UK: The International Festival Forum (IFF) has sold out six weeks in advance of its first edition. The new event, produced by the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), has confirmed that over 300 music festival professionals will attend the London-based event from September 30 – October 1. IFF organisers are now running a reserve list for any cancellations or last minute places.
Launched to better connect festival bookers and booking agents, IFF features a series of showcases and Q&As with agents, and morning panels and workshops dedicated to the festival business. Partner agencies on the event include The Agency Group, ATC Live, Coda, ITB, X-ray Touring, Primary Talent, LPO, and Pitch & Smith.
Each agency will be showcasing hotly-tipped signings for the 2016 festival season, while IFF’s After Hours late night programme will see additional agencies and export offices also showcase artists.
“To have sold out before we announced a single showcasing artist is testament that there’s a need for an event with this specific focus,” says ILMC head Greg Parmley.
“The support from the event partners, agencies, and founding associations has been tremendous, and with over 100 booking agents attending, and over 150 festivals represented from as far afield as Australia, Malaysia, and the United States, all the elements are in place for a productive first outing.”
IFF is a partnership between ILMC and Ruud Berends of Networking Music. Panels at the event will include a discussion around life in a ‘post-headliner’ world, a keynote with Isle of Wight Festival’s John Giddings, the role of loyalty and the local promoter, and the top five gripes between festivals and agents. Workshop topics include Facebook for festivals, data & audience insight, and better brand partnerships.
Event partners on IFF include FKP Scorpio, Intellitix, Rock-It Cargo, Showsec, Integro Doodson, Megaforce, Showsec, Jack Daniels and Heineken. Association partners are the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), De Concert!, the International Jazz Festivals Organization (IJFO) and International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) Europe.
For more information on IFF, check out its official website.
