EESA Aims to Usher in a More Structured and Progressive Business Ecosystem for The Event Technical Services Industry in India
The association’s vision board for 2021-2022 focuses on establishing a more simplified and standardized business process for vendors, building stronger relationships with event management associations, and introducing several other member-positive developments
The Event Equipment Services Association (EESA) is a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to promoting a structured, secure, and progressive business environment for and within the event equipment services industry in India.
With the association growing out of its regional stature in mid-2020, to now represent the interests of the countrywide live event technical fraternity (which currently includes technical equipment vendors and independent technical services personnel); it has, ever since, strived to offer its members unparalleled support in the form of exclusive business resources, industry specific education, analytic and mitigation services, marketplace opportunities, and much more.
These efforts have yielded encouraging results over the course of the past 18 months via a host of initiatives championed by the association that leverages industry leading expert advice and intermediary services.
Taking into consideration the several challenges that the year 2020 thrusted upon the industry, and the ray of optimism that 2021 has brought in – EESA announced its vision board for 2021-2022, which realistically details some of the key points that the association’s management plans to lay emphasis on in order to move closer towards achieving its dream of establishing a reformed and more dynamic industry ecosystem in the country.
First off, aiming to elevate the industry to a level that helps it gain the government’s due recognition as an organized business sector, EESA has encouraged its members, and all industry stakeholders to register themselves as MSME’s with the government. Furthermore, EESA encourages members to implement best practices in their businesses, like working with written contracts that highlight clearly defined and fair Terms & Conditions of mutual agreement of work. To help with this, EESA has painstakingly drafted a cache of documents that its members can refer to; which provides ready guidelines on key business aspects such as standard commercial terms, SOPs, service standards and code of conduct related to work deliverables and client commitments.
Doubling down on its commitment to improve communication between the technical services community and the event management community, EESA has taken the initiative to strengthen working partnerships with regional and national event management associations across India by engaging in active dialogues that emphasize mutual collaboration and a synergistic approach to business. The association has had a fruitful first few rounds of discussions with the Event & Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) – which is considered as the apex national body for event management companies and personnel in India – and also with the Karnataka Event management Association (KEMA) – the apex regional body for event management companies in the state of Karnataka. These discussions witnessed the respective associations agreeing to work together on key topics like fostering a better and more conducive on-ground / on-site working environment for all event personnel (technical and non-technical), and also encouraging processes that members of either associations could follow in order to facilitate greater trust and commitment towards one another. Onward, EESA is confident of collaborating closely with other regional event equipment services associations as well as event management associations across India with a similar collective approach in mind. EESA also intends to explore affiliations with associations of related industries like exhibition, catering, etc; which are viewed as equally important adjuncts of the event industry.
“EESA values the importance of establishing clear lines of communication not only with members of our own technical services fraternity, but also with clients and other working partners; so that we may better understand each other’s viewpoint on the business, and find ways to help each other to realize goals, both individually as well as a collective industry. We believe this is crucial in creating a more balanced, responsible and conducive business environment for all; and EESA is committed to working towards achieving symbiotically beneficial affiliations with other event industry stakeholders. We’re confident that through these efforts, the several different moving parts of the event fraternity in India can finally harmonize in a manner that would catapult the industry to more optimized plane of business dynamics” affirms EESA President Mr Felix Remedios.
With several EESA members from across the country playing an active part in furthering the association’s initiatives – either as members of the National Executive Committee, the National Co-ordination Committee or any of the strategic Sub-Committees that facilitate the smooth functioning of EESA’s various operational commitments – the association has endeavoured to pool resources, ideas, opinions, and thoughts to find efficient, effective and long-term solutions to common issues faced by the industry at large, and also to extend several other member-exclusive benefits; as a way of thanking its PAN-India members for standing by the association with firm resolve.
Not only has EESA empanelled a team of experts to consult on crucial business matters such as insurance, taxation, compliance, legal issues and more; it also allows its members access to leverage the collective wisdom of the entire association in exploring prompt and efficient assistance and mediation in addressing their grievances on relevant issues. Alongside, the association also focuses on offering quality knowledge to its members via the EESA Enlighten programme, which considers all timely topics of educational value that emphasize technology in general, on-field technical skills, and of course, the ever-evolving business landscape with respect to critical aspects such as legal, finance, compliance, insurance and more. Under the EESA Enlighten Programme – the association has conducted a slew of business critical educative sessions – with EESA Empanelled Experts KGS Cestax offering multiple sessions on GST, Taxation and Compliance; insurance experts ProAdvice Financial Solutions conducting a series of sessions on the various facets of insurance; and legal experts New Law Alliance hosting a meticulous seminar on “work contracts and payment recovery” – with all aforementioned topics being deemed critically important to the safe and profitable sustenance of rental business operations.
In addition to the above, EESA Members can look forward to enjoying several member-friendly benefits that will shortly be announced on the association’s newly overhauled website, which is slated to feature a dedicated section that will allow them to access Marketplace Ads (where EESA Members can put up listings for sale of used equipment) and Classified Ads (where EESA Members can put up listings like job openings, purchase of equipment, need of service etc), both at highly subsidized rates. These of course, are in addition to members being included within the EESA Membership Directory (where EESA Members will be listed along with contact details) which will be made available to all event managers & clients upon request. The website also sports prominent advertising options on the homepage for manufacturers and distribution channels to showcase their products and technologies, and leverage the opportunity to directly connect with their target audience i.e. EESA’s PAN-India membership. EESA has affirmed that it shall extend added benefit to its members in the form of special offers on products and services via its partnership with various brands / distributors; whenever such opportunities manifest.
EESA Vice-President Mr Santana Davis notes, “As an association, we deeply appreciate the support that every single member has extended in the form of their time, expertise, and physical effort in shaping EESA’s vision and steadily bringing it to life. Our members are the true life-blood of EESA, and all the initiatives that we have championed over the past year or so, have been with one objective only – to safeguard our member’s interests and better facilitate their overall growth and development. EESA is committed to building on the traction that we’ve gained so far, and we are positive that it will result in not just growing membership numbers, but also in EESA being inclusive of other key segments and personnel that offer technical services to the events industry.”
At the same time, EESA recently opened up the purview of its membership to include independent (freelance) technical professionals like sound engineers (FOH, System, Broadcast), lighting designers, Watchout/visual control system operators, trussing & SFX riggers, technical show directors, disc jockeys & visual jockeys, and any other individual engaged in rendering technical services for events but not owning equipment. This move came in recognition of the role and contributions of all technical personnel in adding to the advancement of the event technical services industry. Such individuals can sign up with the association as EESA Associate Members, will be eligible to access a considerable part of the benefits that Primary EESA Members enjoy; with the initiative garnering a very encouraging response so far. Moving forward, the association aims to diligently work towards building its presence and impact across India, with key focus on Tier-3 and Tier-4 and Tier-5 cities; while effectively addressing key industry issues, with the view to drive positive reformations within the event industry from the ground-up.
Members of the technical services fraternity in India can visit EESA’s newly overhauled website (www.eesa.in) to know more about the association and its activities and explore membership opportunities.