News

Event organisers have called for a national ban on Sky Lanterns branding them dangerous to the public, livestock and buildings.

The campaign by the National Outdoor Events Association has a three-pronged approach aiming to raise awareness among the public, event organisers and to gain a parliamentary debate in the bid for an outright ban.

Launched in the South West at England’s biggest agricultural show, the Royal Bath and West in Somerset, the campaign is now being rolled out nationally.

Susan Tanner, NOEA’s chief executive said: “In essence balls of fire are being sent into the air uncontrolled and unmonitored causing damage to animals and property. Ultimately there is a risk to human life; we have already seen firefighters injured while tackling a blaze caused by a lantern.”

Richard Limb, NOEA’s president, added:  “Part of our problem is that they do look really pretty but we are sure if people realised the long term effect they would be horrified.

“They may not set something on fire but little bits of wire may end up in silage and the consequences for livestock can be dire.

“We are asking people to follow a voluntary ban while we gather the evidence to support an outright ban; at the moment much of the evidence is anecdotal and a ban cannot be put in place without that evidence.  We are asking government for a Parliamentary debate to support the ban.”

Michael Hirst, OBE, chairman of the Business Visits & Events Partnership, said: “We support NOEA’s bid for an outright ban. There is simply not enough awareness of the damage that can be caused. In the meantime we are asking our Partners to bring these concerns to event organisers and venues across the UK.”

“The events industry is vital to the UK economy. It is important that we take a lead in ensuring a safe environment for attendees and the communities in which events are operated”.

Alan Lyons, Show Manager, said: “We are delighted the National Outdoor Events Association has launched this campaign at the Show. We hear many anecdotes from farmers regarding these lanterns and to have a body collating all the information I am sure will be welcomed.

“As a Society we are here for the farming community and will give our support to initiatives such as this which will help those in the rural area who are suffering damage to their livestock and property.”

Examples of damage caused are:-

• a £6m blaze at Smethwick in the West Midlands injuring 11 firefighters
• Reports of an increase in moorland and forest fires as well as scorched gardens and domestic roofs.
• Cows aborting and dying in agony due to wire perforating the gut
• Injury and death to marine life
• Confused with distress flares

NOEA’s website – www.noea.org.uk - has a section where evidence can be submitted of issues faced by the public as well as downloadable posters, signs and letters for use in backing the campaign. There is also a link to an existing petition calling for the Parliamentary debate.

Tickets are now on sale for the 11th UK Festival Awards and Festival Conference, which returns to London’s Roundhouse for the fourth year running.

Discounted early bird passes, available at 10 per cent discount, start at just £107.10 (excl VAT), making it one of the best value music industry conference and awards events out there.

The UK Festival Awards and Festival Conference is regarded as the premiere networking event for the music festival industry, attracting over 1,000 people to enjoy a whole day of knowledge-sharing, network-building and fun.

The events are the only ones that bring together the whole festival industry, enabling all sides of the business from major festivals to up-and-coming talented promoters, suppliers, brands, artists and more to get together and do business.

Comprising an expanded conference, awards show including delicious three-course meal, complimentary drinks and much more, the UK Festival Awards and Conference promises the ultimate way to round off your season – and start the next one with success.

To take advantage of the early bird prices, click here

 Backstage Academy students are currently confirming work placements for the summer season and invite employers to get in touch if they need extra skilled people to support existing crew teams.

The students, who are half way through the Academy’s 16-month FdA Live Events Production, are available to work in June, July and August and are seeking either ad hoc events work or three-month placements.

Most students have already gained experience at live events in a variety of backstage roles and all have completed modules in Introduction to Working in Live Events Production, Concept Design & Presentation, Staging, Live Sound, Lighting and Live Visuals.

During the Introduction to Working in Live Events module, students undertook a range of industry-based certificates to prepare them for working safely on site: Event Safety Passport; Emergency First Aid; Stage Pyrotechnics; Practical Fire Safety; Working at Height; Introduction to Rigging; Working with Electricity and Manual Handling.

