With potential lockdowns and remote working seemingly back on the agenda anyone responsible for managing events teams will have the challenge of maintaining a motivated team. There are actions event organisers can take to ensure that the physical and mental health of their teams is maintained throughout this period.

Any music festival that attracts a sizable audience and is spread over several days will have to provide accommodation. This could vary between a field for camping to five-star luxury accommodation. How this works in practice will depend every much on the audience dynamics and their budgets. 

With the coronavirus pandemic causing havoc across the entire events industry many people have found themselves in a difficult situation unfortunately losing their jobs. Whilst event organising companies should do their utmost to retain staff either through furloughing or working reduced hours sometimes financial pressure leaves few options. 

Having a smooth running efficient and low-cost ticketing solution for an event is essential for success. Ticketing is an often-overlooked aspect of organising an event but there are strategies organisers can put in place to make the event ticketing a worry-free aspect of their overall planning and marketing.     

For any sizeable music festival the amount of data collected can be huge but what happens to this data? In most cases it will either sit in a depository unused or is used for analysis at a fraction of its potential. There are numerous benefits to be gained by putting all this data to good use and creating actionable insights. 

With COVID-19 infections seemingly on an uncontrollable up and down rate the state of the music festival sector in 2021 is uncertain. There are however some countries that have managed to avoid the worst of this pandemic and officials are happy for large scale music festivals and events to go ahead as planned. 

Admitting children to music festivals has always been a dichotomy for event organisers because there are pros and cons to allowing under 18s to attend a music festival. By excluding anyone under 18 an organiser is also excluding a whole sector of family centric demographics.

Taking a different angle to the traditional music festival there has been a rise in recent years of festivals that focus on food and drink as their theme but with the addition of live music and other attractions to broaden the appeal. The popular format is similar to a music festivals but rather than multiple stages and performance artists the focus is on consumption of food and drink.

As almost all music festivals in the UK and throughout Europe were cancelled for 2020 and moved to 2021 there are now real concerns arising if even 2021 is realistic for a full-blown return of the music festival as we know it. Just this week Larmer Tree festival announced that they will not return in 2021 and instead will focus on 2022. 

Most event organisers are now looking forwards to 2021 and putting 2020 firmly behind them as a year to forget. Many organisers are feverishly planning for their live music events and festivals next year but unlike previously there are going to be new requirements in light of the COVID-19 pandemic which could come from local authorities or health and safety. 

Some of the largest music festivals can have up to 3,000 performance artists booked to perform over a period of several days using multiple stages. How can an event organiser manage such a huge number of artists to deliver seamless performances without a glitch? Now most organisers use a combination of technology and skilled teams to achieve this.  

As most regular live music events and music festivals this year have been cancelled hopefully re-emerging in 2021 controlling ongoing fixed costs could be the key to survival. How can event organisers control costs without impacting on their overall business particularly in relation to staff and customer satisfaction.     

Since 2015 numerous music festivals in the UK have been either partly or fully cashless, however, with the impact of COVID-19 and the emphasis on cashless payment in everyday life the music festival industry must prepare to go 100% cashless in 2021. How prepared are the diehard cash payment festivals for what will become the new normal for payments? 

Just last week the Irish government touted the idea that if the sale of alcohol was banned then live music events may go ahead. They won't be the first country to flirt with this idea although for varying reasons as happened in Lithuania back in 2017. Some governments around the world have implemented alcohol bans in recent months citing COVID-19 as the reason. 

With COVID-19 infections still breaking out in seemingly random places there is knock on effect on the scheduling of dates for live music events. Planned live events therefore face uncertainty on whether or not they can go ahead as planned. Event organisers need to build in flexibility to all their schedules to prevent incurring unnecessary costs. 

Part of differentiating a regular live music event is the brand it projects to its target audience. This is especially true for large scale music festivals that take place every year, but creating a brand is so much more than just a logo it’s far more complex than that. What are the steps an event organiser can take to build a unique brand for their music festival? 

As almost all live music events have been cancelled and events companies focus on a re-energised events schedule for 2021 many events teams are experiencing some downtime. There is only so much to do to prepare for events taking place almost a year away so why not use this time wisely to invest in additional training for events teams. 

With all major music festivals in the UK cancelled in 2020 many are looking forward to the summer festival season next year but with so much uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic what is likely to happen? As festival organisers moved this year's festivals to 2021, they have by and large stuck with roughly the same dates.   

With over 5 million people attending music festivals in the UK (in a normal year) there falls a huge collective responsibility. When so many people are travelling and congregating in one place the impact on the environment and health and safety issues are significant. Attendees therefore have an obligation to others for safety and environmental impact.   

All live events need manpower to move and set up equipment, from small indoor venues to large music festivals an army of people work tirelessly behind the scenes to get everything ready. This is not just hiring ‘muscle’ but is about the efficient use of teams skilled in logistics and technical know-how. 

