in an interview for WGN9 in Chicago. His Sycamore, IL, company has retooled from equipping large concert tours for the likes of The Rolling Stones, Billie Eilish, and Paul McCartney to making protective masks and plastic room dividers, using a warehouse of equipment, a fleet of semis, and employees to fabricate products. “We’re pivoting to whatever’s in demand,” Huddleston adds. Watch the video interview with Huddleston here.
Zach Zlevor of ETC in Middleton, WI, posted this news on LinkedIn: “My company is currently producing face shields for those fighting the COVID-19 outbreak. We have just shipped our first order today. There are masks still available to be allocated. If a hospital purchaser contacts me directly, I can put them on a list. We are producing these at cost and are not looking to make a profit.” Order a face shield here.
Other companies are also working to help with the COVID-19 crisis, such as Mountain Productions, headquartered in Wilkes Barre, PA. CEO Ricky Rose explains their focus on building robust emergency structures that can be used as hospitals if needed in an interview for ABC Eye Witness News.
PRG and VER are ready with gear that can be used in emergency situations, and transform any space into a medical or communications center. Gear includes two-way radios, staging and decks, battery-operated lighting, rigging and portable truss structures, power distribution, Wi-Fi access points, IT staff, and all rentals come with 24/7 technical support.