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This week Freddie Sparrow sits down with Neil Bainbridge — the founder of Neighbourhood and the driving force behind Newcastle clubbing institution Shindig Events — for one of the most candid conversations we've had on the show. Neil doesn't hold back. A flooded city centre site that nearly wiped out the business. A warehouse roof that peeled clean off the night of an event. And a property owner who nearly pulled the plug on a major brand activation the night before it was due to happen. What comes through in all of it is a simple principle: be honest with your crowd, be straight with your suppliers, and build a network you can actually call on when things go sideways. If you work in events, at any level, this one's worth your time.🎧 Listen now via the link in the comments. This episode is sponsored by Vento Insurance — specialists in protecting live events when sh*t goes wrong. For event insurance advice, email [email protected]

A brand-new episode of WHEN SH*T GOES WRONG AT EVENTS is live, and this week Freddie Sparrow is joined by Nick Morgan, Founder and CEO of WeGroup, the UK’s largest independent festival producer. From losing huge sums as a promoter to building one of the UK’s best-known independent event operations businesses, Nick shares an honest account of how failure, resilience, and experience shaped his journey. The conversation covers everything from financial risk and crisis management to team building, event safety, and why independent festivals matter so much. Nick also makes a strong case for better protection of the independent festival ecosystem, arguing that without real support, the wider cultural and economic value of live events is at risk. Honest, sharp, and full of behind-the-scenes insight, this is a must-listen for anyone working in events. This episode is sponsored by Vento Insurance — specialists in protecting live events when sh*t goes wrong. For event insurance advice, email [email protected] #EventsIndustry #Ticketing #LiveMusic #EventProfessionals #Podcast

Episode 22 - Live at AIF Festival Congress with Millie Devereux and Jamie Tagg. Welcome to Series 3 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast giving listeners a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode, host Freddie Sparrow sits down with Millie Devereux from We Group and Jamie Tagg from Mighty Hoopla, live at the AIF Festival Congress and in front of an audience, for the very first time! The three compare notes on all things events, the good the bad and the ugly, and from both sides - Millie is in production, and Jamie is a promoter, and Freddie, well he’s an insurance broker now (although he’s still an event organiser at heart), so it’s a nice, balanced view. Together they talk through the 4 T’s - toilets, traffic, talent and tickets - as well as some entertaining moments in their lives behind the scenes of events, and career highlights! This episode is sponsored by Vento Insurance - specialists in protecting live events when sh*t goes wrong. For event insurance advice, email [email protected].

Welcome to Series 3 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast giving listeners a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode, host Freddie Sparrow sits down with Duncan King, Head of Partnerships at Skiddle, whose career spans DJing, promoting, artist management, and working at the heart of the UK ticketing industry. From the EDM boom of the mid-2000s to today’s challenging market for promoters, Duncan shares a candid look at how the industry has evolved - and what it takes to survive in it. They explore the realities of life on tour, the pressures facing artists and promoters, and why attention to detail (from backstage care to financial planning) can make or break an event. The conversation also tackles mental health in the industry, the shift toward professionalisation, and why collaboration and diversification are becoming essential for long-term success. Topics covered: Duncan’s journey from teenage DJ to industry leader at SkiddleThe role of artist managers and life behind major toursWhy artist riders and backstage care matter more than you thinkMental health challenges for artists and independent promotersThe evolution from cash-at-door events to online ticketingCurrent market pressures and the need to diversifyTrust, relationships, and building sustainable careers in eventsConnect with host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and guest Duncan King, Head of Partnerships at Skiddle. This episode is sponsored by Vento Insurance - specialists in protecting live events when sh*t goes wrong. For event insurance advice, email [email protected].

Welcome to Series 3 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast giving listeners a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode, host Freddie Sparrow sits down with Joe Heap, Towersey and Found festival organiser and university lecturer, whose family has been running festivals for generations. From the emotional farewell to the 60-year-old Towersey Festival to launching a new event and navigating burnout, Joe shares the highs, lows, and chaos of live event management. They discuss real-world challenges including travellers trashing a festival site weeks before build, floods, financial hits, and the evolving post-COVID event landscape. Topics covered: Growing up in a festival family and the legacy of Towersey FestivalLaunching a new festival focused on the audience experienceSurviving chaos on site - from rogue travellers to extreme weatherBurnout, stress, and the dangers of wearing exhaustion as a “badge of honour”Building strong teams and recognising your own limitsFinancial pressures and the importance of proper insuranceSoft skills as essential tools for future event organisersConnect with host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and guest Joe Heap, festival organiser and lecturer. This episode is sponsored by Vento Insurance - specialists in protecting live events when sh*t goes wrong. For event insurance advice, email [email protected].

