Insight: Issue 159 | Wed 01 Nov

Let’s see what’s what

We’re back. Gettin’ down to the nitty-gritties, cold, hard facts and the truths of the matter. Sounds about right.

This week: Eurovision delivers £54m economic boost to Liverpool; ‘World’s biggest’ holo-gauze projection shows DJ in sky; Our costs are about framing but what to do about change?; Event industry recruitment trends; and Scotland’s Summer Sessions Expands to England & Wales.

Liverpool Calling: The results are in

Liverpool City Council’s research confirmed that playing host to The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 gave a massive economic boost of £54 million to the Liverpool City Region.

Councillor Liam Robinson and Mayor Steve Rotheram revealed the outcomes from five evaluations. With just about half a million people in attendance, the city saw a whopping 175,000 hotel room bookings, – the highest number since 2018. The reports were designed to assess the event’s impact on the economy, social aspects, cultural relations, visitor experiences, and collab effectiveness.

 – Looking for some juicy data? Here’s a few hot takes:

 – 73,000 attended Eurovision events across the city, with an added 306,000 visiting the city to be part of the celebrations

 – 96% of visitors surveyed would recommend Liverpool as a must-see destination

 – Of the 50,000 tonnes of waste collected during the Eurovision period, more than 80% could be recycled

 – EuroFestival – the Culture Liverpool curated two-week culture festival – presented 24 brand new commissions, 19 in collab with Ukrainian artists. 328,346 people engaged with this programme

Eurovision minister Stuart Andrew commented: “It is fantastic to see the impact that hosting the Eurovision Song Contest has had on Liverpool. The city put on a fantastic display of culture and creativity, showing solidarity with our friends in Ukraine and highlighting what unites us all.

“This research demonstrates the positive impact of hosting major events and I hope that we can continue to build on this success.”

‘World’s biggest’ holo-gauze projection shows DJ in sky

Fatboy Slim’s recent live set at London’s Alexandra Palace was projected on a mighty 50m high, 30m wide holo-gauze suspended in the sky by cranes. Fans across the world submitted dance videos to be part of the “world’s biggest holographic performance”, organised by EE for a massive brand relaunch. Images of fans, alongside the DJ’s live set, created a jaw dropping spectacle – towering as tall as none other than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The dance icon said: “Last night was a wild ride! We took over London’s skyline and made history. A massive shout out to all those fans who joined me on the world’s biggest holographic stage to kickstart a brand-new era for EE.”

Our costs are about framing but what to do about change?

In a recent column by CloserStill and Nineteen group chairman Phil Soar, he airs his thoughts on pricing and facing up to change by trialling disruptive ideas.

The perception of price is more about our expectations than a specific number. Our brains filter information, often filling gaps based on what we expect to see or hear. Von Helmholtz noted that what we see is often a projection of our assumptions, explaining why we only notice when things don’t align. This phenomenon applies not only to sight but also to conversation and music, as we tend to fill in gaps based on our expectations.

We’re going pick out and sum up a few key takes – jump on over to the article get the full bhuna:

Does anyone know why we charge what we do?

Few pay attention to pricing in our industry, often leaving it to higher-ups without real understanding. The lack of comprehension about pricing decisions, like for space or banner fees, is evident. Despite the potential for research, few exhibition companies explore exhibitor price expectations, missing a valuable opportunity to understand and improve pricing perceptions.

There are three main ways to determine price

Pricing methods draw from competitor rates, cost-centric service models, and market-driven strategies. Across sectors like arms, gaming, tech, finance, and tobacco, prices often deviate from production costs. Market elasticity is fundamental yet frequently neglected.

Surge pricing – could we try this?

Bars and restaurants hike prices when busy, akin to butcher’s pre-weekend beef costs. Sporting events follow suit. Pricing’s about perception, not cost-based. Can we explore variable pricing based on demand?

Definitely some food for thought there, Phil!

Event industry recruitment trends: part three

Good news – YOU Search and Select’s founder Robert Kenward has given us some tasty insight into the latest industry recruitment trends.

Here’s a wee summing up of what he’s got to say:

The demise of fully remote work

Over the last couple of years, the pandemic accelerated remote work in most industries. However, for sectors reliant on personal connections, the full-time remote approach is diminishing due to its impact on creativity, learning, and culture.

DIY recruitment

Recently, there’s been a rise in companies handling recruitment internally, presuming it’s as easy as posting a job ad. While Kenward supports this if it’s done well, rushed hiring risks damaging recruitment’s reputation, causing candidate mismatches and increased turnover.

The impact of referral programmes on diversity

Referral programs regain traction in events to cut costs by hiring acquaintances. Cash incentives prompt quick hires, but risk diversity and salary gaps. Diligence is needed to ensure fairness and diversity.

Scotland’s Summer Sessions Expands to England & Wales

In collab with DF Concerts and LN-owned Cuffe & Taylor, Live Nation are taking Scotland’s Summer Sessions to five new locations in England and Wales in 2024. This nationwide expansion includes events at top spots like Bedford Park, Chepstow Racecourse, Markeaton Park in Derby, The Hoe in Plymouth, and Guildhall Square in Southampton.

Disco royalty Nile Rodgers will headline in Bedford and Southampton, with Jess Glynne joining him in Bedford. Summer Sessions will revisit Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Showgrounds and Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park, and more cities will soon be revealed. Launched in 2013 by DF Concerts, Summer Sessions has played host to top artists like Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Florence + The Machine, and David Guetta in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Cuffe & Taylor co-founder said, “We see an incredible opportunity to deliver world-leading live shows all around the UK under the Summer Sessions banner, and very much expect the events to become regular fixtures in music fans’ calendars. Bedford, Chepstow, Derby, Plymouth and Southampton – we’ll see you in summer 2024. We can’t wait.”

We’re gonna shoot off now

See you next week for more riveting tell-alls.