Someone has to come out and say this so it might as well be me. Time to say enough of the never-ending doom and gloom.

Enough of the Victorian events industry in crisis to the point it will never recover and be wiped out. Enough of the poor whoa me, we are hard done by.

Enough of let’s just blame the government for not handing out blank cheques.

Enough berating other industry organisations and individuals for finding other ways to communicate with government that does not match what the Save Victorian Events approach is.

Time to get real here and provide a realistic view that has somehow got lost in all the noise that has been created and frankly has become tiring.

Firstly, whilst having good intentions at the start, Save Victorian Events does not reflect the view of everyone in the Victorian events industry. It simply reflects the view of a minority who wish to be associated with it.

Secondly, all I can see at the moment are phones running hot with business that is on its way back. The statement I’m hearing is that I can’t keep up with the demand with the main issue being the availability of staff. No arguments there but that’s a much better problem to have than the phones not ringing at all. All you have to do is see how many organisations are out there every day looking for staff.

Thirdly, I’m yet to see where the predicted hundreds of event related businesses to close have actually happened. Whilst I am sure some have moved on, personally I can’t name one, as all the suppliers we work with are too busy getting themselves going again.

Fourthly, there are so many industry organisations who have been doing the hard yards behind the scenes in their own discreet way.

No ranting and appointing blame to anyone else.

These have included but not limited to Meetings and Events Australia, Melbourne Convention Bureau, Victorian Tourism Industry Council, City of Melbourne, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Despite all the work and announcements of industry grants and programs, all we still seem to hear is one complaint after another and nothing positive or constructive to offer.

What happens over time is that people tune out as it sounds like a broken record.

So, can we please stop dragging the entire industry down just because a few are on a personal crusade to save the world. As an industry, we are better than this and everyone who has made a positive contribution should be applauded.

Right now, the events industry bus is filling up and moving on as the majority want to be able to control their own destiny, rather than sit and wait for others to determine it.

It’s up to everyone else to work out if they want to be on that bus or get left behind wondering where it all went wrong.