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Title General Secretary / Director

Organisation Association of Festival Organisers (AFO) / Mrs Casey Music

How long in post? 16 years / 29 years

t: 01629 760345 e: steve@mrscasey.co.uk

What does your organisation do?

The AFO was formed in 1987 as a ?common aims? group and means of communication for folk, roots and acoustic music festival organisers. We organise an annual conference, produce regular newsletters and run training courses.

What does your job involve?

As General Secretary, I collate the information for our newsletter, book speakers and plan our conference and training courses. With over 25 years in the festival industry I appear to be a fount of knowledge. ?If we don?t know the answer then we know someone who does? is the answer to the many questions we are asked daily by our members and others. I write articles, contribute to magazines, debates and other associations on the many and varied issues of festival management, and also direct three festivals

Who did you used to work for?

I left school at 14 and started performing, then went on to club, concert and festival management. I started up a record label and retail company, and founded Mrs Casey Music in 1974 as a festivals and events consultancy specialising in folk, roots and acoustic events. The AFO along with the Folk Arts Network, Shooting Roots and our directory Direct Roots is what I call my ?crusading? work.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Advising and handling enquiries, planning medium- and long-term future of this expanding Folk Arts business.

What do you find most difficult in your role?

Convincing the volunteers who run festivals that finding a bit more time to communicate with each other and us will be very valuable.

What is your career ambition?

To pass on everything I have learned in this business, so it can be useful to the next generation of arts organisers.

Who has most influenced your career to date the most and why?

Denis Manners, Jim Lloyd, Richard Carver and John Dickinson who took me to a folk club in 1964. Denis showed me how to be dedicated to a job by doing it yourself. Jim taught me professionalism and Richard gave me (and still does) business direction.
If you could have done any job, what would it be? Directing a very large, international folk festival in London (to prove it could be done).

What are your wishes for the future of the arts?

For Folk, Roots and Traditional Music to be properly recognised and funded as the country?s National Heritage of Music, Dance and Song; and for local and national Government to recognise the immense value of arts festivals (all kinds) to the quality of life in the UK?s communities.