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28/1/09
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Issue 25 February 2009 £4.75
70 per cent of waste ‘recyclable’
‘Business thrives on creativity’ By Christina Eccles FESTIVALS which offer something more creative rather than just relying on big name headliners will be the ones which cope well in a tough economy, according to the production manager of one of the UK’s most popular festivals. According to Loud Sound’s Jim King – production manager at Rockness – difficult economic conditions may hit hard but it is up to the industry to steer themselves through the challenges. Jim – who also works on Bestival – said that in a crowded marketplace, the events which will manage to keep the crowds coming will be those which offer something different and more unusual than their competitors. He said: “One of the challenges facing the industry is keeping shows competitive. The whole world is facing a period of economic uncertainty and it is down to us to steward the shows through and make sure they come out the other side. “Some will struggle and it will be survival of the fittest and most creative. Creativity comes out of recessions and this business thrives on creativity. The reason why Bestival
and Rockness are so successful is because they are delivering creativity that was not in the market before. Those who come up with a new idea and are not just reliant on the biggest bands will capture the imagination. People want to be entertained and feel they have got value for money. The shows that don’t deliver that will be the ones that fall.” Jim also revealed how Rockness is changing its ticketing options this year to ensure there is a ticket to meet every budget and those who can’t afford to attend for the whole weekend won’t miss out. Options which are available for the festival include: Day tickets for each of the three days, starting from £45. Two and three day weekend tickets. Two and three day camping tickets. A variety of VIP options. He added: “We have made the event more flexible for people to go to by introducing new ticketing options to suit different budgets. Festivalgoers can see 50 acts for £50. We want to ensure our shows come out of this the other side and we are confident they will.”
Leeds City Council’s events team prides itself on delivering a busy and diverse programme of events which appeals to both the local community and visitors alike. The team – which is headed up by events manager Sylvia McCann (pictured) – revealed to The Main Event, the challenges and rewards of working in a local authority events department and what they hope to achieve in 2009. Full story, Page 14 and 15
ABOUT 70 per cent of waste created by venues and events could be recycled, according to new research. Following a successful pilot scheme, which saw 70 per cent of the waste at ExCel London recycled, Sauce Consultancy and London Remade Solutions (LRS) are now offering this service to make events cleaner and greener. Sauce’s managing director John Twitchen said: “The ExCel pilot shows what's possible – the system was simple but effective and demonstrated the potential for diverting substantial amounts of recycling away from landfill. “Visitors to major venues can recycle at home, at work and at school, and it was second nature for them to recycle at ExCel. High recycling rates are no longer aspirational pipe dreams.” The Main Event is the official magazine of the National Outdoor Events Association