Backstage Academy Work Placement Manager David Hughes said: “We place a real emphasis on practical experience and employability on this course which is why our students have over three months of industry placements to complete.

“We’d like to work with companies again this year who are able to offer valuable experience to our students in a range of roles.”

If you would like to discuss the opportunity of recruiting one of Backstage Academy’s students, please contact Ria Forsyth: ria.forsyth@backstage-academy.co.uk / 01977 659 880.

www.backstage-academy.co.uk

Today, ofcom released 3 consultation documents relating to the future use of the 700MHz band...another squeeze on PMSE use, basically. We'll respond; you might also like to respond.

The consultation can be found here.

CDM - Construction (design and management) regulations have been a pet subject of ours for a long time. Their application, their enforcement, what they are, what they are not and who enforces have all been covered. We've always been supportive of the theory - identify certain roles and responsibilities and make sure the people with those roles create a safe workplace. We've also maintained that, if you do it right, you've nothing to worry about. Things are about to change....but maybe they're not.

As previously reported, CDM has always applied to our sector but HSE policy has been to not enforce it, instead enforcing the Health and Safety at Work Act, allowing our sector to manage responsibilities. That approach has worked.

As recently reported, CDM has been reviewed, and HSE are consulting on changes. The changes look good; they're designed to comply with EU directives (to avoid big EU fines) and simplify things to better engage SMEs. But that's in Construction; there's nothing to say how it will actually apply to entertainment and events. All it says is that its rules willl apply to 'projects' with 2 or more contractors. Stage, light, sound, video, crew, catering, power....that's 2 or more; DJ and magician setting up a kids' party....does that count?

Needless to say, our response reads similarly to other organisations in the sector. Please be less vague, please assess the potential impact. Construction already work with the regulations, any simplification will decrease the regulatory burden. For entertainment, any decision to introduce without any word of guidance, any measure of where it should apply or any assessment of its financial impact will be seen as a huge increase in the regulatory burden - not something Government want to see. Very recent developments have seen a slightly different direction from HSE. CDM changes are being overseen by HSE Construction, their Entertainment division is looking now at the policy to not enforce CDM. The impact of changing that policy can and should be assessed...and it will. It goes without saying that we'll be helping with that work.

In the nmeantime, we urge you to view the consultation and respond before the deadline. If you would like a copy of our response, email gm@psa.org.uk.

The HSE consultation and response details can be found here

Safety Advisory Groups; some are good, some are bad, they should all be the former. To that end, The Emergency Planning College convened a meeting of the great and the good to devise a best practice guide for SAGs. They've now released the document into the wild for consultation. To see it and comment (by June 6th please) visit  http://www.epcollege.com/epc/news/we-would-like-your-feedback-on-our-uk-good-practic.aspx

Some may feel that this is a fairly accurate representation.

One of your fellow members has, through hard work and saving pennies, secured a little corner of paradise in Tobago. The great news is, it's available to let and members get mates rates. Get yourself a piece of Carpe Diem at http://www.castara.net/

No idea how but we do know that the driver is OK and the Aussie Pink Floyd show happened that night.

 The 2014 Britain for Events campaign launches this week with a far reaching national print, broadcast and digital campaign that will represent the very best of the UK events industry. The national campaign will hit later this week and is being supported with a brand new motion graphic video that celebrates all things ‘Britain for Events’.

The dedicated body for the events industry is also pushing ahead with what is set to be another busy and energetic campaign year with a series of targeted events throughout 2014.

The current impact of the now £39.1 billion UK events industry has seen a growth of the sector in Britain of £3 billion since 2010 and represents the wealth of talent, passion, creativity and innovation which characterises Britain’s events industry today

With a presence at the International Festival for Business in July, the creation of a National Events Month in October and continued support for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) events inquiry, the campaign is set for its strongest and most productive year yet.

