AAA White Paper The political economy of informal events, 2030 | Page 117

“My skills reflect my
experience of Acid House
and the Rave movement
in the 1990s. Britain does
independent gigs, promotions
and festivals very well. Having
since moved to the US and
gone on to organise some
pretty big shows around the
world, I believe, along with
most promoters, that the
greatest thrill comes when you
look out on an ocean of happy,
singing and jumping heads. All
the pain and sleepless nights
before the gig seem worth it at
that point.
“Music events in particular
touch people’s hearts. Of
course there are issues that
Simidian has partnered
with Richard Branson’s
Virgin Galactic
to put on the world’s first
Live Music Concert in
space – complete with
Lady Gaga.
Approximate launch:
2020
come with big events; but
that’s all about planning.
Whenever you put big numbers
of the public together, there’ll
be some bad eggs. That’s just
the law of averages.
“The more ambitious the UK
is in events – and the more
magnanimous local authorities
are in granting licenses –
the better for everyone. The
outstanding aspect of the
original space race in the US
was the can-do outlook, and
JFK’s vaulting vision – the
desire to go the moon not
because it was easy, but
because it was hard.”
From northern dancefloors
to the most out-of-this world gig ever:
John Simidian, CEO of Zero G Colony,
on the need to think big
John
Simidian
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