Tenth year this event has happened… and don’t I know it!!

Having said that it is great to be back, I am very proud… it could not have been done though without those of you who have regularly attended, thank you so much and if you are new to EPFE, you will be very welcome..

Thanks also, to Máté Horvath, without whose assistance EPFE would not have got started.

We concentrated initially on CEE but more and more included the rest of Europe, from Helsinki down the Gibraltar, from Galway to Istanbul. Our delegates come from all over this area, plus a few have come from Sydney and Sau Paulo!

All this make EPFE25, Event Production Forum Europe, …epfe.eu…  Europe’s only international Production meeting…

Firstly, a wee thanks to all our Gold sponsors, @Continest, @The Pink Bow Foundation, @Outbox d.o.o and silver sponsors, @GD Staff, @TIXA, @Show Productions d.o.o, @VEGroup and the @Budapest SportArena..

These fine folk allow us to offer a sensible ticket price and reductions for those who are new to the industry, get more details at the ticketing information at the end of the site. They also give production, ticketing and marketing help to me where needed

     
       This year’s timings…
  • 09:00 – 09:45               Registration, Free coffee/tea / Welcome patter
  • 09:45 – 11:00               Panel    1  –  “Why can they still die?”
  • 11:00 – 11:30               Free coffee and tea break
  • 11:30 – 13:00               Panels 2/3 –  “Talk to us”.. “Did we help?”
  • 13:00 – 14:30               Complimentary Lunch
  • 14:30 – 15:45               Panel 4 —   “Brave New World revisited”
  • 15:45 – 16:15               Free coffee and tea break
  • 16:15 – 17:30               Panel 5 –   “The Dinosaur Session”
  • 17:30 – 18:00               “Goodbye for now”

This year we are going to include a subject that should have been resolved years ago, a continuation of a couple of items with additional subject matter from the past, another look at the “improved technology” out there and, again because it has been asked for, the Dinosaur Session.

So, the session subjects..

If you have Netflix and you have seen “Trainwreck. The Astroworld Tragedy” you will know what we are talking about.. if you haven’t go to the following website.. WITH THIS LINK. If you have, still go there!

Two extremely well known Event Safety and Security professionals, Dr Mark Hamilton and Steve Allen, initiated the ShowStop Procedure which is now being supported by The Pink Bows Foundation, one of our sponsors. This is the only internationally recognised certification, a one day course being taught worldwide and we are privileged to have the presence of some of those involved, to talk on a panel about something that should not be happening..

“Why can they still die?” will not only include discussion about Showstop, its content and its importance, but also the various problems that arise during events such as audience control, structures, weather, terrorism, etc., and advice how to avoid them..

On the panel are Mark Bóná from Sziget Festival, Hungary, “adult in charge”.. Paula Postolková, Prod Manager, Pohada Festival, Martin Královič from SafetyCrew in Slovakia (who has attended and passed the Showstop Course) and Szolt Szicso from Rawsolutions in Hungary.

A Showstop course will now be held in Budapest on Dec 1st.. and those of you who attend EPFE25 will receive a 15% price reduction for the Showstop course. Please refer to Carl A H Martin, cahm98@aol.com, for full details of how to receive this bonus.

Other subjects, just as relevant, are included. We have previously talked about education and how to give people a chance to learn, thus EPFE has prompted Universities in Hungary, Serbia, UK, Slovenia and Croatia to get together to ask what  needs to be done. “Talk to us!!” will take this further. Ildi Furka, Budapest University of Tech and Economics, HU, James Kennell, University of Surrey, GB, Romana Boskovic, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Novi Sad, SRB are amongst those who will be listening and learning.

(Interestingly, a new conference for the “music industry” taking place in southern Europe later this summer has a panel about “education”… wonder where they got that idea from?)

Talking about “talk to me”, there are still far too many people suffering mentally, sometimes fatally, from stress and the potentially toxic conditions we work with. András Parák, ACC, Phycologist, PhD will be with us to talk through with delegates problems and suggested resolutions in the “Did we help” panel.

AI, seemingly the trending subject following on from NFT’s (ok bit more serious..) was initially discussed last year, since then more and more folk are getting involved with it. Although it is only a year on, there has been surge in development. Whilst this is useful, it is not always easy to follow.. the discussion and advice will continue in the panel.. Brave New World Revisited.

Last but not least, The Dinosaur Panel, knowledge and experience in the form of an informal chat between a venerated visitor and myself.. always, I am told (honestly), welcomed by the delegates.. this year I am delighted to welcome a man who should have joined us last year but managed to catch covid a week before the event..

Bryan Grant has been involved in the music industry since 1971, mainly in the provision of Audio, both as a techie and engineer then provider equipment.. joined Britrow Production (owned then by Pink Floyd in 1979), then did a management buyout from Floyd in 1984 and continued through until 2017 when Clair Global bought then out. Bryan remains a non exec director.

Anongst the acts Bryan works and has worked for and with are Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, the Cure, Iron Maiden, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, Oasis, Foo Fighters, Peter Gabriel, David Gilmour, etc., etc., etc.. plus a myriad of new artistes. He will tell you more…

Of course, as you will know if you’ve been before, this is not the end of the day.

For, in the evening, there is a continuation of the day when we have free food and drink for a few hours. Always a popular and enjoyable time allowing everyone to talk (and listen..) some more and let off a bit of steam..

So, Ticket Prices, (please don’t forget this includes a 27% tax, plus local taxes and all food and drink..)  

This year, again, we will, at a suggestion made at an earlier event, encourage delegates to bring a young (or old..) colleague who are new to the industry with them, we will also be inviting local schools, colleges and universities to send students who have an interest in events. To encourage these “new” ones there will be a reduced ticket price. Trainees/freelance should have been employed or in the industry for two years maximum..

From August 1st until September 14th at the rate of

Delegates  30.000 huf

Trainees 15.000 huf (use code epfe2025trainees)                                                                                                               

From September 15th until October 31st at the rate of

Delegates    40.000 huf

Trainees 25.000 huf (use code epfe2025trainees)

BUY TICKET

So, that’s that. Pop the date in your diaries, get your tickets booked and it will be a real pleasure to see you all, old and new, on October 31st!

Venue: BudapestArena

1143 Stefánia út 2., Budapest, Hungary

Be lucky.

Carl