ILMC 2011 returned to London's Royal Gardens Hotel, with 1,000 delegates engaging many topics in a packed conference programme, 11-13 March 2011. Showsec was a sponsor of the event and the London office supplied SIA licensed staff to professionally secure the conference, attended by many of the companies' peers and clients.
The Saturday morning Engine Room panel focused on production related issues, chaired by Brian Grant (Britannia Row) and Andy Lenthall (Production Services Association). Showsec managing director Mark Harding accepted the invitation from the ILMC and began proceedings with a presentation which sparked an interactive dialogue with the audience about safety, with a focus on un-ticketed events.
Harding stated, "Un-ticketed events have a comparable safety record with paid events, but following last summer's Love Parade tragedy in Germany there has been a lot of attention focused on free-to-attend events.
"Love Parade (and other events) highlights the importance of prioritising safety critical factors against commercial and political influence. Planning, implementation, organisational structure, competence and skills, defined responsibilities and communication are all paramount in delivering a safe and successful event. "
Lee Charteris (Flash Entertainment in UAE), Wob Roberts, (international tour production manager), Chrissy Eurlings (German production manager) and Live Nation's event director John Probyn all made key contributions to the debate.
They contributed suggestions as to how international co-operation, improved access to professional working standards and practices would all benefit the wider industry; along with the event professionals' strength of conviction to say "no" when they were pressured into making poor decisions.
(Jim Evans)
