Programme for the day
Arrival, registration, networking & coffee
Where: Ground floor foyer, Venue 1 & Venue 2
Network with event sponsors
Where: Venue 2
Welcome
How the day will work
Where: Venue 1
Panel: Short-term Pains vs Long-term Gains – A Case Study in Grassroots Collaboration
A working case study in collaboration. We’ll hear from the venues, promoters, festivals and agents who have built a long-term relationship around one artist: how those relationships formed, what each partner puts in, and how risk and reward get shared between them. Rather than a story about one artist’s success, this is a look at how the parts of the grassroots ecosystem can work together, and how partners maintain a long-term perspective despite the immediate pressures each of them faces.
Where: Venue 1
Comfort break / move to chosen session
Choice of activities
Sessions & Workshops
designed to bring attendees together to discuss key
areas of interest for the grassroots live music ecosystem (details below)
- A. Mind The Gap: How to Navigate the Out-of-Season Touring Gap
Where: The Gulbenkian - B. Easing the Pains of Paying for the Show
Where: Club Room - C. Emerging Professionals Meet Up
Where: The Fitzrovia - D. The Future of Independent Agencies
Where: The Marylebone
13:00-13:25
Discovery Networking
Speed networking sessions to identify who is in the room/who you may want to speak with further – 2 x 25 min sessions where delegates have 5 minutes with other participants (5 connections total)
Where: Portland Room
Networking Lunch
Where: Venue 2 servery, can be eaten in Venue 1, Nash Room or Venue 2
Choice of activities:
1-2-1 Meetings with Independent Music Agents
Pre-booked meetings to enable participants to expand their professional network, gain insights into improving the quality of their artist bookings & work collaboratively on offers to help secure more performances for independent artists across festivals, venues and touring in the UK
Where: Venue 1
14:30-17:25
Discovery Networking
Speed networking sessions to identify who is in the room/who you may want to speak with further – 6 x 25 min sessions where delegates have 5 minutes with other participants (5 connections total)
Where: Portland Room
Relaxed networking with refreshments
Tea/coffee/water & biscuits, etc will be available throughout the afternoon sessions on a serve yourself basis
Our event sponsors will also be available to talk
Where: Venue 2
The Thirsty Scholar (ground floor) will also be available to delegates throughout the day – refreshments will need to be purchased by individuals
Funding Advice
Pre-booked sessions with funding experts: Arts Council England Relationship & Development Managers, Creative Wales, Liveline & Lucy Stone
Where: The Fitzrovia
Sessions & Workshops
designed to bring attendees together to discuss key areas of interest for the grassroots live music ecosystem (details below)
- E. Inspiring Artists & Audiences: A Practical Guide To Working In Non-Traditional Venues – Where: The Gulbenkian
- F. Building a Fair Deal – What Goes Into A Strong Show Offer? – Where: Club Room
- G. The Liveline Fund – Where: Gulbenkian
- H. Marketing – What’s Hot & What’s Not – Where: Club Room
- I. Routes to New Audiences: A Practical Session – Where: The Marylebone
- J. AIF Members Meet Up – Where: The Gulbenkian
- K. AIP Members Meet Up – Where: Club Room
Feedback Session
Your chance to let us know your thoughts on the event and what the partners could work on together in future
Where: Venue 1
Networking Drinks
Where: The Thirsty Scholar
Sessions & Workshops
Each activity is designed to bring attendees together to discuss key areas of interest for the grassroots live music ecosystem
- How to Fill the Out-of-Season Touring Gap – facilitated by Anna Moulson & Jamie Ford (AIP)
Where: The Gulbenkian
How can you utilise your transferable skills as a promoter, venue, or festival to generate extra income during low seasons when artists tour less/you have less work? How can promoters, agents, festivals and venues work together to ensure that touring acts are available throughout the year and find an audience? This practical session offers tips and advice on navigating this financial black hole. - Easing the Pains of Paying for the Show – facilitated by John Rostron (AIF)
Where: Club Room
How do you best cash-flow a show? Agents require deposits, venues require hire fees, and marketing spend goes out in advance. Finding that money is hard as an independent. Who should be paid when? What are reasonable terms? Are you allowed to draw ticket money down? If so, what’s best practice? What ticket allocation should a venue hold? Are there different practices across festivals, promoters, and venues, or is there any learning to share that would help improve financial pressures for all? - Emerging Professionals Meet Up – facilitated by Matt Hanner (Make Damn Sure)
Where: The Fitzrovia
Are you an agent, booker, programmer or promoter who has been working in live music for less than 3 years? An opportunity to meet with other early career professionals and talk about building your network. - The Future of Independent Agencies – facilitated by TEAA
Where: The Marylebone
A chance for agents to connect and discuss the current challenges and opportunities for smaller agencies. - Inspiring Artists & Audiences: A Practical Guide to Working in Non-Traditional Venues – facilitated by Anna Moulson (AIP)
Where: The Gulbenkian
How to run events in historical buildings and community spaces. Artists sometimes want a special setting for their music. These spaces can be difficult to navigate, but they can also inspire audiences to attend and generate extra revenue through bar sales. This session is for promoters, festival organisers, and agents who want to feel confident accessing these spaces. It will offer practical tips on working with the managing organisation, handling paperwork, coordinating staff, and ensuring a positive experience for artists, staff, and audiences. - Building a Fair Deal – What Goes into a Strong Show Offer? – facilitated by Nathan Clark (AIP/Brudenell Social Club)
Where: Club Room
Whilst every show is different, in this workshop we will work with a fictional 200 capacity show, artist and ticket price as a promoter and agent lead the room to hear how individuals build up their offer. What’s reasonable to include in the offer? What is not? How should it be presented? How should it be negotiated? Working through guarantee/split, venue costs, production, marketing, ticket fees and break-even to hear from all sides what makes a strong, workable offer. - The Liveline Fund
– facilitated by MVT, AIP & SOS
Where: The Gulbenkian
The fund creators and partners present the basics about this national, risk-sharing fund rebuilding grassroots touring, programming and local music scenes across the UK, and answer all of your questions. - Marketing – What’s Hot & What’s Not – facilitated by John Rostron (AIF)
Where: Club Room
An update to GND25’s hit session. Mailchimp or Furiosa? Upsell or Cross Sell? Tracking your cost per sale and realising that sale might not even be worth it. What marketing is currently working for you, what should get in the bin, and what might be possible if promoters, venues and festivals worked better together? - Routes to New Audiences: A Practical Session – facilitated by Georgie Pope (Marsm UK/ SOAS Concert Series/ Global Music Academy)
Where: The Marylebone
How can your venue reach audiences who aren’t coming through the door? In this interactive workshop, we’ll share ideas, explore real examples, and develop practical ways to reach new audiences through diverse programming, culturally sensitive marketing, and community partnerships. Specially designed for venues with low budgets and limited capacity! - AIF Members Meet Up
Where: The Gulbenkian - AIP Members Meet Up
Where: Club Room
Tickets go on sale on Monday 7 September and cost £30 + £1.50 booking fee.
You must be a member of AIF, AIP, MVA, TEAA or an invited agent to attend. Members of each association will be sent booking details.
Travel bursaries are available to assist festival programmers, promoters, agents and venue bookers from across the UK to attend. Details will be sent once tickets are booked.