Footage from the conference will be online shortly… Stay tuned!

The event, taking place at the HMV Forum on 15 November, has a packed line-up of debates, advice sessions and opportunities to network, making this an unmissable business opportunity for people in the festival industry.

The full programme of sessions is available here

Click here to buy tickets

UK Festival Conference panel 2010

Panel discussions at the UK Festival Conference will present and debate the latest thinking and business insight in addition to reviewing the year’s key achievements and challenges. Following the success of last year’s sold-out event, there will be further focus on the most important issues in the industry, plus extended and expanded networking opportunities.

Exclusive to the 2011 UK Festival Conference will be a presentation of the UK Festival Market Report – a business review of the market, incorporating results from Festival Awards’ newly-commissioned exclusive market research of festival-goers’ opinions.

The survey will be conducted by a global market research agency and will be the most accurate study of audience habits ever undertaken.

Festival Awards Ltd MD James Drury, said: “Since it was launched four years ago, the UK Festival Conference has become a focal point for discussion of key issues and an opportunity to review the season just passed. The pace of change in the industry makes it one of the most exciting in the world, and the determination to keep improving is inspirational. I’m looking forward to insightful discussions on the back of a year of new challenges.”

The Conference takes place at the HMV Forum in London, and will feature six panel sessions featuring experts in their relevant fields. Sessions confirmed so far:

Weather – Or Not (in association with TPi)

2011’s stage collapse tragedies have reminded everyone that bad weather can be sudden, vicious and lethal. It’s not the first year that the elements have played their part in fatalities; perhaps we need to learn our lessons a little faster. Is it the structures themselves at fault, or perhaps the decision-making process? A panel of organisers, staging companies, enforcers and insurers will debate the issues and uncover answers.

From Online to Onsite – How Social Commerce Can Boost Your Business (in association with Music Mind Exchange)

Despite festivals deploying social media to communicate with fans, not many take full advantage of the sales opportunities on offer on sites such as Facebook. Social media commerce experts will present the possibilities and advise how to get even more out of online for a festival.

Keeping Up Appearances (in association with LIVE UK)

How can festivals secure the loyalty of their festival-goers in a sector that is awash with a huge variety of events covering all genres of music? The panel will examine the ways organisers are adapting to the potential saturation of the marketplace and key survival tips to make a festival stand out from its competition.

Keynote Q&A – Melvin Benn (in association with IQ)

One of the greatest festival promoters in the world, the MD of Festival Republic (behind Reading, Leeds, Latitude, The Big Chill, Ireland’s Electric Picnic, Norway’s Hove, Germany’s Berlin Festival and new US venture Orlando Calling), licensee of Glastonbury and Chairman of Wembley Stadium, will share his views on the UK festival industry.

In addition to these sessions, the UK Festival Conference will feature a dedicated networking and exhibition lobby, a drinks reception and an exclusive copy of the UK Festival Report.

Combined tickets for the UK Festival Awards and the UK Festival Conference are on sale now from www.theticketfactory.com/ukfa/online.

TOPICS COVERED:

Should non-ticketed events be banned?
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.

Moderator: Mark Cunningham – TPi Magazine, Editor-In-Chief
Panellists:
Simon Battersby – Showsec, Director
Professor G. Keith Still PhD BSc FIMA – Bucks New University Centre for Crowd Management and Security
Jon Drape – Ear To The Ground, Live Director
Andy Cotton – TAO Productions, Event Organiser, Production Manager & Cabinet Office Lecturer
Sean McLoughlin – Senior Producer, Village Green Festival & Metal Culture

Making Your Festival More Profitable
Running a festival is a fun – but risky – business, not least due to competition in the market and the current difficult economic conditions. From policing costs and infrastructure to all the little “extras” which make each event unique, what are the options for cutting costs without compromising on quality, and what non-traditional revenue streams can be accessed? This panel of experts will show you how.

Moderator: Christopher Barrett – Features Editor, Music Week
Panellists:
Andy Smith – Kendal Calling, Director
Alex Brooke – Peppermint Events & Bars, Director
Fiona Stewart – Green Man Festival
Jim Mawdsley – CEO, Generator
Stuart Galbraith – CEO, Kilimanjaro Live

Dispatches From The Field
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 has them in abundance. For this session, IQ Magazine will be welcoming an all-star 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.

Moderator: Allan McGowan – Associate Editor, IQ Magazine
Panellists:
John Giddings – Founder, Solo Agency/Isle of Wight Festival
John Probyn – Chief Operating Officer, Live Nation
James Barton – Co-founder, Cream

Best Practice for Leveraging Brand Activity at Festivals
Walking the fine line of festival brand activity is fraught with disaster. Too much intrusion and you’ll leave the wrong lasting impression, too little and your reward might be found in heaven and not on the bottom line. Brand Republic explores the right and wrong approaches to branded activity at music festivals, celebrating the good and highlighting the pitfalls to be avoided.

Moderator: Rich Sutcliffe – Editor, Brand Republic
Panellists:
Ray Smith – MD, Be@TV
Julia Bruns – Director, Our Kid Brother
Dave Chase – Head of Music Partnerships, Brandamp
Richard Dickinson – Partner, Arnold & Porter
Chris Thornhill – Brand Manager, Tuborg
Ian Forshew – MD, Beach Break Live

Battle of the Bands
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.

Moderator: Mike Gartside - Audience
Panellists:
Jeff Craft – Director, X-Ray Touring
Geoff Meall – Director, The Agency Group
Gary Turner – CEO, MAMA Festivals
Neil Pengelly – Head Booker, Festival Republic

The Crimebusters
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.

Moderator: Mike Gartside – LIVE UK
Panellists:
Reg Walker – The Iridium Consultancy, Director
Colin Rodger – DF Concerts
Det Con Kevin Walker – Leicestershire Police, lead intelligence officer for Download festival

It takes place on the same day as the UK Festival Awards, which will be held at the Roundhouse in Camden, a short distance from the HMV Forum.