The South African Roadies Association (SARA) hosted its fourth Annual Live Event Technical and Production Conference (LETPC 2018) from the 17 to 19 May 2018, at The Sunnyside Park Hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg. The three-day event attracted over 120 delegates from different countries across the globe.
According to attendees, LETPC 2018 was resounding success: “The panel discussions were an excellent addition to the conference, the content improved a remarkable 80% this year, and the topics were informative, real and relevant to the industry,” one of the attendees remarked.
The LETPC conference has become one of the foremost platforms for international Live Event Technical and Production professionals to meet, network and discuss critical issues that are affecting the sector with topics such as such as health and safety, production, event management, venues, artist challenges, Dj and Producer issue, technical advances being interrogated by the speakers and audience alike.
The LETPC 2018 featured a range of local as well as international guest speakers, and as was intended once again, to expose the South African live event, technical and production sectors and practitioners to best practices occurring across Africa and the world and to share with those from elsewhere the gains made and challenges experienced, locally.
The LETPC2018 International speakers included Willem Westermann of the Association of Event Makers – Netherlands; Andy Lenthall of Production Services Association in the UK; Andrea Stark of the Islington Council, UK; Theresa Ayoade of Charterhouse in Ghana; Falco Zanini of the VPLT in Germany; and Paul Walters of Backstage Academy, UK.
According to SARA, “the primary objective of the LETPC has been and remains to pull together, each year, the event, technical, production and education (training and skills development) sectors from across the country, the continent and the world. We aim to gather African and international market leaders from across the same sectors, as well as Government, Sector Education and Training Authorities, suppliers and independent skills attending.”
Of great importance is the growing awareness that qualified and trained personnel in the event, technical and production sectors have the type of skills for which there are jobs in the future, unlike many acquiring skills today for whom there is little chance that a future job will ever be found. Event, technical and production sector skills and qualifications are transferable, with a prospective entrant being at ease doing lighting or sound for a live show, as well as for the functioning of an airport, hotel or conference centre.
“SARA is once again indebted by the continuous support and sponsorship received, especially from anchor sponsor the Department of Arts and Culture, whose support is greatly appreciated. Others who have brought sponsorship support to the LETPC who are acknowledged and appreciated include Black Motion Productions, DWR Distribution, Gearhouse, Sound Corporation, Dr Nandi’s Aesthetic Medical Boutique and as well as media partner, 1912 Online Radio,” SARA concludes.
