PRODUCTION FUTURES 2018 For the third time, TPi Magazine welcomed students and young freelancers to Production Park for this year’s Production Futures. With record attendee numbers the TPi team invited even more exhibitors, training session and the inaugural TPi Talks; this was certainly an event not to be missed.
It’s truly humbling to see how far Production Futures has come from the initial conversations held at TPi HQ in 2016. What began as a mission to create an event that caters for the next generation of the live events industry, has led TPi to create an entirely new awards initiative, a monthly column in the magazine, and of course – three successful events. For three of those years, we have brought some of the most reputable manufactures, rentals houses and educational institutions under one (very large) roof to pass on their knowledge. Taking place slightly later in the year then the two previous incarnations of Production Futures, TPi once again made a temporary home in Production Park’s LS-Live rehearsal studios. Moving in the day after the Mumford and Sons production vacated, TPi and the team from GoTo Live got to work to create a more ambitious production for the 850 preregistered attendees expected to roll up the following day. Working with a similar shell scheme as previous years, support for Production Futures came in the shape of Creative Technology, Green Hippo, AED, Avolites, Adlib, TAIT, Eclipse, Brilliant Stages, DBpixelhouse, TRUCKINGBY Brian Yeardley, White Light, IPS, ADJ, ISCE, Sennheiser, Pearce Hire and Hawthorn.
Commenting on his involvement with Production Futures, DBpixelhouse’s Matt Rakowski said: “We were really excited to be involved with Production Futures for the first time this year - but the reality of being there exceeded our expectations. The event was really well-organised and the students who attended were well-suited to our business and very interested in what we do.” Sitting along side those companies was a selection of the UK’s finest education establishments, including: The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Backstage Academy, University of South Wales, The BRIT School, LIPA, BIMM, Rose Bruford College, University of Derby and Confetti. A selection of associations who provide a variety of services for aspiring techs of the future with the PSA, Women in Live Music and the Society of Television Lighting and Design were also on site. Pearce Hire’s Jim Brown commented: “Last year we met and employed a full-time member of staff and this year’s Production Futures was another day well spent out of the office. We met a good mix of young people from all over the country and we made a couple of excellent freelance connections two of whom have already worked for us since we met them.” This year, TPi was keen to have a more hands-on experience than the 82
