Kevin Mackay joined DF Concerts this year as Sustainability Coordinator. He reflects on his career path and gives his perspective on key environmental challenges and what is being done on the ground to address them.
What was the first live show you attended and did it make a big impression on you?
My uncle took me to the Tramway Theater in Glasgow to see an underground cabaret group called The Tiger Lillies perform a ‘junk opera’ called Shockheaded Peter. Yes, it was as strange as it sounds; it thrilled, terrified and amazed me for 10 years in equal measure.
When did you first realize you wanted a career in the live events industry?
I’ve been involved in events in some capacity – first as a musician and then in many other roles – since I was a teenager. There are few better feelings than witnessing the reciprocal energy created by great bands or artists and their adoring crowd; I always wanted to be part of it.
When you first started out as an events professional, what worried you most about the environmental impact of the industry?
What worried me the most at first was always the amount of single-use, disposable cups, and other items that might end up in landfill. Fortunately, things are looking up in this area, but cups remain a hot topic in the world of event sustainability.
In what areas do you think the most progress has been made since then?
Progress remains gradual. However, we are seeing more venues offering reusable cup systems, increased awareness and focus from huge tours such as Billie Eilish and Coldplay on sustainable initiatives such as plant-based catering and food production. battery power/renewable energy, and more investment throughout the industry to recognize the need to embed sustainability into our culture.
What was the highlight of your sustainability work at DF Concerts this year?
We’ve seen a big increase in our adoption of HVO (a low-emissions alternative to diesel) and recycling/composting rates across our festival operations this year. Having joined the company in April, I have found it very motivating to work with teams across the company who make such a big effort to recognize the importance of sustainability.
Who has influenced you the most during your career?
This is gonna sound corny, but it’s probably my dad. He has a long history of working at a high level in business and entrepreneurship, and is never short of insight and unbiased advice when I need it most.
If you could change one thing in the event industry, what would it be?
We need to continue to focus more on bringing greater diversity of gender, ethnicity and disability to the industry, especially in production and leadership roles. It’s not just a moral argument; dynamic, forward-thinking perspectives arise when people with varied life experiences come together to work on a problem, which in turn leads to better outcomes for all of us.
What’s your ideal way to unwind when you’re not working?
What do you mean by “not working”? It’s August! Kidding aside, at this time of year, anything that gets me out of town and up a hill, into a loch, to the beach, to the sea – you get the idea.
Kevin Mackay joined DF Concerts this year as Sustainability Coordinator. He reflects on his career path and gives his perspective on key environmental challenges and what is being done on the ground to address them.
What was the first live show you attended and did it make a big impression on you?
My uncle took me to the Tramway Theater in Glasgow to see an underground cabaret group called The Tiger Lillies perform a ‘junk opera’ called Shockheaded Peter. Yes, it was as strange as it sounds; it thrilled, terrified and amazed me for 10 years in equal measure.
When did you first realize you wanted a career in the live events industry?
I’ve been involved in events in some capacity – first as a musician and then in many other roles – since I was a teenager. There are few better feelings than witnessing the reciprocal energy created by great bands or artists and their adoring crowd; I always wanted to be part of it.
When you first started out as an events professional, what worried you most about the environmental impact of the industry?
What worried me the most at first was always the amount of single-use, disposable cups, and other items that might end up in landfill. Fortunately, things are looking up in this area, but cups remain a hot topic in the world of event sustainability.
In what areas do you think the most progress has been made since then?
Progress remains gradual. However, we are seeing more venues offering reusable cup systems, increased awareness and focus from huge tours such as Billie Eilish and Coldplay on sustainable initiatives such as plant-based catering and food production. battery power/renewable energy, and more investment throughout the industry to recognize the need to embed sustainability into our culture.
What was the highlight of your sustainability work at DF Concerts this year?
We’ve seen a big increase in our adoption of HVO (a low-emissions alternative to diesel) and recycling/composting rates across our festival operations this year. Having joined the company in April, I have found it very motivating to work with teams across the company who make such a big effort to recognize the importance of sustainability.
Who has influenced you the most during your career?
This is gonna sound corny, but it’s probably my dad. He has a long history of working at a high level in business and entrepreneurship, and is never short of insight and unbiased advice when I need it most.
If you could change one thing in the event industry, what would it be?
We need to continue to focus more on bringing greater diversity of gender, ethnicity and disability to the industry, especially in production and leadership roles. It’s not just a moral argument; dynamic, forward-thinking perspectives arise when people with varied life experiences come together to work on a problem, which in turn leads to better outcomes for all of us.
What’s your ideal way to unwind when you’re not working?
What do you mean by “not working”? It’s August! Kidding aside, at this time of year, anything that gets me out of town and up a hill, into a loch, to the beach, to the sea – you get the idea.