Reflecting on the plan for Reflections 2014

A visit to Music Expo caused me to pause and reflect on the thinking behind the planning for Readipop's upcoming festival of music, arts & learning - Reflections 2014 taking place later this month.

I've always been interested in the way that many conferences, gatherings and  networking events can end up actually working against the people attending the event. Music Expo led me to think hard and reflect on the concept of our own networking event this month as part out our N4ME (Networking for Music Educators) programme.

Our concept with last year's Music Education Festival (the event that has grown into Reflections 2014) was to try to provide a networking space and create as many opportunities for the 'intersting chats about stuff' and chance meetings as we could within the format of a managed event. We set out create a festival vibe but succumbed to the conference model and ended up packing the day with interesting talkshops, workshops and opportunities to share practice. It was a really good day but it wasn;t quite what we'd set out to do...

At music expo, my most productive time was spent in the following ways: 1. Chatting in the pub round the corner; 2. Chatting in the cafe round the corner; 3. Catching up with people I hadn't expected to meet; 4. Listening to the ends of a few talks (because I'd missed the beginnings doing 1,2 &3 and I didn't want to stand in any more long queues); 5. Hearing other people's questions; 6. Reading other people's tweets from the same event. I found the visiting the expo really useful but it was noisy, cramped and oppressive. It was difficult to find people if you let them out of your field of vision or find anywhere to sit, chat and drink tea without feeling you really should be somewhere else

The challenge for us is how to create an event that allows and encourages this type of interaction but as a serious, meaningful event. The answer was to go back to our original idea and to try to stick to it. Good festivals provide a mix of inspiration and interaction, talking points and time/space to talk, chance meetings, learning opportunites and fun. There is a structure but you follow your own path. Everyone understands what the event and everyone has a different experience and their own festival story.

Planning this type of event is tricky though. It is hard to resist the temptation to have opening statements, key speakers, panel discussions, plenaries and planned lunch breaks. Its hard to resist planning the day around clear pathways, instead trying to provide a mix of choices and spaces to allow for more meandering and sidetracking.

Reflections 2014 is smaller - more of a boutique festival. If music expo is Reading or Leeds then Relfection (in Reading) is WOMAD or Festival No.6. - Well that's the hope anyway.

The plan for the day and evening is now fixed. I think the balance is right. We will only know if it's worked when the event is all over, we've gathered some feedback and we have time to reflect.

I hope I meet some of you Youth Music Network people there and we find time for a chat.

Relfections 2014 is on March 27th in Reading. See www.readipop.co.uk for more info.