What is sustainability? Its definition seems to be changing day by day. Brandi Veil, Founder and CEO of The Event Division, will welcome attendees to a day of sessions designed to effectively explore the true meaning of eco-friendly event production. Join us to understand how you can make your business practice truly sustainable, responsible and profitable. The next generation is planning an eco- revolution – make sure you are part of it!

Events that embrace sustainable and ethical business practices have the ability to engage and influence their attendees through the use of new eco-friendly products and services. AEG’s Global Sustainability Director, Jennifer Regan, will outline the practice and principles of event greening. Join her to understand how including sustainable choices in your business strategy can benefit your event, your clients and ultimately the planet, long term.

Eco-friendly events are often viewed as high cost, low profit. But is this really true? Richard Byford, owner of Byway Events & Entertainment Inc, will lead this panel of experts as they explore the plethora of misconceptions surrounding event greening, and discuss ways to positively change people’s perception of sustainability.

We are experiencing a shift in volunteer programs – new systems are now in place for entrepreneurs and producers to help engage target audiences with your sustainable efforts and eco-friendly practices. Eric Ritz, founder of Global Inheritance, will assess how crowd funding, attendee tasks and other participation programs can support efforts to capture and maintain the attention of your event attendees.

In a world increasingly driven by community, we are seeing a large rise in a volunteer workforce. This panel session will address the ongoing conversation about how you can effectively educate and empower your event attendees to volunteer online, offline and onsite. Learn how to create fun, inspiring educational programs using content to build a larger network of volunteers while sharing a cause-driven message.

The power of social media and new media should not be underestimated. The click of a button can make or break a brand, communicate a new concept or launch an eagerly anticipated viral campaign. This panel will examine the changing world of social media and evaluate new tools, applications, analytics, POS systems, fundraising and crowd-funding opportunities that can help you monetize your event in a digital age.

Artists are the lifeblood of any live event – how can they best position themselves to become ambassadors of change? Our panel of experts from across the production arena will take a look at what artists, promoters and partners are willing to do to support sustainable programs and initiatives. How do you manage expectations, determine when responsibility becomes ‘too much’ and protect the art form from change? 

Jim Digby, Executive Director of the Event Safety Alliance, will outline the origins and purpose of the organization, as well as discuss how it is helping to shape the future of safety within the event industry as a whole, today.

From production to promoter to vendor, this panel session will explore how the Event Safety Guide will help ensure the ‘life safety first’ mantra by encouraging the live events industry as a whole to play from the same playbook. 

As an owner or operator of a festival or large event, you need peace of mind when it comes to safety and making the right risk assessments. Hear from our panel of experts as they outline what you need to know and do to cover you, your contractors and your attendees.

Weather is the most clear and present danger to any event. How do you safeguard against it? What is reliable weather data, who can provide it and how many sources do you really need? This panel will assess data models and vendors qualified by the insurance industry as ‘experts’, whose information can help you keep your event out of harm’s way.

The Event Safety Guide’s best practices address the considerations necessary to be in compliance with the local authorities and what you should know to help protect yourself and those in your duty of care. 

The ESA Safety Passport Program is in development and we want your input. This panel will present the framework for the program, and the implementation of industry-wide training modules for safety-awareness and risk assessment. Now is your chance to get involved in the discussion and help shape the future of safety-awareness in our business.

Roger Sandau and Steven A Adelman will discuss how the industry as a whole will benefit from The Event Safety Guide. With tangible buy-in at all levels already, this session will outline what’s in it for you.

*Give away for those who’ve attended the entire day – US Event Safety Guide day USB*

Often in public spaces major investments are contemplated or made on audio visual equipment with no consideration for the ROI. This presentation talks about the considerations for upgrades to AV systems in performance and sports venues and how management can direct spending towards equipment that has clear payback potential.

As new technologies for live events continue to emerge, it is clear they have the ability to make an audience feel they really are ‘part of the show’. Our panel of experts will explore how effective use of special effects, lighting, sound and video can help you deliver the best interactive experience for your attendees. Join them to understand how technology can enhance your business now, and the role it will play in the future of your live event production.

Jim Hutchison, Product Manager for CAST Software and creator of internationally renowned lighting website JimOnLight.com will talk about the relevance and need for real-time tracking in today’s very fast-paced entertainment industry, where tracking has been in our industry, and where it’s headed.  Jim will also talk about CAST’s BlackTrax real-time tracking technology and how it interacts with the modern entertainment industry.

Technologies for live events have involved in recent years – heck, months! – at a pace never seen before. From the projection mapping at the Queen’s Jubilee, to the pixel effect at the London 2012 Olympics, to the virtual return of Tupac Shakur at Coachella, technologies allow new ways to create incredible visuals, storytelling, and emotional experiences for the audience. This panel will explore cutting-edge technologies for live events, in the field of domes, 3D projection mapping, real-time stereo motion capture, and holographic-like virtual performances.