The AFO Conference will cover:

• The Great British Weather
• How to get the best from your Artists
• Manage your Committee or Governing Body
• Your Festival on the Web
• The Licensing Act Consultation
• Words in Performance
• Duty of Care and Risk Assessment
• Getting Your Festival Noticed
• With or Without funding
• Modern Ticketing
• Real Market Research
• Fire Safety at Festivals
• Agent Breakout
• Social Networking
• Safety Advisory Groups
• MC's & DJ's
• Festival Catering and Gas Safety

And the list will continue to grow...

Confirmed Speakers and Contributors Include:
• Feargal Sharkey, CEO of UK Music
• John Tams, Artist
• Rick Bond, The Complete Works
• Colin Irwin, Journalist
• Andy Lenthall, General Manager of PSA
• Andy Farquason, Iconic Music
• Ben Scott-Hawkins, ticket south
• Andy Lee, Fire Safety
• Pete Lawrence, DJ and Big Chill Founder
• Bob Fox, NCASS
• Jon Payne, Horsey, Lightly, Fynn
• Richard Brown, Medic
• Ross McKinlay, MC & DJ
• Paula Hawthorne, La PLaya Insurance Services
• Pete Coe, Artist
• Graham Langley, Storyteller
• Paul "Shez" Sherreard, Poet
• Julia Payne, the hub
• Neil Pearson, Shrewsbury Folk Festival
• Fergus McVey, Touchstone Partners

More names and subjects will be added as we finalise the agenda.


  Unique one2ones - worth a fortune, FREE to delegates
• Legal Issues (free advice from leading Licensing and Events Solicitor Jon Payne of HLF)
• Insurance Issues, with the AFO Insurance Scheme partner La Playa Insurance
• Governance, Business Planning and more with Rick Bond of The Complete Works

Agents and
Associated Trade

Trade Market

Hundreds of potential customers
The ideal opportunity to sell your product or service by having a stand at the conference and meeting hundreds of potential customers OR by placing an insert in the delegate bag or both! 

book a trade stand . . .

book an insert . .


Throughout the Conference there is a dedicated Trade & Agents Market, giving you the opportunity to talk to artists’ agents and event suppliers. Past traders have included medical care, temporary roadway, mobile bars, fireworks, ticket suppliers and even balloon modelling and street entertainment!

“The most organised and interesting music Conference I have ever attended...” Tom Rose, Navigator/Reveal Records

"A very enjoyable and extremely useful Conference" Alan Castle, Tenterden Folk Festival

Endless Tea, Coffee, Great Food and maybe even a Sauna......make it a weekend break.

The Eastwood Hall Conference Centre is just that, a dedicated Conference Facility and as such it offers delegates some great comforts. Unlimited tea, coffee and other light refreshments as part of your delegate fee plus a great finger buffet lunch on Saturday and the chance to book a great 3 course Carvery Dinner up front.

Make a weekend of it and squeeze in a relaxing swim and sauna at the end of the Conference day, then have a hearty dinner in the top quality restaurant (book it in advance when booking you bed!)

book now...

book your accommodation...