Production managers and top rental houses discuss the ins and outs of “getting the gig.” The touring and event production industry is a business model based on loyalty and long term relationships. With margins tightening at every level and the quality of technology on a much more even playing field, can your tour or event withstand the pricing of your "old boys" vendor network? How are you expanding the bidding model to ensure your client is getting the most production value per dollar spent? Can you as a rental company really afford to give the lowest bid? Are you winning the battle day to day, but losing the war against the long term financial health of your business?

Producing a music, sporting, government or corporate event presents a unique set of challenges. Events, regardless of size or situation, are exposed to risks involving safety, security, legal, financial, and environmental considerations. In order for an event to thrive, it must be managed and produced appropriately in a number of areas including insurance, permits, ticketing, law enforcement, hospitality and customer experience. Laurie Kirby and her panel of experts will guide you on how to produce your event for success!

Skip Paige, the driving force behind Coachella, leads a panel of festival pioneers outlining the major factors to consider when growing an event. A myriad of issues, including commercial, production and legal implications will be explored to determine how they can have a direct impact on the growth of your event. This is a must-attend session for any ambitious event organiser and an invaluable opportunity to learn from the best in the business.

Cutting safety corners in the live event industry is not an option; neither is blowing the budget through the roof. The consequences can lead to financial ruin, the destruction of your reputation and in some cases, more seriously, fatalities. Tim Roberts, Head of Health and Safety at Glastonbury for nearly a decade, will lead his panel as they discuss a multitude of scenarios to consider including technical safety and staging, crowd control and management, budgets and costs, and dealing with extreme weather conditions. Finally, the most important question: Breaking Point - who makes the decision on is it safe enough?

What do fans and customers really want from an event experience? How do you successfully take advantage of the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) state of mind? With 90% of Americans carrying Internet-enabled phones and more than 150 million connected through social media, Allen Cook and his panellists will discuss how to engage fans with technology at your event, to ensure their onsite experience is richer, more relevant, and worth the price of admission.