Along with other ‘unseen’ industries in the live entertainment sector the shipping and freight companies that specialise in supplying music festivals are vital to their success. Some companies use the standard delivery couriers to supply equipment but there are many freight and shipping companies that specialise in supplying just the entertainment industry.

When running a live music festival one of the most pivotal job functions is that of the Stage Manager. For a large music festival that could involve hundreds of artists and multiple stages and therefore multiple Stage Managers. They are responsible for pulling everything together so that the audience experiences a seamless performance.     

When planning you live event, especially a music festival, the selection of the right vendors can make a big difference in the event’s success. Almost all live music events post an online application for potential vendors and many organisers can be faced with choosing the right balance that meets the requirements of their event and the audience.

Anyone working in media, press, TV and Radio etc. will expect every live event to have a professional media kit. If the event lacks a media kit this will not be viewed favourably by potential journalists and media that may generate coverage for your event. Event organisers should put a high priority on building a professional media kit.

For many aspiring DJs and music producers they are either self-taught or have been lucky enough to be shown the basics by a friend. No matter if someone is a beginner or seasoned professional many still go to DJ school. Like any profession there is no shame in honing skills and learning new techniques.    

With so many music related events being cancelled this year it’s not surprising that the 34th IDMA scheduled for March was cancelled and replaced with a virtual ceremony on 1st April 2020. The event takes place every year with 110 nominations in 26 categories this years winners included Carl Cox, Charlotte De Witte and Armin Van Buuren.

The live events industry has been one of the most severely hit sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic and none more so than the crucial businesses that support the entire industry. Governments and other agencies have drummed up and promised financial support but this may be a case of too little too late for many businesses.

It’s almost impossible to attend a music festival without a particular alcohol brand splashed everywhere. From social media to branded banners drinks brands get everywhere many with brand specific bars and secluded VIP areas. Music festival organisers would love to get a slice of that sponsorship pie.  

When you see how much the top earning DJs earn no wonder people consider that as a possible career. With the likes of The Chainsmokers making $46m last year it looks like a lucrative earner but how hard is it to start from scratch and get to the point where you can make a living wage, how hard can it be? 

For anyone working in the Music Festival Industry the annual UK Festival Awards are probably the most prestigious accolade obtainable for a wide variety of categories. The awards usually take place in December each year however with the current pandemic it is not clear if the UK Festival Awards will even take place in 2020. 

Great strides have been taken in recent years by music festival organisers to tackle environmental issues raised by festivals. As most take place in remote locations there will always be an inadequate infrastructure to cope with the thousands of event goers that attend each event such is their popularity. 

The pace of change and innovation in the music festival scene has accelerated in the last few years with the adoption of new technology to transform the audience experience. With seamless ticket booking and cashless venues what other new technologies are on the horizon that audiences and organisers will be utilising in the near future? 

The music business evolved in the late seventies and early eighties to make the DJ genre a key part of the live music scene with innovators like Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 1978 and Grand Wizzard Theodore in 1982 completely changing how a DJ interacted with a live audience. Now top DJs The Chainsmokers are earning $46m a year.  

There has been much publicity and action to financially support the live events industry with various campaigns and announcements of financial assistance from the UK Government. Whilst all these offers of financial assistance are much welcome throughout the live music events sector spare a thought for the unseen people and companies that support the industry.  

The virtual event has been hailed as the saviour of the live music event industry ever since the majority of populations went into a lockdown back in March 2020. How has this developed over the last five months and does it fill the gap left by the cancellation of live events which are unlikely to resume until well into 2021. 

The revenue that live event organisers get from corporate sponsorship makes up a significant portion of their overall revenue and is said to be worth $10b globally. Recent research suggests that among media buyers responsible for sponsorship of live music events 25% have paused or ceased spend while 46% have reduced spending in this sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Artist’s riders are the demands or requests made on event organisers and venues that enable them to fulfil their live performance obligations. Whilst these may be quite reasonable some may argue that on occasions the riders can end up being a series of outrageous and unreasonable requests. 

One of the best ways to make a live music event stand out from the rest is the light show accompanying the artist’s performance. The technical capabilities of staging a modern light show have advanced hugely in the last decade as has the cost of getting a slick world class installation built.  

For an industry that has seen consistent strong growth over the last few years 2020 will look very different. What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global music events sector and when will it recover and start growing again? Some recent research suggests 2020 will just be a hiccup in continuing growth but these very much depend on where the world is with COVID-19 as we enter 2021. 

As live events start making a tentative return the services that support event infrastructure is key to putting on a good show. An essential part of any live event are the vendors servicing event goers primarily with food and drinks, however, these vendors are returning to an environment that is completely different prior to the global lockdown earlier this year. 

With so few opportunities to perform live what is next for performance artists that have previously focussed on performing at live events? Despite the increase in virtual events it is the atmosphere and audience feedback of a truly live event that give artists a buzz and makes the whole experience of performing live something special.   

