The shortage of just about anything used by festivals in the UK has been highlighted in the media since the beginning of the year. A combination of the coronavirus pandemic, Brexit, inflation and other factors has had a detrimental effect on the entire festival sector. What are the key issues taking place now as we enter the hectic festival season.

As rising costs and other factors affect the festival sector some organisers are choosing to cancel their events. In the worst circumstances organising entities may go into receivership owing money to suppliers. What can companies supplying service to the festival sector do to safeguard against potential problems.  

Sponsorship is a key part of any festival and provides essential revenue to contribute towards covering operating costs For anyone new to doing sponsorship deals for festivals the creation of a professional sponsorship agreement can help establish a formal relationship and define what each party will deliver.

With so many new music festivals launching this year the competition for festival-goers money is increasing. What can festival organisers do to futureproof their events for long term survival and financial success as well as providing security for the organising entity and all the staff employed by them.

The prestigious UK Event Production Awards (EPAs) are for anyone working in the live events sector including suppliers, agencies and venues. The awards take place every year and have been around since 2012 with the awards night attracting 500 movers and shakers in the UK’s event production space.

Music festivals grow over time increasing in size and attracting more visitors. With this growth comes increased competition from other festivals all looking to secure festival-goer's hard earned cash. What can festival organisers do to create a uniquely themed event that will differentiate them from competing music festivals to ensure ongoing success.

Always the number one gripe from anyone attending a big festival are queues for toilets and the general unpleasantness of the whole festival toilet experience. What can festival organisers do to alleviate the stress associated with using on-site bathroom facilities and what is trending for future events

Camping at any music festival is the most popular way to attend a multi-day event where overnight stays are required. For festival-goers that cannot afford the luxury of the VIP glamping areas on a festival site what alternatives are available when it comes to pitching a tent and what are the key considerations. 

The biggest and most popular music festivals always make available a number of vendor pitches and these are usually oversubscribed. Vendors at a multi-day event can earn excellent revenues with the best pitches always in demand. What are organisers looking for when selecting form the vendor applications they receive and how can a vendor stand out. 

The smartphone has become an essential part of everyone's daily life and festival-goers are no exception to this. One of the biggest challenges for visitors attending a multi-day event is maintaining their mobile device charge. How can organisers ensure sufficient on-site charging capacity and what options do festival-goers have.

Every music festival relies on a multitude of specialist contractors to supply everything they need to put on a successful event. There are hundreds of suppliers to choose from and each will be selected based on a variety of factors. Are there more cost-efficient ways of appointing contractors by considering a supplier who can provide more than just one service. 

The food and beverage vendor is usually the most prevalent vendor found on any festival site. This is driven by the need to feed and water tens of thousands of hungry festival-goers over a 3 or 4 day period. What options are available for catering vendors who do not want to invest in purchasing their own mobile kitchen.

Contractors who supply the festival sector usually obtain business from their relationships with organisers. With over 600 festivals taking place in the UK every year there are plenty of sales opportunities for contractors to get more business. Securing a higher value deal with a large festival however, may require going through a tender process.

As music festivals get ever bigger having strategically placed video walls ensure that all festival-goers get a good view of the on-stage action. What's involved in getting video walls installed on a festival site and what are the key benefits derived by festival-goers and festival organisers.

Numerous performance artists write and perform their own material but if they are a solo performer the use of session musicians is an essential part of studio recording and live performances. What is it like to be a session musician, how do they get started and what part do they play in the live entertainment industry.

Every festival uses their social media channels to promote and market their events and create followers and fans. These channels can also be problematic should something go wrong at a festival with bad news quickly going viral. How can organisers manage their social media channels to their benefit.

Festival organisers should never stand still when running events year on year because too many things can change that affect overall financial performance. How can organisers determine what improvements to make and how do they implement them in a cost-effective manner.

The revenue earned by festival organisers from vendor pitches makes up a significant portion of their overall income. How can festival organisers build and manage their vendor packages to make them attractive to potential vendors whilst controlling costs and providing services that festival-goers want  

Pride events are a fixture in most western cities every year and can last anywhere from a week to month. Increasingly popular are the associated Pride Festivals which are often the highlight of celebrations, how are these festival events evolving to accept corporate brand involvement along with appealing to wider audiences.

No music festival is complete without its branded flags and banners that help promote the event’s image and brand. How much should organisers invest in their on-site branding and how can this be managed in a cost-effective manner to get the biggest impact without blowing the budgets.