Sustainability and the saviour complex
Saving the planet, one event at a time
There’s a reason why event sustainability experts are evangelical about their work. We have to believe that we’re saving the planet to propel ourselves through a process that is often mind-numbingly dull.
It is noble to want to be greener, but many baulk at the details. Who knows how much diesel they used on last year’s event, average power in KWh or the tonnage of waste processed for re-cycling? If you need to prove that you’re improving, then baseline measurements are required. If you want to be certified by UK specialists, A Greener Festival, or abide by the standards of Julie’s Bicycle, it’s the tip of an iceberg of data that will be needed.
In the UK, promoters and organisers often stick to the visible impacts like banning single-use plastics, providing water for refills, and encouraging use of public transport whilst offsetting as much responsibility as possible onto suppliers. Any steps are admirable, of course, particularly considering that they were not much of a consideration until recently – and that there’s often a cost involved that only they will absorb.
It is often said that public transport is the hardest to manage as it involves interacting with numerous third parties who are not minded to interrupt their existing schedule, even when it can be enormously profitable for them to do so. Given that the transportation of large numbers of attendees is generally understood to be the biggest source of carbon emissions for events, this becomes an issue and one that is too vital to be ignored. Sadly, we often see – as in the case of this year’s FA Cup semi-final between two teams from the north-west played in London on a date when parts of the rail network were closed – that it is too frequently overlooked.
When it comes to sites, organisers tend to work outwards from the space and location to logistics and facilities. Very few festivals are located at the centre of convenient transport hubs, although arenas and outdoor shows have made strides to be closer to city centres of late. There are many competing factors for both the timing and location of shows, most of which revolve around viability and availability, everything else is a work-around.
As we’re based in Coventry, it is appropriate to take the upcoming weekend of May 28/29 as an example. On Saturday 28th the city welcomes over 50,000 gig-goers due to a re-scheduled Killers gig at CBS Arena (stadium) and Radio 1 Big Weekend in a major park. Local media has made much of people’s inability to get home (by train) from Big Weekend whilst not mentioning sustainability issues and the more serious problems facing those at the Killers gig which is a far greater distance from the train station.
It transpires that there’s little panic or outrage to be had here since trains from Coventry to most destinations are pretty good. The greater indignation could have been reserved for the paucity of travel information communicated by the host websites. For Killers you might note that car parking is the most vital issue and find out very little else other than planning ahead is vital (who knew?). Big Weekend does a bit better with help from Visit Coventry but falls down on failing to link to national rail or the train services that serve Coventry, nor does it recommend public transport as the preferred option, which is absolutely essential.
Of course, both events may be doing a better job of communicating directly with ticket holders via email or social media. On the face of it though you’d struggle to know that your impacts as an attendee can be modified and managed better. It seems to be a peripheral issue when we all know much better. People are still not sustainably minded: witness the abandoned tents and other ecological impacts of festival goers generally. As event organisers we have a lot more to achieve and much of it will be in comms.
Bizarrely, there is one easy step that would make public transport more accessible to all those attending big events, unfortunately it is one that artists might consider would ‘compromise’ the show. If shows finished earlier and made a point of publicising event timings (subject to changes), the choices available to the public would be greatly improved. The simple solutions can often be the hardest to achieve, but we can all do much better.
We can help with your communications and advise on sustainability issues.
Writing for PR
I don't do much PR these days but it's a pleasure to be part of the upcoming success story that is the hmv Empire, Coventry - taking live music to the centre of the city. I always like to write a press release and take pleasure in publications that use my words in their entirety. I recognise that this is often due to the dwindling numbers in newsrooms around the country but the story still has to be good enough and well told to get the results. This was our recent statement.
Empire and hmv join forces:
Empire Coventry strikes landmark deal with legendary entertainment brand hmv
Coventry music venue, The Empire, has today announced details of a partnership with leading entertainment brand, hmv. The venue, which is in the process of re-locating to the city centre, will be known as the hmv Empire in this historic three-year deal.
hmv Empire, Coventry will open on Hertford Street this year following a £500,000 re-development of a former retail site and cinema. Although Covid-19 has delayed the opening by a number of months, this exclusive partnership gives the music venue a significant boost, placing them at the forefront of the national touring scene.
hmv Empire, Coventry Head of Programming, Dave Brayley, welcomed the partnership: "We've had a long association with hmv back to our original site in Far Gosford Street where we co-hosted a number of exclusive performances including a fantastic show with Sam Fender.
"This extended commercial relationship is a great step for us, putting the venue and city firmly on the map with artist, agents and labels".
Patrizia Leighton, Marketing and Commercial Director, hmv, said:
"hmv has had a very close relationship with performing artists since we started selling recorded music in 1921. We wanted to show our support for live music, performers and all those working behind the scenes at a time when that support is more vital than ever.
“As Coventry celebrates being the City of Culture for 2021, and as we celebrate our 100th anniversary, hmv’s sponsorship of this incredible new venue will help cement live music’s place at the heart of Coventry’s cultural scene and introduce music fans to new bands and artists. Together with the hmv Empire team, we’re looking forward to offering amazing live experiences as the country comes out of lockdown.”
Empire founder, Phil Rooney, is delighted to have hmv on board: “When we first thought about commercial partners for the Empire, we were keen to avoid the usual lifestyle and utility companies, we always wanted a brand with a strong musical heritage and there’s none better than hmv.
“Growing up in Cov, the hmv in Hertford Street was the one place you were guaranteed to find me every weekend. To think now that we’re going to have a premier entertainment venue in the centre of the city, carrying the name of this iconic music retailer, it just blows my mind”.
The sponsorship, which runs until 2024, is hmv’s only venue naming deal in the UK and includes the potential for artist showcases and unique album launch events, bringing a host of names to Coventry. Shows already confirmed at the hmv Empire include Tom Grennan, Arlo Parks, Roy Ayers, Maximo Park, Jimmy Carr and a number of events curated by Specials frontman Terry Hall as part of the City of Culture.
Subject to further Coronavirus restrictions the hmv Empire, Coventry is due to open with a socially distanced performance from the comedian, Al Murray, on June 11th.
So far we have gained coverage from Music Week, Complete Music Update and a number of industry titles plus significant social media andall the main local news outlets including a breakfast interview with BBC Radio CWR. When we have the branding in place and the venue is closer to completion, we will look to execute a 'reveal' which will be staged for TV and online use.