As the outdoor events industry prepares to make a return this summer , Access explores the supply chain challenges that lay ahead and how production services operators are preparing to tackle them .
Words : Christopher Barrett
n here has been a string
T of high-profile event cancellations this year , but despite the uncertainty around the timing of Stage 4 of the conditional re-opening roadmap , a lack of Government insurance support and the results of the Events Research Programme ( ERP ) not expected until mid-June , many intrepid events operators are rising to to the challenge .
Nick Morgan , CEO of event production agency We Are The Fair , is set to work on at least 138 shows this year , including El Dorado Festival ( cap . 9,000 ) in Herefordshire and London ’ s GALA Festival ( 9,000 ).
Meanwhile , Engine No . 4 , a Manchester-based events production company , was behind two of 2020 ’ s most high-profile socially distanced events spaces – The Virgin Money Unity Arena and Escape to Freight Island . This year , the company ’ s projects include Manchester International Festival , Kendal Calling ( 25,000 ), Lost Village ( 5,000 ), Parklife ( 80,000 ) and a New Order concert preceding the Live Nation-owned festival in Manchester ’ s Heaton Park .
The NoNonsense Group is also busy , with confirmed UK events including Standon Calling ( 15,000 ), Hampton Court Music Festival ( 3,000 ), Beautiful Days ( 17,500 ) and Concert at The Kings ( 5,000 ). While in Scotland , Edinburghbased festival and live event production specialists Rogue City Productions is working on an array of events , from illuminated walk A Christmas Fairy Trail
Nick Morgan
Manchester Pride , Tramlines ( 30,000 ) and the 10,000-capacity Terminal V . Rogue City has also launched its own festival , Out East ( 6,000 ), which is due to debut on Scotland ’ s East Lothian coast in August .
Uncertainty aside , there are myriad challenges that have arisen in the aftermath of the pandemic ’ s impact , not least event infrastructure and kit being bought and used outside the industry on everything from Covid mitigation facilities , such as testing sites , to the construction of the HS2 rail network . With more than two decades of experience working at a senior level in the events industry behind him , Morgan ’ s current responsibilities include being Association of Independent Festivals vice-chair and a council member of the National Outdoor Events Association . He says that up until recently he was very concerned about an anticipated lack of inventory during the summer due to there being less kit available and more shows during a condensed summer season .
He says , “ I was really concerned about the lack of inventory but obviously with festivals such as Boomtown cancelling , it releases a load more inventory back into the supply pool .”
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