Welcome to Series 3 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast giving listeners a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode, host Freddie Sparrow sits down with Nick Steiert, events entrepreneur and founder behind student travel brand Invasion Events and Wellnergy festival. From running university events to choosing startups over a legal career, Nick shares the realities of building, and rebuilding, an events business under pressure. They discuss rapid growth, tough financial moments, surviving COVID as a travel events company, and launching into the fast-growing wellness festival space, along with lessons in resilience, sponsorship, and planning for the worst. Topics covered: Choosing events over a corporate law careerBuilding a student travel and nightlife events brandCOVID’s impact on travel events and refund pressuresRaising emergency funds to keep the business aliveLaunching a wellness festival and the growth of the sectorWhy founders shouldn’t be too ambitious too earlyReal world event mishaps and unexpected setbacksConnect with host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and guest Nick Steiert, Founder of Wellnergy and Invasion Events. This episode is sponsored by Vento Insurance - specialists in protecting live events when sh*t goes wrong. For event insurance advice, email [email protected].

Welcome to Series 3 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast giving listeners a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode, host Freddie Sparrow sits down with Chris Carter, Founder and CEO of Eventwise, to unpack the financial realities of running live events. From promoting student club nights in Bristol to working across the festival supply chain, Chris shares how he found his way into accountancy, and why understanding the numbers can make or break an event. The conversation covers everything from overinflated artist fees and rising costs, to the importance of solid budget sheets and cashflow management. Chris also shares some unforgettable stories from the field, including managing festival finances in Mexico under intense pressure, and what resilience really looks like when events aren’t going to plan. Topics covered: How Chris went from promoting club nights to leading an events finance businessWhy budget sheets are essential for every eventThe reality behind artist fees and marketing spendManaging cashflow at festivals (including a high pressure situation in Mexico)Why many independent promoters haven’t survived, and advice for those trying toBuilding an events brand that lasts, and the role of resilienceConnect with host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and guest Chris Carter, Founder & CEO of Eventwise. This episode is sponsored by Vento Insurance - specialists in protecting live events when sh*t goes wrong. For event insurance advice, email [email protected].

Welcome to Series 3 of When Shit Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast giving listeners a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode, Freddie Sparrow chats with John Rostron, CEO of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), about a career shaped by a love of music, early chaos, and lessons learned the hard way. From losing money on first events to championing grassroots venues, John shares what it really takes to make live music thrive. Topics covered: How a love of music and organising led John into promoting.Why “never trust a promoter who’s never lost money” matters.Why local venues and knowledge are essential - and how co-promoting can work.Power outages, artists walking off stage, and handling live emergencies.Connect with host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and guest John Rostron, CEO of the AIF. This episode is sponsored by Vento Insurance - specialists in protecting live events when sh*t goes wrong. For event insurance advice, email [email protected].

Welcome to Season 2 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast where we give a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode, we speak with Craig Mathie, Managing Director of Project 30, about what it was really like to run a festival company through and after the pandemic. Endless cancellations, what it was like launching a business in the wash-out summer of 2023, and why resilience and the right skillset matter more than anything when sh*t goes wrong. Topics covered in this episode: Running a festival business during Covid: Cancelling, rescheduling, and surviving the unknown. Craig's biggest festival ever: Pulled off in just 42 days after restrictions ended. Launching in a wet summer: The highs, lows, and mud-soaked realities of 2023. Why skillsets matter more than knowledge: Lessons for anyone starting out in events. Tents, beds, and windy nights at Formula 1: How small oversights become big problems at Silverstone. Connect with our host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and connect with our guest Craig Mathie, Managing Director of Project 30 Events Management.

Welcome to Season 2 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast where we give a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. This episode we sit down with Olly, Director of Acumen Safety, to talk about all things event safety, training, and crisis management in the live events industry. With years of experience helping organisers prepare for the unexpected, Olly shares insights on how to keep both teams and audiences safe when sh*t really does hit the fan. Topics covered in this episode: Fire in the Park Festival cancellation: The difficult decision to call off day two after extreme weather, a serious incident, and the long-term impact on the venue. Training and upskilling event professionals: Why continuous learning is key to building resilient, safety-focused teams. NEBOSH and Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs): What they are, and why they matter for event organisers. Posting on LinkedIn daily: How to track success, and why visibility helps push safety conversations forward. Fires at events and lessons learned: Plus the reality of working through the pandemic and its aftermath. Connect with our host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and connect with our guest Olly Galvin, Director of Acumen Safety.

