Fun At The Festival
The is said to be a great opportunity for people in 鈥渢he industry鈥 to network with each other. This year, like last, it鈥檚 being held in Cambridge and I鈥檓 heading there today in the hope of hearing stimulating debate and dialogue from my colleagues in the world of broadcasting. I鈥檓 an optimist, you see.
Last year鈥檚 Festival received some justified criticism for the scarcity of women as platform speakers. The debates also had an ad hoc feel to them. This year should be better. The Festival has a new boss - Trevor Dann 鈥 and there isn鈥檛 much he doesn鈥檛 know about production.
Yet some say the important stuff actually happens in the tea-breaks, when people get the chance to exchange full and frank views with their contemporaries. The Very Important people have actually developed the skill of talking to you without actually listening to a word you鈥檙e saying. Their eyes dart over your shoulder as they look for someone more interesting.
Two years ago, when the Radio Festival was in Edinburgh, I spotted one of the supremos of U.K. radio and strode towards her, my hand outstretched.
鈥淎ha, 鈥 she said, her eyes flickering with recognition, 鈥淚 know who you are!鈥
I was flattered.
鈥淵es, I鈥檓 Jeff Zyc鈥︹
鈥淵es, 鈥 she said, 鈥測ou鈥檙e my taxi driver aren鈥檛 you? Well. I鈥檓 so glad鈥 thought I was going to miss my flight.鈥
I should have been insulted, but then again, she was a great tipper.
