Bristol’s Festival of Ideas Zoë Steadman-Milne came to share her vast experience of organising events this week. It was interesting how she highlighted the key to success being ensuring you are meeting both the needs of the ‘performer’ and the audience.  Her checklist of essentials is a great reference for all creative producers.

The Performer:

•The Brief

•Fee

•What do they need?

•Getting there (and back again!)

•On the day

•Never assume anything!

The Audience:

•Tickets and Box Office

•On the day:

–How do you want them to feel?

–What do they need to know?

–Are they additional requirements that require more staff?

The Venue:

•What does it provide as standard?

•What can it provide?

•Pre-production

•Schedule

•Staffing and chain of command!

Admin:

•Timeline

•Budgets

•How are you keeping track?

•Pre-production

•Schedules

•Who needs what?

•Don’t assume – confirm!

•What are your responsibilities?

•Working with artists and curators