AUSTIN, Texas — The cancellation of South by Southwest due to the coronavirus is leaving many small businesses, artists, and filmmakers in a bind.
“Go out to eat, drink and listen to live music. Support the artists, businesses, and working people who make Austin special,” Austin Mayor Steve Adler said in a tweet on March 7.
The tweet included a video featuring Mayor Adler, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, and State Senator Kirk Watson urging Austinites to contribute to the local economy.
Mayor Adler suggested that people donate to the Stand With Austin Fund. Austin Community Foundation, a nonprofit, created the fund to collect charitable donations to assist individuals and small businesses impacted by the cancellation of SXSW.
Meanwhile, some Austin residents are making an effort to tip service workers more.
“I keep thinking I might do a one-person movement, #TipForTwo, tipping double my typical 20% in Austin during when #SXSW would have been,” Capital Tonight contributor Harold Cook said in a tweet on March 7.