Today I ran about London in a festival frenzy meeting some fantastic people.
I started off in the Amnesty International Office with Jo Metcalf, a really lovely lady who I met at the BAFA conference last year, she is responsible for, amongst many other things I am sure, for getting the word out about Amnesty's 50th Anniversary next year. Her task is to get as many Amnesty International events in festivals around the globe, as well as some larger show case events. We thought there is a lot that the World Festival Network can do to help spread the word and get Festivals on board. So we discussed partnerships etc and it was good to see her again and see the amazing Amnesty offices too,t here is a great venue there, which i didn't realise and it is used all the time for events and gigs etc.
I ran from Liverpool Street to the BAFA offices to talk about the board meeting tomorrow (another all dayer) and to have a general catch up, then I walked a little way down the road to the Crypt an under ground Cafe near Trafalgar Square. I met up with Adrienne, who is the international correspondent for the Chicago Fringe, a new festival for 2010. I was asked on the Advisory committee, but they are so organised and sorted that I question if they need my help. The Fringe is based on the CAFF model so the performing company's apply to be a part of the festival and then they are drawn from a lottery. Adrienne was really lovely and I am glad i met her, I passed her details on to the London Fringe in case she wanted to get onto the organisers group....
Talking about the London Fringe, I went down to Elephant and Castle to meet Greg and Gillian to have a pre-meet meet and discuss the agenda for the meeting. I knew it would be a long one but I was still there at 11pm! Hopefully we got a lot done but there were a few issues which went round in circles for an hour or two and i am not sure if they were resolved... I got a late bus to Brixton to stay with my friend Kate.
Long Day....
www.worldfestivalnet.com
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
23 Feb 2010 - John Park, London
I have been trying to catch up with John for weeks, months and years properly. So i thought right I am just going to get on the train and meet up.
John has introduced me to a brilliant London meeting place. RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects) if you go in (while wowing at the huge marble stair case) go up stairs and there is a fab cafe, which does excellent coffee. It has a calm atmosphere, huge art deco doors and windows, it's really quite beautiful.
So I get there early (amazingly), John, as you will know if you have met him, is excellent to talk to. I was prepared for a long chat and putting the world to rights several times over. We discussed Fringe Report, London Fringe, World Festival Network, Life, love and all that goes with that.
John has such an amazing energy for discussing anything creative and has some lovely ideas about how the WFN should be represented and received. He persuaded me to do this blog (but years and years ago when I wrote the first one) and he suggested I make a video of me talking about the World Festival Network and what it does... good idea, I will need some good lighting! ;-)
4 hours later and a 'too much coffee buzz' We part. It was great to see John and I feel like I have topped up my Park's!
John has introduced me to a brilliant London meeting place. RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects) if you go in (while wowing at the huge marble stair case) go up stairs and there is a fab cafe, which does excellent coffee. It has a calm atmosphere, huge art deco doors and windows, it's really quite beautiful.
So I get there early (amazingly), John, as you will know if you have met him, is excellent to talk to. I was prepared for a long chat and putting the world to rights several times over. We discussed Fringe Report, London Fringe, World Festival Network, Life, love and all that goes with that.
John has such an amazing energy for discussing anything creative and has some lovely ideas about how the WFN should be represented and received. He persuaded me to do this blog (but years and years ago when I wrote the first one) and he suggested I make a video of me talking about the World Festival Network and what it does... good idea, I will need some good lighting! ;-)
4 hours later and a 'too much coffee buzz' We part. It was great to see John and I feel like I have topped up my Park's!
Monday, 22 February 2010
22 Feb 2010 - Oxford Fringe Launch, Oxford
I had an invite from the lovely lady's Sarah and Heather form the Oxford Fringe. So we drove up and arrived on time to the bar where it was held, there was a good turn out and we were welcomed by Heather, who gave us some drinks vouchers (happy days), there was a bit of mingling and then with out delay we went straight into the showcase. There was a mix of comedy, music and poetry (which was my favourite) AF Harrold, funny looking funny poet, really excellent and very comfortable on stage.