“Once again Britain is hosting some of the biggest sporting and cultural events in 2014, from the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games in Scotland to Glastonbury. Supporting events, from local fairs and festivals to globally significant moments, we have lots to be proud of within the UK,” comments Alistair Turner, Britain for Events Campaign Director.

Continuing, Alistair added; “Simply put, we’re good at putting on events, we get it, and that is something that has been proven around the world. We’re happy to be leading the charge and saying just how good Britain’s Events are.”

www.britainforevents.co.uk

New sessions have been added to the Professional Development Programme taking place at PLASA Focus: Leeds 2014, at the Royal Armouries at Clarence Dock, only a short distance from the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 April 2014.

The Professional Development Programme runs alongside a two-hall exhibition of the latest entertainment technology products. It is free to attend and offers visitors access to sessions presented by some of the most talented names in pro audio, lighting and video.

As access to new technology and music is made easier and more affordable, it has changed the working DJ’s role. A panel of DJs, led by Paul Arnett, chairman of the National Association of Disc Jockeys, will discuss these issues in Now Everyone’s a DJ, What’s Our Role? Arnett will be joined by: Danny Rampling, a household name in the UK who is well-known for his stints on BBC Radio 1 and Kiss FM, as well as his legendary Acid House club Shoom; Ilona Rampling, a regular face on the dance music scene and major festival circuit who has recently joined forces with her husband Danny Rampling; and Richard Lee, label manager for Mastermix, Europe’s largest supplier of DJ only music.

Oran Burns, from Application Support & Education at d&b audiotechnik, will present Sound System Fundamentals. Through experiments and practical demonstrations, Burns will provide a fresh look at some basic acoustics and sound system principals; the frequency and wavelength relationship, addition and subtraction of sound waves and a look at how these phenomena crop up everywhere in our lives as working sound engineers.

Increase Your Productivity and Performance Workflow with Digital Mixing Technology will be presented by Alex Jann of Audio-Technica. This seminar will cover many areas of digital mixing including the benefits of using digital desks over analogue, scenes and show data, and recording show audio for live events, all from the new Allen & Heath QU24.

On Monday 28 April, The Theatres Trust will hold their annual conference; Conference 14: Community Theatres at City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds. The following day, as part of the Professional Development Programme, a session entitled Championing ‘Community Theatres’ will take place. Mhora Samuel, director of The Theatres Trust, will address some of the key findings of the Conference and provide an update on the Trust’s Theatres Advice Service, Small Grants Scheme, Theatres at Risk activity, and recent planning cases. PLASA Focus visitors who are interested in attending Conference 14 are eligible for an early bird booking rate until Friday 28 March 2014. Further information is available at http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/events/conference-14/welcome.

Additions to the Professional Development Programme will be announced in the coming weeks. All sessions are free to attend. To get more details on the sessions of your choice, register as a visitor, or to find out more about what's on offer at PLASA Focus: Leeds 2014 go to: www.plasafocus.com/leeds/.

Sound engineer, production manager and crazy fool, Sean Bisby-Little, and a friend  are currently training for a Charity Bike ride in July.

They are going to ride in 3 days off road across country through the Lake District, across the Yorkshire Dales & North Yorkshire Moors from Whitehaven on the West coast of England to Scarborough on the East Coast. Yes, they really are.

Its an event called Rat Race The Crossing:195 miles in 3 days, doesnt sound a lot if you are on the road but off road is a completely different kettle of fish!!

How to donate

They're doing it for Cancer Research in the memory of 2 people that they have lost and for all of the other people out there who will need the Cancer Research charity's support.

A tough challenge, a worthy cause - go on, hit the link and add a few quid towards their sponsorship target

Make a donation via JustGiving

'I know loads of people do loads of stuff for charity but to do this we are having to train for 3 months otherwise we probably just wont make it so it really is a massive challenge. I just hope to god it doesnt rain, but even then if its sunny that will be really difficult too' Sean Bisby-Little