UK FESTIVAL AWARDS AND CONFERENCE DETAILS ANNOUNCED
The third annual UK Festival Conference has been launched with new media partners. Tickets for the Conference and the Awards on now sale for Thursday, November 18th 2010 at the British Music Experience, O2 Complex, London. The third annual Festival Awards UK Conference launches today with the addition of Brand Republic as a media partner. Set to take place on Thursday 18th November 2010 at the British Music Experience, part of London’s The O2, it has fast become the leading event for the Britain’s festival business, bringing the industry together to discuss the most pressing topics facing the sector. Following the huge success of last year’s Conference, Festival Awards Ltd, the organisation behind the Conference & Awards 2010 has expanded the number of panel discussions and recruited a further two of the UK’s leading media outlets as partners to this year’s event. Renowned international live music industry magazine Audience and the UK’s leading advertising, marketing, media and PR portal Brand Republic will join last year’s partners, Music Week, LiveUK, TPi Magazine and IQ to host conference sessions.As the UK continues to struggle with difficult economic conditions, Conference media partners will bring their individual expertise and market experience to produce discussions on the key issues in the festival industry – providing delegates with access to the most up-to-date thinking and developments. A topline overview of the six Conference Sessions is as follows, with further details including industry expert panellists to be announced in due course:‘Making your festival profitable’ - in association with Music Week Running a festival is a fun – but risky – business, especially with so much competition in the market and difficult economic conditions. From policing expenses and infrastructure to all the little “extras” that give events their uniqueness, what options are there for cutting costs without compromising quality, and what non-traditional revenue streams can be accessed? This panel of experts will show you how.‘Best Practice for Leveraging Branded Activity at Music Festivals without selling out’ - in association with Brand Republic. More information about the Brand Republic session will be announced shortly.‘Non-ticketed events should be banned…discuss’ - in association with TPI. The Love Parade disaster was a tragic example of the dangers presented by non-ticketed music events, but there is also evidence that, if managed properly with the correct crowd control measures, these events can operate safely. Key figures in crowd management will debate the viability of banning non-ticketed events and discuss the pivotal relationship between crowd control measures and the enjoyment of the festival-goer. ‘The Crime Busters’ - in association with LIVE UK. Although festivals have exemplary crime rates, compared with communities of the same size, large crowds of young people enjoying themselves are still seen as easy prey for organised crime gangs. In a follow-up to last year’s panel, LIVE UK will be reviewing the effects of this season’s anti-crime initiatives, discussing new ideas and looking at the threats festival organisers still need to be aware of..‘Battle of the Bands’ - in association with Audience. While tens of thousands of aspiring wannabes worldwide are constantly locked in battles for prizes and profile, there’s a maelstrom of conflicts taking place at the top of the business, as festivals fight for the best artists and agents struggle to secure prime positions and fees. Acts mean audiences; with fans even prepared to move between countries to see their favourite artists. This panel examines this relatively new dynamic.‘Dispatches from the Field’ - in association with IQ. Part of the joy of festivals is their unpredictability. From hurricanes and heatwaves, to riots and revelry, we all have a festival tale or two, but this panel of industry experts have them in abundance. IQ Magazine will be welcoming an allstar cast to the stage to swap festival tales from the frontline, as they share some of their highs, lows and most unusual moments from the field. James Drury, the newly appointed Managing Director of Festival Awards Ltd said: “Last year’s events were a real success, with over 1,000 people at the Awards, and 500 at the Conference. We are building on those achievements to make 2010 even better. The number of conference panels has been increased to six in order to provide more opportunities for debate of the key issues in the industry, while the Awards ceremony will again see the highlights from the last 12 months picked out by thousands of festival-goers and our judging panels of journalists and industry experts. The British festival industry is regarded the world over as a model of best practice thanks to its professionalism, and the market’s vibrancy and popularity. After a day of thought-provoking conference sessions, the UK Festival Awards will be a celebration worthy of another year of great achievement.”Tickets for the Festival Awards UK Conference & Awards 2010 have now gone on sale via the exclusive ticketing platform HMV Tickets and are available in the following price structures. Delegates wishing to attend the Conference and/or Award events can combine ticket packages to suit their needs: Platinum Ticket £145
- • Table seat for Festival Awards show with some complimentary drinks at Indigo2 (12 seats per table; option to buy full table available)
- • Three-course gourmet meal with wine
- • Entry to UKFA after-show party
- • Delegate Bag
Conference only £60
- • Full conference delegate pass to all sessions at British Music Experience, The O2, London
- • Copy of the UK Festival Report
- • Drinks reception
- • Delegate Bag
Awards only £30
- • Mezzanine access to the Awards show at IndigO2, London
- • Entry to after-show party
More information on the Festival Awards UK Conference & Awards 2010 can be found at www.festivalawards.comand www.festivalconference.com, while tickets can be purchased directly from HMV Tickets by visitingwww.hmvtickets.com/festivalawards/events/1311