I had a chance to sit down with Sarah and Heather after the show and we had a good chin wag about how it was going. Everyone works hard in festivals but these two ladies are running a 3 week long festival with over 200 events, programming and managing the venues themselves, managing the launch, staff, box office, website, design etc etc (basically everything and more than normal) but the difference is they both have full time jobs as well! Amazing I have a lot of respect for them they must be exhausted, they are exhausted and the festival hasn't even started yet. I asked if they would have a slight rest-bite before the festival starts, they said no as now they have to get on with all the out door events... yikes!!!
www.worldfestivalnet.com
I had a chance to sit down with Sarah and Heather after the show and we had a good chin wag about how it was going. Everyone works hard in festivals but these two ladies are running a 3 week long festival with over 200 events, programming and managing the venues themselves, managing the launch, staff, box office, website, design etc etc (basically everything and more than normal) but the difference is they both have full time jobs as well! Amazing I have a lot of respect for them they must be exhausted, they are exhausted and the festival hasn't even started yet. I asked if they would have a slight rest-bite before the festival starts, they said no as now they have to get on with all the out door events... yikes!!!
www.worldfestivalnet.com
Monday, 8 February 2010
8 Feb 2010 - Fringe Report Awards, London
Nipped on a train up to London for the Fringe Report Awards, met up with my lovely new friend, Jenny from the London Fringe, on the way into Leicester Square theatre. Luckily my name was on the door list as I only told John a couple of days ago I could make it.
Anyway it was my first time in the theatre and it is great, such an amazing location for the artists that Martin Witts Programmes. I was impressed for so many reasons
1) the turn out, it was totally packed out
2) there was free wine
3) I saw so many people I knew, Anthony Alderson- Pleasance Theatre, Nick Brice - Bitesize, Nicky - Upstairs at 3 and Ten, Loads of London Fringers (Charles, Belinda, Tracey, Greg and more), John Park of course - the Man of the moment, Holly from Brighton (that's not me), some performers I had been emailing and it goes on and on. It's obviously the place to be so get your invite for next year.
4) the awards were so well received (actually i wasn't surprised about that) and they were so well organised
5) there was food after as well! We were so well looked after.
It was a whirl wind of an evening as I was only there for about 3 and an half hours, unfortunately I had too dash out the door and run to Paddington (I always seem to be running in Paddington Station) so I didn't have to get the grim last train home, which no one should ever have to get on... needless to say i missed the train because I was having to much fun in Leicester Square and had to get on the scary last train home!
Here is the link to the awards http://www.fringereport.com/10awards.php
Thanks to Mr Park for a superb evening.
www.worldfestivalnet.com
Anyway it was my first time in the theatre and it is great, such an amazing location for the artists that Martin Witts Programmes. I was impressed for so many reasons
1) the turn out, it was totally packed out
2) there was free wine
3) I saw so many people I knew, Anthony Alderson- Pleasance Theatre, Nick Brice - Bitesize, Nicky - Upstairs at 3 and Ten, Loads of London Fringers (Charles, Belinda, Tracey, Greg and more), John Park of course - the Man of the moment, Holly from Brighton (that's not me), some performers I had been emailing and it goes on and on. It's obviously the place to be so get your invite for next year.
4) the awards were so well received (actually i wasn't surprised about that) and they were so well organised
5) there was food after as well! We were so well looked after.
It was a whirl wind of an evening as I was only there for about 3 and an half hours, unfortunately I had too dash out the door and run to Paddington (I always seem to be running in Paddington Station) so I didn't have to get the grim last train home, which no one should ever have to get on... needless to say i missed the train because I was having to much fun in Leicester Square and had to get on the scary last train home!
Here is the link to the awards http://www.fringereport.com/10awards.php
Thanks to Mr Park for a superb evening.
www.worldfestivalnet.com
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
2 Feb 2010 - London Fringe Networking event
The London Fringe hold an open, evening meeting every 2 weeks at the Phoenix Bar in London.
I didn't know what to expect at this one, as I have only ever been to a Fringe report, first Monday of the month meet up. It was structured slightly differently and in 2 halves. the first was all around in a circle, which grew and grew as more and more people turned up - some familiar faces, some not.
Greg spoke about the LFF vision for a couple of mins and then everyone introduced them selves and stated what it is they wanted to get out of coming to the meeting. Interestingly there were a lot of film types there, looking for work, crew, ides etc. Greg turns to me and says - it is OK for you to speak now... me... in a whisper, as the groups eyes were on me "ummm yeah... what about?" this was an unplanned speech.. ie i wasn't warned at all. Greg... in a whisper - "just about the importance of Fringe"... "oh righty ho..." and off I go, I have done this speech before, while talking at the many Brighton Fringe launches and events and for the Oxford Fringes premier launch.
I can hear myself talking and it sounds convincing, god only knows where the words are coming from... people seem to agree and like what i said so phew quite honestly! after that we all get a drink and mingle and talk, people want to talk to me about Hollywood, Henley and Brighton Fringes. Which is great and we all chat and chat till i can't no longer and i go....
Lovely evening for networking I recommend!
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