EDITOR’S LETTER aCcEsS ALl AReAs
EDITOR
Tom Hall
ONLINE CONTENT EDITOR
Murielle Gonzalez
Return of the editor
CONTRIBUTORS
Chantelle Dietz,
Nicola Macdonald
DESIGNER
Sean Wyatt-Livesley
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
Duncan Siegle
SALES DIRECTOR
James Linin
LIKE Luke Skywalker in Th e Last Jedi, I too
disappeared for a while and returned sporting a
fairly robust beard.
My near three-year absence from Access All
Areas wasn’t, like Luke, spent on a remote island
among cute CGI avian critters. Instead, I was
busy editing Exhibition World, an internationally
focused Mash Media title.
Like outdoor events, global exhibitions are also
searching for new ways to keep live gatherings
relevant. Virtual Reality is often touted as a
solution, prompting eyes to roll or widen in equal
measure.
My own cynicism was cast away after taking
in Star Wars: Secrets of Th e Empire, the new ‘hyper
reality’ experience at Westfi eld (p30). Th e events
industry are now similarly on board, as it appears
Han Solo and co could do for VR what they did
for celluloid.
But, while such high tech experiences have
a welcome place in the events mix, thankfully
there’s no threat to the traditional event format
of enjoying good music with a beer. In fact,
legislative steps have been proposed to secure the
future of this time proven pastime by protecting
music venues (p9).
PRODUCTION CONTROLLER
Elizabeth Nixon
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Matthew Vertigans
VIDEO PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE
Karam Dhillon
SUBSCRIPTIONS EXECUTIVE
Kayode Adedeji
DIGITAL MARKETING EXECUTIVE
Kimberly Mullany
PUBLISHED BY MASH MEDIA
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SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES:
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Street, Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1RR.
The opinions expressed by
contributors to this publication
are not always a refl ection of
the opinions or the policy of
the publishers. Information on
services or products contained
within editorial sections does
not imply recommendation
by Access All Areas. No
part of this publication can
be reproduced in any form
without written authority of
Mash Media.
INGENIOUS SOLUTION
No.
801
Uniting people for bands and beverages is a
ritual Victorious director Andy Marsh (p54) has
mastered, capturing Portsmouth’s thirst for all
things ‘festival’. With his visitor numbers swelling
to 79,000, the event is now in the UK’s top
festival tier. Not a bad eff ort, given Hampshire’s
discerning festival pedigree.
On a personal level, it’s an honour to be back
in this familiar space once more, and I can assure
you Access’ own ambitions are as stratospheric as
the industry we serve. So keep tweeting us pics
of your event activity and builds, and get in touch
with any news, opinions and insight.
Whether reporting from a green fi eld or the
Death Star, watch this… space.
Tom Hall, Editor
[email protected]
@Access_AA
@Access_AA
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