CONTENTS
REGULARS
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6 Bigger Picture
Polygon Poductions CEO Nico Elliot takes us behind the scenes at Polygon Live LDN; the UK’ s first outdoor 360-degree spatial audio festival.
8 Global Snapshot
A brief overview of landmark live entertainment industry developments worldwide.
59 In The Spotlight
Wembley Stadium general manager Paul Smyth reflects on his career path in the live events industry.
FEATURES
18 Jim King’ s 30 years of promoting
Jim King got his first taste of promoting events while still at school. Since then, he has risen to the pinnacle of the festival industry, overseeing a series of world-class events. We explore his career path to the top, and his vision for the future.
36 Evolving immersive events
From brand activations to family exhibitions, theatrical presentations to festivals, AAA explores the fast-evolving world of immersive events.
42 AO Arena at 30
Since opening in July 1995 with a show by Torvill & Dean, the AO Arena has hosted 31 million visitors. On the back of a £ 70m redevelopment last year, AAA marks the venue’ s 30th birthday by examining how it is poised for an even brighter future.
44 Driving CarFest forward
As CarFest’ s festival director, Anjna Raheja leads a largely female team that runs one of the UK’ s largest independent festivals. She tells AAA how the not-for-profit event raises £ 1 million for charity each year, against a background of major challenges.
47 Time for Showstop
Since its launch by the Pink Bows Foundation at the Event Production Show, the Showstop Procedure crowd safety training and certification programme has expanded its reach internationally. Access hears why global adoption of the procedure is so important.
51 Classical changes
Moema Parrott, CEO of the Harrison Parrott Group and the founder of Polyarts, tells Access how her companies are striving to making live classical music more commercially viable.
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