MAY | NOEA COLUMN
Going
live
NOEA CEO Susan Tanner on how
live music can bring people together
T
he theme of this month’s Access All Areas is live
music, and at NOEA we’re always keen to get
involved in the theme and give our own take on
it. This is especially easy with something as emotive as
music. I doubt there isn’t a member of NOEA who isn’t a
massive fan of great music, and especially music that is
consumed live!
However, at NOEA we’re incredibly proud of our own
work in helping our members bring live music festivals
and events to the world, and the crucial role we play.
For a long time, we’ve used the slogan ‘we help events
happen’; in short, its usually among NOEA members that
you find the staging companies, lighting, production,
seating, infrastructure, and even the food and drink
served on the stands.
I wanted to bring this to life in a particularly emotive
way, just to underline some of the amazing work done
by NOEA members, but also the way in which they
approach their profession. The One Love concert, put
on by singer Ariana Grande and a number of other
global superstars in the wake of the tragic bombings in
Manchester in 2017, was at the same time a deeply tragic,
and incredibly inspirational event. Despite the horror of
the attacks that led to the event, this was an example of
how live music could play its part to bring a community
back together. This was a concert organised in
incredibly short notice, and to see super stars come in to
Manchester from around the world to make a difference
that day was inspiring.
However, behind the scenes was no different, and we
have myriad of examples of NOEA members equally
doing their very best to make this, very special event,
40
happen as well. From the seating installed by our
Futures Supporters GL events UK, to health and safety
advice, AV, lighting, and every other cog in the event
production wheel, this was a monumental effort by
people who really care. We have examples of people
giving up their time and equipment for free, of working
all day and all night, to make sure the event happened,
was safe and secure. This was all done in the wake of a
major security review following the bombings, so the
need for diligence and professionalism was paramount.
It says so much about the people of the events industry
that this was done, not only quickly, and with heart, but
with such professionalism. To organise an event takes a
huge amount of work, and when timelines are squeezed,
the pressure is put on the teams involved, and they need
to draw on their expertise to make sure everything
works as it should. Again, the end product behind the
scenes was as impressive as that on stage; when we’re
good, we really are quite outstanding.
It seems strange to bring up such a tragic event to
show the qualities of our own industry. But its really
times like this where we are tested, that we can really
show our class. Last year at the NOEA Awards, the City
of Manchester became the second recipient of the NOEA
‘i’ award, one that they were hugely proud to get.
However, while it recognised the resilience and
strength of the city, and the community in coming
together, it also recognised NOEA member’s own role
in making that event happen. Live music is an amazing
experience, and millions enjoy it around the world
because of NOEA members, it makes us proud to be who
we are.
“When timelines
are squeezed, the
pressure is put
on the teams
involved”