Returning to Lititz (Yes, in December)
When it was announced in April that THE Conference: Live at Lititz will return to the Rock Lititz Campus on Dec. 6, 7, and 8, 2023, the industry responded enthusiastically, with many quickly registering. A unique industry event, that engenders enthusiasm even the cold of a Pennsylvania December can’t chill. In partnership with the Rock Lititz Community, the four founders, known collectively as CJMS (Production Managers Charlie Hernandez and Jake Berry, and Tour Managers Stuart Ross and Marty Hom) will continue in 2023 the important work of collaboration, growth, and mentorship at this second annual conference to build a stronger, healthier touring and live event industry.
The inaugural 2022 conference featured over 620 attendees, 30 sponsors and vendors, and 70 diverse speakers. For 2023, the available tickets have been increased to 800, allowing more to attend but still maintaining a size that fosters an environment of connection and sharing for an engaging experience. Again offering a thoughtful schedule of informative and vibrant opportunities, including engaging panels, targeted meetups, townhalls, interactive workshops, and themed social events each night, with a focus in 2023 of adding more new, unique perspectives to the important conversations of the live event industry.
CJMS launched THE Conference for live-event professionals with a goal of being unlike anything that had come before it and they succeeded at creating, what many 2022 attendees felt was “a homecoming of the live event industry.” The event was most notable for the meaningful sharing of ideas between young and veteran production managers, tour managers, and industry colleagues. After the 2022 conference, Charlie Hernandez noted, “Everyone that walked in showed up to work, to really discuss things, and start the work needed to change things, move stuff forward, and help each other, take care of each other. That is what really matters. All the people that were there at the conference really cared. Cared about our industry and what we can share with younger people and each other and how we can make things better. They cared about doing the work to leave it better than we found it.”
THE Conference is a singularly unique gathering of live music professionals at all stages of their careers to learn, to share, to listen, to engage on topics and industry conversations through interactive, dynamic content. CJMS also strive to, and encourage others established in the industry, to foster the next generation in live event production. Emily Cassidy, Conference Director told PLSN after the 2022 conference, “We are very proud of the inaugural conference, and have been excited to hear really positive feedback from everyone who attended. Our team worked really hard to make sure that everyone who came here, from speakers to sponsors to guests, were treated with respect and welcome. We also felt like our speakers delivered in a way that was real and impactful. No one shied away from hard topics or challenging conversations, and we think that is necessary to move the industry forward.”
- Conceived by CJMS with specific main goals in mind for THE Conference, it is certain that those goals will again be the guideposts for 2023’s gathering.
- Remain aligned with the theme of “Leave It Better Than We Found It” by focusing on topics that aid in supporting and developing a healthier industry.
- Create engaging and actionable content, offering relevant and interactive sessions with tangible takeaways that can be easily applied in attendee’s daily professional (and personal) lives.
- Showcase diverse voices and experiences through the selection of speakers, panelists, and presenters to intentionally incorporate many industry perspectives.
- Support their words with actions by doing their best to be intentional about collaboration, culture, mentorship, diversity, sustainability, and other elements reflected in the session themes and event planning.
- Provide personalized, inclusive, and accessible social opportunities for everyone, including lots of time for connection, mentorship, educational opportunities, and a lot of fun for the live production industry.
As Hernandez explained previously to PLSN, “We need to continually be talking about ‘how do we leave the industry better than we found it?’ There’s a lot of smart people in our industry. Let’s all get together and try to come up with solutions, have a conversation, try to come up with different ways of doing things. We want to try to get decision makers and the next generation of people in the room together, so that we can not only talk about what we’ve done and how we’ve done it, but also talk about what we’re going to do next. Listen to the next generation of what they want and what their needs are, and how we can help make that happen.”
Realizing their goals, THE Conference in 2022 brought together some of the most experienced, and ethical, industry leaders whose objectives were to inspire young professionals to pick up the torch and make their mark on the industry, with a focus on equality, equity, diversity, inclusion and sustainability, assuring a better future for all.
THE Conference in 2023 will build upon the conversations and ideas from the first year, again looking to send attendees out into the industry with mindful ways to take the next step in their live event production career be it a starting step or on mid-career path.
The CJMS team work to get speakers and participants that will facilitate real conversation. “We’re trying to approach it in a different format,” described Hernandez, “where there’ll be a discussion and interactivity, with deep dives into subjects. I think that we’ve been very successful in getting real experts, real thought leaders into the room. It’s really about not so much being talked to but talking with each other. We want to bring a different view and a more inclusive view to the table. We want diversity, and we want to get more people involved. We all want people that are there to meet other people that they normally would not meet, but here they can be in the same room together, speaking and sharing ideas.”
In 2022, a goal of CJMS was to engage the next generation of the industry, and that will again be an objective to build upon for 2023. As Hom told us then, “One of the main goals of THE Conference is to try to get younger people engaged in our business. I think as veteran people, we have to share our experiences with the newer people that are trying to get in and make it in the business. You know, there’s nothing like firsthand experience. We want to help new people to understand what our business is about, and to really understand what a great community of people it is.” They also made sure to invite the next generation to not just attend but sit on the panels. As Hom commented, “We have to get some fresh ideas and some young people on the panels; people who never get a chance to talk or to raise their voices; who never get heard. I think that’s important.”
THE Conference in 2023 will doubtlessly again be, “a real gathering that’s not just about talking, but a real gathering of listening,” as stated by Hernandez. “It’s a chance for a real gathering of interaction amongst us all in the industry, young and old. It is about the state of the industry that we are in now and asking ‘how can we make it better? How can we leave it better than we found it?’”
Tickets are available for THE Conference: Live at Lititz on its website at www.theconferenceliveatlititz.com. It should be noted that THE Conference team recommends that you register early, as ticket prices will increase starting on Oct. 15.
