In what has become a major date within the annual events industry calendar, Kart-Fest 2023 was a historic year for the incentive with the Backup Tech organisers announcing that it smashed previous years fundraising targets, raising £50,000 – money that will go on to provide financial support to industry technical professionals, crew/production personnel and people working in the technical supply chain across the UK entertainment industry including those from live events, theatre, TV and film.
Under the theme of a traditional British Fete, 350 of the industries finest came with cake, bunting and a healthy dose of competitiveness all in the name of giving back to those in need within the sector. As with previous years, the main spectacle of the day saw teams of rental houses, manufactures and freelancers race one another in go-karts at the Daytona race track in Esher, Surrey. Also making a welcome return this year was the now famed flight case relay where the industry got to show off their load-in skills as they raced custom made flight cases from 5 Star Cases around the race track.
TPi’s Stew Hume was invited along to join a number of other media colleagues including LSi’s Claire Beason, PLASA’s Peter Heath and Access All Areas’ Chris Barrett to judge to the cakes, stalls and fete actives that were put out by all the teams racing – an event that saw a similar level of competitive spirit as the racing.
As well as some much enjoyed tomfoolery, the event also posed a chance for the Backup wellbeing hub, to shine a light on a number of companies doing their part for the industry inducing The Lions Barber Collective – a group of international barbers raising awareness for suicide prevention and have had a close affiliations with the live events industry. The Lions were on site giving free haircuts and beard trims during the day as well as taking part in the Wellbeing Hub, overseen by Backup’s Jess Allen. During which the Backup was advertising the Mental Heath First Aid course.
Another of this year’s goals was to also welcome a number of young people to the industry. As well as providing media support for the event, a group of aspiring event specialists were invited to a speed networking session where vanguard of the industry spoke one-on-one with each of the youngsters to impart some wisdom and advice on their next steps.
“I work in the best, most positive, most generous industry there is,” enthused Lee Dennison, Vice Chair and Trustee for Backup Tech. “350 brilliant people from over 40 different companies came together not for an awards show, or a trade show but to help ‘their’ family in the best possible way. “The Backup Tech Charity Village Fete has proved itself to be the place to meet, come together, laugh, share, inform, educate, learn, network, eat, drink, bake, game, drive, decorate, support and engage.”
