Fest Forums Santa Barbara 2016 Agenda

Welcome cocktails & snacks

Meeting new prospects and making new friends is the number one reason people attend conferences. That’s why we’re starting the conference by giving you a chance to meet and greet your fellow attendees.

What happens when the arts converge… a lot! Tribeca, a film festival, also showcases music. Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, music festivals, also focus on culinary experiences. How do festivals maintain their identities as they incorporate new experiences?

Whether you’re relatively new to the festival industry or a seasoned professional, learn from our team of experts what it really takes to succeed. Panelists: Kevin Lyman, Vans Warped Tour Disco Donnie, Disco Donnie Presents John Trumble, New York City Food and W Nancy Kennedy, Seattle Film Festival

 

Lesa Ukman, Founder of Lesa Ukman Partnerships and co-founder of IEG, Inc. will inform attendees at FestForums about the latest developments and trends in the sponsorship industry. In addition, Delta will be awarding a $10,000 sponsorship (value of travel certificates) to a festival or event that best embodies a strategic fit for the airline. A […]

Festivals are in the business of creating valuable experiences and the goal for brands is to use these experiences to connect with their customers. With so much digital content being created, brands are able to connect more intimately than ever, even when consumers are far away from the festival. Let’s explore the brands, the experiences, […]

 

Tastings, dinner, and concerts.

It’s time to network! According to Maya Angelou, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Come share who you are and what you do, and gain some valuable contacts and information! Facilitator: Stuart MacNaught, FestForums  

Take one part TED™ Talks, one part enlightened salons of Paris, one part keynote and you have a 20-20. Learn how to taste wine, use your five senses at a festival, achieve personal growth, go behind the scenes with EDM DJ giants and much more!  Twenty minutes (on November 20th) of inspiration and education from […]

 

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”  These festival producers are leading the charge in this multibillion-dollar industry that changes lives, changes minds and which has now firmly planted itself in the collective consciousness of our society. Panelists: Maureen Ford, Live Nation Chris Fujiwara, London East Asian Film Festival Lee Schrager, […]

From the ticket purchase to the use of onsite cashless payment, let’s learn exactly what ticketing and RFID platforms can provide. How do latest trends in data collection and analytics serve the festival economy in maximizing profitability, logistics and more? Moderator: Parag Bhandari, UG Strategies Panelists: Keith Goldberg, Vendini Katelyn Boyle, Red Frog Events (Firefly […]

 

The news is flooded with stories of meteorological, medical, security and financial disasters at festivals. Within minutes, a festival’s reputation and financial stability can be upended. But what if these disasters could be prevented, minimized or insurable? How can preplanning and on-site crisis management reduce or eliminate risk and reduce your festival’s negative exposure. We’ll […]

 

Ever since Shep Gordon brought Roger Verge and others out of the kitchen and into the spotlight, the demand for celebrity chefs has gone through the roof. They are the new rock stars. With dedicated cooking channels and the proliferation of so many culinary & beverage festivals, it’s a great time to be a chef. […]

The content of film festivals is sourced by the work of filmmakers and their creative storytelling through narrative features and docs. But when only 4% of all directors are women, isn’t the story being told through the male lens? Half of recent film school grads are women so the times they are a changin’. The […]

 

The ability to hold a festival depends on the ability to receive the proper local municipal, city and state permits. Failure to interface properly with government agencies will stall or shut down your festival faster than you can say infraction. Understanding the permitting process is the topic of this can’t miss panel. Panelists: Evan Korn, […]

To sustain year-round interest for an event that only happens annually is a challenge that all film festivals face. Expanding the festival’s reach in the real and virtual community is one way that festivals grow and thrive. Film series’, online programming and other strategies will be explored by film festival leaders that have successfully and […]

 

 

Besides ticket revenue, concessions and sponsorship, what revenue streams can festivals optimize to enhance their bottom line? How do festivals optimize the three big ones? Are grants, merch, and streaming profit centers or break evens? Let’s deconstruct this. Moderator: Brian Arnone, Showclix Panelists: Kevin Mardorf, Beerfest.com

Apps, WiFi, streaming, drones, VR are all becoming must haves in today’s festival climate. We will examine the latest technologies that may benefit you, your sponsors and your audience. Moderator: Karen Allen, Karen Allen Consulting Panelists: Seth Sheck, Access Anika Grant, Essence Festival Tom Russell, Governors Ball Music Festival John Petrocelli, Bulldog Digital Media Byron […]

 

The call comes in- you’ve got the star of the film for the screening…. room, check; flight, check; check, uh oh! And filmmakers, the backbone of the event, can cost a pretty penny, too. Once they arrive, how do you host them in style without breaking the bank? Since what would be a loss leader […]

To be an “it” festival, it’s not necessary to be a household name. From music to film, culinary & beverage festivals, we bring you events that succeed in small communities across North America. In the words of Stephen Colbert, “And So Can You!” Moderator: Susan von Seggern, Spark’s Consultant Network Panelists: Cameron Collins, Brew Ha […]

 

 

The buzzwords these days are ‘activation’ and ‘experience.’ How do festival sponsorship directors engage brands, ink deals, activate and provide ROI in this landscape? Brands and festivals weigh in.   Moderator: Brian McCue, Winmo Panelists: Beau Blanchard, Mill Valley Film Festival Alex Yount, Red Frog Events (Firefly Music Festival, Warrior Dash, Chicago Beer Classic) Clay […]

Talent is the key component that draws people to your festival and sets the stage for your event. How does a small festival negotiate with big-name talent and who is going to be the next big name? In this panel we will break down key components of talent buying; sourcing, timing, and finance, among others. […]