Welcome to Season 2 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast where we give a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode, we sit down with Hannah Eakins, CEO of Production Futures, to talk about how Production Futures began, the challenges of launching new events, and what it really takes to help people of all ages break into production roles.  Hannah shares the highs, lows and shit going wrong with the Production Futures Awards. From “blagging it” in 2022, to everything going wrong in 2024, and her determination to make 2025 the best yet.  Topics covered in this episode: How Production Futures started: And why it’s all about opening doors into production careers. Blagging it, mistakes, and lessons learned: The reality behind the Production Futures Awards. Why new events are so difficult: And what it takes to get them right. Quality over quantity: Why smaller events can sometimes deliver more impact. Dealing with strikes, oversubscription, and unpredictability: The chaos of real-world event organising. Connect with our host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento. And you can connect with our fabulous guest Hannah Eakins, CEO of Production Futures.

Welcome to Season 2 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast where we give a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode, we sit down with Jack Saward, Founder of Saward Marketing & Events. He's a seasoned event manager, with decades of experiences, and with stories that define the phrase “the show must go on.” From battling the Icelandic dust cloud at Bauma Germany - a colossal construction and industrial trade show - to physically gaffer-taping his own knee to stay on site, Jack’s tales are equal parts unbelievable and inspiring. This conversation is a masterclass in improvisation, resourcefulness, and refusing to give up when everything’s going wrong. Topics covered in this episode: Improvisation at its finest: From makeshift water-siphons to DIY fixes on site. Last-minute miracles: Securing cabins and resources through quick thinking and great contacts. The mindset that keeps you going: When quitting simply isn’t an option. Bauma Germany & the Icelandic dust cloud: How one ash cloud threw international logistics into total chaos. Working through injury: How Jack kept going with a gaffer-taped knee. Connect with our host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and connect with our guest Jack Saward, Founder of Saward Marketing and Events.

Welcome to Season 2 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast where we give a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. This week’s guest is Cat Kevern, Director of B2B Events Marketing Agency Electric Cat as well as NOWIE - Network of Women in Events. She shares one unforgettable story from early in her career, all about a time working in accommodation management for a ski event in France.  What started as a dream role turned into a nightmare when a massive accommodation fiasco left hundreds of attendees without places to stay, and ultimately resulted in Cat being fired (bit harsh if you ask us!) 🫠 In this brutally honest conversation, Cat breaks down what went wrong, what it felt like in the middle of the chaos, and what she learned about crisis management, communication, and the realities of working in events when everything goes off the rails. Topics covered: The ski accommodation fiasco: How one mistake spiralled into hundreds stranded with nowhere to go. The fallout: What happens when you’re fired in the middle of an event disaster. Lessons learned: What the experience taught Cat about planning, resilience, how she wants to lead and surviving in the events industry. Connect with our host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and connect with our guest Cat Kevern, Director of both Electric Cat and NOWIE.

Welcome to Season 2 of When Sh*t Goes Wrong at Events - the podcast where we give a backstage pass to the often unheard stories of event organising. In this episode we sit down with Dean Rodgers, Creative Director of Secret Cinema. Dean shares the madness of building immersive worlds before it was mainstream. Along the way, he explains why the unpredictability of live events is so addictive, what it takes to keep audiences safe while creating adrenaline-fuelled experiences, and why collective awe is what keeps people coming back. Topics covered in this episode: Immersive experiences before they were huge: What it was like to break ground with no safety net. When things go really wrong: 3 tonnes of sand on the third floor, and no way to get it out. The thin line between edgy and illegal: And why safety always comes first. Creating collective awe: The true magic that live events can deliver. Why AI might push more people toward live events: The future of real-world experiences. Connect with our host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and connect with our guest Dean Rodgers, Creative Director of Secret Cinema.

This week we’re joined by Justin, Founder of The Bug Club - the sustainable VW DJ Van suppliers, but naturally as an event supplier - he's seen some things. From a dramatic power cut at Wembley Fanzone in front of thousands of football fans, to an insurance nightmare (should have insured with Vento!) caused by an incorrectly ticked box that led to tens of thousands in losses, and a cursed van that just wouldn’t quit. Justin has seen it all. He also takes us back to his early days as a DJ, including gruelling tours in Australia, torn knees strapped up with gaffer tape, and even a tornado shutting down a stage mid-set.  Topics covered in this episode: Wembley Fanzone blackout: Handling a power surge in front of thousands of football fans. Insurance gone wrong: How a single tick-box error led to major financial loss and a cursed vehicle saga. 50,000 angry farmers: When bar coolers failed and patience ran dry. Life on tour: DJ schedules, exhaustion, and the day a tornado shut down the decks. Lessons learned: Resilience, improvisation, and the importance of the right partners. Connect with our host Freddie Sparrow, Co-Founder of Vento, and connect with our guest Justin Rushmore, Founder of The Bug Club DJ Vans.