IFEA 71st Annual Convention & Expo

The most basic element of the industry is operations/risk management for one simple reason – any festival or event is a large gathering of people. The top priority of any organizer is to ensure that gathering is conducted in the safest possible manner. This area of instruction is designed to look at the basic elements of event/festival operations and risk management from both the philosophical and practical approaches, providing a sound foundation of knowledge in the subject area.

See 9:00AM for Session Description.

While many areas of professional education deal with sponsorship, the major portion of revenue generated by many event organizations comes from more traditional sources – items such as tickets, food and beverage, and merchandise. This area of instruction is designed to look at such items and other components of non-sponsorship revenue sources.

See 9:00AM for Session Description.

Project management is the management of the project to deliver the event. It concerns integrating all the areas of management such as marketing, design and operations so they efficiently use the event resources and satisfy the objectives of the event stakeholders. It produces an accountable system used to report to the event stakeholders, delegate tasks to the event team and establish a control timeline. In particular it employs the tools of project management to manage the phases of the event from the concept through the planning and preparation to the event close down.

See 9:00AM for Session Description.

In a quickly changing and challenging world, we often find ourselves in situations where it would be helpful to have that law degree we never got! Thanks to Steven Adelman, head of the Adelman Law Group, PLLC, co-founder of the Event Safety Alliance, and IFEA’s new Director of Event Safety, we are pleased to offer this special extended session to give us all a leg up. This three-hour session will teach you the legal concepts every event professional should understand to do business in our industry. We will discuss the few legal issues that arise in contracts that are deal breakers, and why most issues are business decisions, not hills to die on.  We will explain the law surrounding common operational issues, such as the rare instances of personal liability for employees and how the First Amendment works on event sites.  We will dip a toe into the murky waters of litigation.  And we will teach you key vocabulary so you sound smart.  You already know a lot of this – this session will explain the legal reasons so you are more confident going forward.  Topics to be addressed will include:
 The elements of a contract and the “legal mullet”
 Employees versus independent contractors
 Cancellation and force majeure
 The elements of a negligence claim
 “Reasonable foreseeability”
 Indemnification
 Limitation of liability
 Agency law and personal liability
 Evidence and the importance of documentation
 The First Amendment and the constitutional limits on “speech”
Led by Steven Adelman, head of the Adelman Law Group, PLLC and Taylor Collins, associate at McCarter & English, LLP, both with extensive experience working with and representing festivals and live events, you’ll gain valuable insights that bring both competency and comfort to your world. Don’t miss this special opportunity to raise your bar.

See 10:45AM for Session Description.

See 10:45AM for Session Description.

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

IFEA convention attendees have a unique opportunity to share "common ground” with professional peers while discussing current trends and issues during our popular "Affinity Group” Sessions, which many of you have been participating in virtually throughout the year. Now come meet your professional friends in person! Bring your questions and input to these valuable open-topic exchange sessions and let the conversation begin. Each Affinity Group has been assigned a Moderator(s) to help keep the discussions flowing smoothly.

Stephen’s favorite question is “what’s next?” Never one to rest and always willing to take calculated risks, Stephen has experienced many challenges and celebrated many wins. In this interactive session, Stephen will share lessons learned over a three-decade career.