Folk Industry and The Association of Festival Organisers Conference 2010
19-21 November 2010
Eastwood Hall Conference Centre, Eastwood, Nottingham
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Once again those involved and interested in the folk industry and festival organisation will be gathering in Nottingham for the annual Conference. The Friday of the Conference will be devoted to dance and music in education, the recorded work and opportunities for a professional career and brings together partners EFDSS, Proper Music Distribution and the Musician’s Union, to work with us on developing sessions, seminars and panels.
Some comments from last year’s delegates….
‘GO! Kind of essential really, if you’re serious about it . . .’ - Ian Anderson, fRoots Magazine
All relevant, up to date and friendly’ - Emma Leslie, Barnsley Music Service
‘Real learning combined with relaxed networking & fine showcases’ - Alan James, Hold Tight
‘Excellent levels of organisation and positioning’ - Dave Kushar, Spiral Earth
‘Great mixture of helpful sessions with real examples . . . real proper issues and solutions via people with real experience. This is such a useful Conference' - Joy Durrant, Shropshire Council
In the past over 100 delegate have joined us for the Folk Industry Day to debate, argue, teach and, most importantly, network. This is the ideal place for putting a face to a name, discussing your work and making those vital contacts that help develop careers and businesses. The Folk Industry Conference can be visited for a day or a delegate can stay overnight and enjoy the end of day Showcase as we move into the Festival part of our work.
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The AFO Conference first gathered in 1987 as the Association was formed and has gone from strength to strength, to strength. This year we are hoping to deliver a whole days session on working with Local Authorities, in what we will call our Local Authority Forum, bringing together professional outdoor event organisers, health & safety guidance and many more from those vital contacts in our local authorities.
This is probably the biggest gathering of acoustic music festival activists in any one year and brings together a wide variety of people with the same target; to enjoy, promote and involve themselves in festivals, events and live music promotion. The ideas will be flowing over the weekend, the new ways of marketing and the lessons learnt over many years of experience will all be shared with new promoters, new younger musicians and an enthusiastic crowd of delegates who all believe that our festivals should be better recognised and promoted to a wider audience.
Provisional subjects for this coming year’s Conference include:
- A re-visit of Stewarding
- New regulations for Children & Vulnerable Adults
- A search for that illusive new audience
- Working with Artists and Agents
And, as in previous years, coffee and meal breaks will be filled with the very best networking opportunity and acoustic Showcase sessions.
Saturday evening will once again be a fully staged major Showcase and the Conference, finishing around lunchtime on Sunday, will invite both the experienced and the beginners to share their knowledge at this unique annual event.
More details will be available shortly.
‘A very enjoyable and extremely useful Conference’ - Alan Castle, Tenterden Folk Festival
‘I first did the AFO (Conference) in 1994! . . . and I still learn something new every year. I’ll vow to stop when I know it all (i.e. never)’ James Shepard, Larmer Tree Festival Director
‘Always welcoming and great place to get valuable/relevant event info’ - Brian Lisowy, Big Session/Summer Sundae
‘Approachable, knowledgeable people. Good sessions with relevant info’ - Festival at the Edge.
Conference Fees are Lower for Members
Membership of the Association of Festival Organisers is open to all festival organisers and those associated and interested in the promotion of live music, dance, song, theatre, arts and crafts, through festivals. Click here for information on membership and we look forward to hearing from you.
The 2010 Conference is open to anyone with their eye on festival development, the industry, a career, promotion or recording - in fact, if you do anything other than sit in an audience, this event is for you. See you there.
Steve Heap, Director
May 2010
Take a look at what you missed at the 2009 Conference...
Download the 2009 Conference Agenda
Download the 2009 speakers handouts and presentations
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