The Night Time Industries Association is putting Sydney’s nightlife on the election agenda.
Nightclub and restaurant owners were among Sydneysiders supporting the Unite for the Night campaign, with slogans like ‘Lousy, lazy, lockout laws’ and ‘Good night nanny state’ displayed on posters and coasters around Sydney venues.
The Night Time Industries Association held the launch to educate the public on how they could make a difference to the night time economy.
Unite for the Night spokesperson Dan Lacaze said the event came at a “really important moment in time” for Sydney to consider their voting tendencies.
“Its objective is to change the narrative about Sydney’s nightlife to be a positive narrative about how creative and vibrant the city can be and away from the negativity around everything that’s happened in the past,” Mr Lacaze said.
A big supporter of Sydney’s live music scene is Mary’s Group, and owner Jake Smythe believes it is his job to save the nightlife of the city.
“I’ve got kids, I’ve got friends … and what are they gonna look at me and say, ‘What did you do while the city was sleeping?’
“And the reality is that’s what I’m here for.”
Live musicians calling it quits as a result of venue closures is something former 26-year-old musician Jordan has had to deal with, saying music was “one of the biggest aspects of [his] life”, however as the momentum died out so did his band.
Thirty-one-year-old Amelia Rochford touches on her experience of live music in Sydney.
“I’ve been going to concerts since I was a young teenager … music is such an important part of life that it’s important to make sure that it’s available to people in Sydney.”
Kerry Glasscock from Sydney Fringe Festival says it is important to “see who is putting their money where their mouth is and see who is supporting our sector. And vote!
“Make a commitment to go out and use the night because you will lose the night.”
