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 Festival
• Launching a new festival focused on the audience experience
• Surviving chaos on site - from rogue travellers to extreme weather
• Burnout, stress, and the dangers of wearing exhaustion as a “badge of honour”
• Building strong teams and recognising your own limits
• Financial pressures and the importance of proper insurance
• Soft skills as essential tools for future event organisers

Connect 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].