The Edinburgh has been a showcase for numerous acts over the years, but with soaring venue hiring prices, it has become increasingly more difficult for production companies to stage in Edinburg without a loss.

But venues don't just pocket the income. In order to allow crowds into spaces not usually used for theatrical performances and gigs, they have to have a temporary licence, and in recent years these have risen. Venues seating up to 200 people in Edinburgh now have to pay £849, while in 2005 the fee was only £127. Venues seating more than 10,000 people used to pay £295, but now face a bill of £2,547.

Many feel that Edinburgh will be losing out. Touring companies renting venues in Edinburgh were previously able to break even, but are now facing a substantial loss. Not many can afford such loss and are looking to find other ways to promote their performances.

While Edinburgh will be a unique setting for a series of parallel festivals also this year, discussion goes on. IFEA Europe members who have not yet experienced Edinburgh in August  - and thus might not comprehend the magnitude and impact of the event – will have an eye-opener if they attend the 4-day ”Behind-the-Scenes” event in August, presented by International Events Ltd. in association with IFEA Europe. The executives of all major festivals in Edinburgh will be present. What better opportunity to ask all the questions you want?

As you get your 2010 planning underway during the final month of this year, make sure you include time to join some of IFEA's international webinars. The webinars are presented in English by inspirational individuals with solid knowledge of their field of expertese. The webinars are usually presented at 20:00 hours Central European time, which gives you ample opportunity to learn while ”relaxing at home” rather than trying to find time in the middle of the work day.

The following webinars are scheduled for the first months of 2010:

• Jan 14, 2010:  "Using the Internet to Build Your Audience in 2010 - Part 1", presented by Bruce Lupin, Edgeworks Group
• Jan 28, 2010: "Strategies, Tactics and Attitudes to Keep Selling Sponsorship During The Recession", presented by Bruce Erley, CFEE, Creative Strategies Group
• Feb 11, 2010: "Re-configuring the Norm"  presented by Jeff Curtis, Portland Rose Festival
• Feb 25, 2010  "Cheers! Tapping In To Your Full Revenue potential With Alcohol Sales", presented by Paul Jamieson, SunFest
• March 25, 2010: "Intro to Social Media for Festivals and Events", presented by Carla Pendergraft, Carla Pendergraft Associates
• April 8, 2010: "Accessible Festivals - Including People with Disabilities", presented by Laura Grunfeld, Everyone's Invited,

Tip from Editor: As IFEA member you pay just under 40 Euros per webinar. Organize a meeting with colleagues and make a nice social event out of the webinar. You can project the computer screen with a beamer and have a whole audience benefiting from your single webinar registration!

All you have to do is to register for the event in advance by contacting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and log on to the designated web page at the time of the webinar.

Every year IFEA awards leaders in our industry at the global 2009 IFEA - Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards. Congratulations to our members, in particular the city of The Hague in the Netherlands, who did so well this year. Here is a list of all the awards won by our fellow European members: