Open Air Business September/October 2016

AFO’s 30th anniversary conference
THE ASSOCIATION OF Festival
Organisers (AFO) celebrates 30 years
at its popular annual conference on
11-13 November. Over 250 delegates
from the festival and events industry
will be joining together to celebrate
the association’s 30th birthday at
Ettington Chase Conference Centre,
Stratford-upon-Avon.
Since its formation in 1986, when
a small group of like-minded festival
organisers got together to chat and
share ideas, the AFO’s membership
has grown to over 200 festival and
event organisers, suppliers, agents
and freelance individuals.
The conference is open to all in the
industry; delegates are an exciting
mix of volunteer and professional
festival and event organisers,
bringing together teams that have
been operating for generations, first
time organisers and new suppliers
with familiar names. From Friday
evening to late
lunch on Sunday,
the session rooms
and stages will
be buzzing with
headline speakers,
presentations,
discussions, ‘how
to do that’ sessions
and panel debates.
The Trade Market
forms the all-important networking
hub and two Showcase concerts
will feature the best up and coming
artists on the festival scene.
Steve Heap, general secretary
of AFO, says, “Whatever your role
or interest in festivals or events, if
you are dedicated to learning and
teaching, sharing and networking
to continuously improve the scene,
you’ll find plenty of common ground
at the AFO Conference.”
AFO has announced its first
speakers and sessions:
› Sustainability – Chris Johnson
(Powerful Thinking)
› Health and safety and risk
assessments - Mike Richmond
(The Event Safety Shop Ltd)
› Beginners guide to running a
festival – Steve Heap (AFO)
› Eventree case study - Mo Jones
(TheTicketSellers) and Jon Walsh
(Shambala Festival)
› Legal advice - Jon Payne (LSL
Solicitors)
› Looking after your audience - panel
includes Dave Boardman (The
White Ribbon Campaign) on the
safety of women, plus speakers
on the safety of children and the
safety of vulnerable adults.
Other confirmed topics
include: PRS; ‘How do
festivals attract the 60
million UK residents
who have never been?’;
women in the festival
industry; and ‘Are there
really too many festivals?’
More topics will be
announced over the
coming weeks.
Delegate passes are now on sale
at the early bird rate of £110 for AFO
members, £135 for non-members
(until 31 October 2016).
Trade stands cost £300 for AFO
members and £400 for nonmembers.
Book via the AFO website
at www.festivalorganisers.org
CampPlus in the UK
CampPlus, Dutch manufacturer of en-suite
campsite pods, will be represented in the
UK exclusively by Caravan Park Electrical
Services (CPES). Ted Waring, director of CPES,
says: “I first came across the CampPlus units
when we were contracted to install them at
Sand-le-Mere and Trevella holiday parks. I
was impressed by the quality of the pods and
I think that the concept of en-suite camping
has a great future in the UK. We have started
to broaden our services with the introduction
of the CamperClean unit. CampPlus en-suite
pods are a logical next step.”
Erik Verwaaijen of CampPlus says, “We are
very happy with CPES as our UK distributor.
They are an innovative company with
an excellent reputation in the UK leisure
industry.”
CPES will be exhibiting the latest CampPlus
model, the Duo, at The Glamping Show
on 22-24 September at Stoneleigh Park,
Warwickshire. Turn to page 12 for a show
preview.
Tel: 01945 463857 Mob: 07775 921182
info@fireworksdisplayteam.co.uk
www.fireworksdisplayteam.co.uk
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