This New Program Funds Free Ubers Home For At-Risk Comedians Performing At Night
The Light The Way Home program could save lives, and it needs your help.
A new initiative launched by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival will provide at-risk comedians with free Uber trips home after late night shows. The program is called Light The Way Home, and it could just save lives.
Content warning: murder, sexual assault.
As Melbourne International Comedy Festival director Susan Provan points out, “starting out as a performer often means working late at night and not earning any money. It’s not fair that artists have to compromise their personal safety in order to build a career.”
It’s not fair, and a program like Light The Way Home could make all the difference. It aims to make sure a diverse group of people can perform comedy and get involved in the scene: accordingly, the program will be open not just to female comedians, but to trans and non-binary performers, and anyone else who feels vulnerable getting home alone after dark. Those who sign up will be given access to an Uber account administered by the MICF, which will allow them to get a free trip home when they need it.
We’re delighted to announce a new collaboration with members of the Melbourne comedy community – Light The Way Home – an initiative for performers in need to access Uber journeys home at night – at no cost. More info at https://t.co/JbeNTnmSBY
— MelbourneComedyFest (@micomfestival) March 18, 2019
It’s not totally clear how that will work in practice as yet, but the need for a program like this couldn’t be clearer. Just last year, 22-year-old Melbourne comedian Eurydice Dixon was murdered on her way home from performing a show. Earlier this year, 21-year-old student Aiia Maasarwe was also killed on her way home from an evening comedy show.
The program will be funded by donations, with Melbourne International Comedy Festival matching the first $10,000 donations dollar for dollar. Online donations will launch on the Comedy Festival website shortly, and performers interested in signing up to the program can find information on how to do so there.
The plan is for Light The Way Home to run throughout the Melbourne International Comedy Festival later this month. If it gets enough donations, it will support vulnerable performers in Melbourne year-round. If you’ve got a bit of spare cash and the privilege of knowing you can get home safe, consider donating. You could save lives.