2020: Year in Review
For many of us in the event industry, 2020 will be a year that will live long in the memory, whether we want it to or not.
Throughout those 12 months, the challenges that we’ve faced have been many and often. Uncertainty and indecision aren’t words you often associate with our profession. But they were words we began to hear too frequently.
Probably more than any other, we’re an industry driven by the most absolute of deadlines. An event is happening at this place and this time, everything has to fit into this timeframe and there’s no getting around it.
Without those projects and without those deadlines and timeframes, the events industry became listless, aimless.This has been a really trying time in which governmental support and advice
Despite this, the way that the events industry has come together as a community, has been exemplary. There’s been some fantastic projects, particularly here in Bristol, that have sought to bring life back into the industry.
Here at REM we succeed in getting a couple of special occurrences up and running, as a thank you to the people of Bristol.
In relative secrecy we planned and executed a Bristol International Balloon Fiesta first, something we coined the Fiesta Flyby, followed by a Virtual Nightglow.
The Flyby took place on what would have been the Fiesta opening week. A time when the people of Bristol flock to Ashton Court Estate for colour, vibrancy and the visual spectacle that is the Fiesta.
Around 40 pilots and crew volunteered to take part in this event, and for that I am eternally grateful. It was a really special moment, during what’s been a pretty bleak year. The Virtual Nightglow was just a few days after. BBC Bristol pre-recorded this show in the dead of night and it was broadcast later on the iPlayer, which around 50,000 people watched.
It was great to be able to get these events up and running, and they were met with so much love and positivity from our audiences. But in all honesty, I hope we never have to do them again.
We’re 12 months down the line now and into a new year. Events and culture professionals across the country will no doubt be sat with baited breath as to what 2021 will look like.