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By Carl A H Martin
Greetings from the Colonies! You’ll all be aware
that there are deadlines for magazine copy. The editor of Facility Manager
has been wonderfully ironic this month. Deadline is July 4, and I’m sitting
in England writing this on that fateful day. A belated happy holiday to you
all!
Since my last contribution, IAAM Europe has moved forward steadily,
membership is increasing as word goes around, and we’re now beginning to get
news coverage in the national and international music and venue media
without asking. The “little one” is beginning to grow up.
Our new board is becoming more active, and the project we’re all
concentrating on now is the European Academy of Venue Management, being held
Sept. 3-7, 2006, at St. Jakobshalle in Basle, Switzerland. This Academy has
been the driving force behind the formation of the IAAM Europe for a lot of
people, not least Dexter King, CEO IAAM; Bob Mayer, past president; and
Terry Selzer, IAAM Board member. The recognition and formalisation of IAAM
Europe has provided the opportunity to realize this Academy.
Whilst using Oglebay as a pattern, all the content and presenters will be
European-based. The Academy will be based on a twoyear course. At the end of
the two years an internationally recognised certificate will be issued. It
has to be noted that to achieve a successful pass, students have to attend
all of the lectures.
Amongst the items on the curriculum we will present will be Contracts and EU
Law, Event Production, Booking and Scheduling, Crowd Management, Marketing
and Advertising, Financial Management, Novelties and Merchandising, Media
Relations, etc.
The presenters are an eclectic bunch and will include:
Peter Gruber, DVP IAAM Europe, MD of
Wiener Stadthalle, Austria. Responsible for 14 venues in Vienna, Austria,
ranging from the world-famous Mozarthaus Vienna to the 16,000- capacity
Arena, including ice arenas, swimming pools, theatres/concert halls and
exhibition halls.
Henk Markerink, IAAM Europe Board
member, MD of Amsterdam Arena, the 52,000-capacity home of Ajax football
team, rock ‘n roll venue, (Madonna, Robbie Williams and the Rolling Stones
are amongst the acts appearing there this summer) and a major event venue.
 Terry
Selzer, IAAM Europe Board member, attorney at law, director of
the Star Arena in Denmark; international events, facility and project
consultant. Recently given responsibility for authorship of the revised IAAM
Handbook of Public Assembly Facility Management.
Mark Hamilton, IAAM Europe member, MD,
RockSteady Security from Edinburgh, Scotland. Responsible for security at
all major arenas and sports stadia in Scotland and several throughout the
rest of the UK. Responsible for the security of last year’s Live Eight
concert in Hyde Park, London. MD of company responsible for Sir Paul
McCartney’s personal and tour safety. Frequently consulted by the British
government and the Scottish Parliament with regards to venue and crowd
safety.
Mike Molloy, IAAM Europe member, Feld
Inc./ Disney on Ice, MD Tours — Europe and the Middle East. Hails from the
States but has lived in Europe for long enough for us to consider him one of
us. One of the first to offer his assistance as a presenter and has offered
to cover the lecture about merchandising.
Jordi Vallverdu, IAAM Europe Board
member. One of the original IAAM Europe advocates, former managing director,
Barcelona Olympic Venues. Now active in the opening of a new arena in
Madrid, Spain.
Phil Mead, IAAM Europe member, deputy
director, Events, SECC Glasgow. Responsible for Events sector and Box Office
Management at the SECC, Glasgow, five-hall multipurpose venue ranging from
650 capacity rising to 10,130; includes conference centre with breakout
rooms.
Carl A H Martin, director, European
Services, IAAM Europe; arena and stadia consultant; still involved with
Budapest (Hungary) SportArena operations; previous experience includes
design, build, pre- and post-operational involvement in SECC Glasgow,
Sheffield, Manchester, Newcastle, Oberhausen (Germany) and Shah Alam
(Malaysia) arenas, Don Valley Stadium (Sheffield) and La Grande Stade in
Paris.
All lectures, course content, food and accommodation will be included in the
registration fees, which will be 1500 euros for members and 1800 euros for
non-members. Full details can be found at
www.iaam.org. Go to “meetings,” and then European Academy of Venue
Management.
Carl A H Martin is director, European Services, IAAM Europe. He may be
reached by e-mail at cahm98@aol.com |
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