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 business
• Why budget sheets are essential for every event
• The reality behind artist fees and marketing spend
• Managing cashflow at festivals (including a high pressure situation in Mexico)
• Why many independent promoters haven’t survived, and advice for those trying to
• Building an events brand that lasts, and the role of resilience

Connect 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].