In the UK and many other countries live performances are retuning in both outdoor and indoor venues but with new restrictions. For sure there is pent up demand from event goers and artists are really keen to get back on stage too, but is it really financially viable for live events to take place in what's left of 2020 or should they wait until 2021? 

Performance artists appearing at a live event rarely do these as one offs and are more likely to be part of a well organised tour. This could be anything from an in-country tour with a handful of dates lasting a week to a world tour lasting a year. The same principles broadly apply in managing a touring artist as they do for fixed venue with multiple artists.   

From the iconic pyramid at Glastonbury every live event tries to make its mark with something unique and recognisable. The stage design and construction is an art form in itself and can help define an event and its brand identity, particularly on the music festival scene where stage designs have reached new levels of creativity in recent years.    

It’s never easy to breakthrough any new musical talent and very few actually ‘make it’. Add into that the current global pandemic and it looks like a daunting task just got even more difficult. What are the basic steps a new performance artist can take to market themselves in the current climate to give them the best chance of success?     

With easing of restrictions on live performances for both outdoor and indoor events are these working in practice? With reduced audience numbers and relatively tightly controlled restrictions are event goers having fun? How are the restrictions working in reality and will event organisers turn a profit? 

All live performances that have amplified sound will require the services of a Sound Engineer. The best Sound Engineers can command premium pay and will always be in demand by top artists. Over time an artist will form a close relationship with their preferred Sound Engineers built on trust and mutual understanding. 

A complete sub industry in itself the business of providing light and sound for any live music event is big business and it can be a very expensive element in running a live event. Event organisers have a good choice of suppliers to go to and most will provide a one stop service including equipment hire and professional production.     

In days gone by a music festival was generally held in a farmer's field somewhere and many still are. Any event organiser trying to launch a new music festival needs to differentiate their event from all the many other music festivals taking place. In recent years some music festivals have used innovative locations and venues to spice things up. 

One of the biggest concerns in staging a music festival in a field somewhere is access to reliable power. The use of diesel generators is commonplace but not exactly the most environmentally friendly power solution. With advances in technology there are new innovative ideas that could transform the whole area of remote power sourcing. 

There have been some big changes in the music festival scene in Asia over the last decade. Despite the growth the number of music festivals occurring in Asia it is just a fraction of the number that take place every year in Europe and North America. Irrespective of the current COVID situation what is the Asian music festival scene like?  

As countries gradually and cautiously start opening up to the idea of live events there remain in place multiple restrictions for venues and participants. As some countries start experiencing second and third waves of COVID-19 cases it is travel restrictions that continue to be a major barrier to free movement.  

There has been a boom in recent years in the provision of ticketing to the events industry as the number of live events increased. The end user customer experience has changed and there is a certain expectation regarding prices and service so how are new players in the market disrupting the events ticketing sector?     

After four months of lockdown and a ban on all live events where crowds can gather the UK Government finally announced on 9th July that ‘outdoor’ live events with an audience can go ahead from 11th July 2020. Just how prepared is the industry for this and what restrictions will there be?   

Whilst the events industry goes through this lull in activity now is the perfect time to get your events business certified with ISO 20121. Previously called BS 8901 and created several years ago specifically to address the London Olympics the principles certify that your events business is improving the sustainability of events and related activities, products and services. 

With the cancellation of virtually all live events in 2020 there are dire financial consequences for any company whose survival depends on revenue from live events. For the financially strong there are opportunities to go on the acquisition trail and expand their portfolio of services to the events industry 

Running and managing exhibitions is big business with 31,000 taking place globally and 7,000 in the UK alone every year. The size and scope of the exhibition business is wide and varied with a mix of business to business and consumer focussed events with the number of attendees varying from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands.  

The world of the performance artist is far from normal with most falling into the ‘struggling artist’ category. The fact that so few ever make it does not deter artists from pursuing their dreams where strength in endurance and perseverance are key traits. But artists need not face this struggle alone. 

We are living in unprecedented times and no other industry has been impacted financially like the events and hospitality industry. Whilst governments around the world have launched various schemes to provide financial assistance where do you go to get this is reality?   

As most events are organised using the same principles it is no different organising a small golf tournament. Perhaps it’s a golf tournament in conjunction with a local charity or a corporate event. These small-scale events are for local amateur players, not professionals playing in well know recognised tournaments. 

The key to a successful event is the result of many factors but probably one of the most important is the organising team behind each event. Having a great events team will mitigate any potential issues and get your event running within budget and delivering customer expectations.  

Almost all live events have restrictions on unauthorised photography and filming of performances. Certainly, as an event organiser you will have contracts in place that specify your obligation to prevent unauthorised photography and filming but make sure you balance this with your audience engagement. 

At almost all live events there will be a combination of walk in customers that decide at the last minute to attend your event plus pre-paid ticket holders. Are you geared up to process large numbers of door ticket sales and scan pre-paid registrations? What technology can you use to ensure rapid and accurate processing to prevent long queues? 

Most countries have been in some form of lockdown since the end of March 2020 and as a result almost all events for the foreseeable future have either been postponed or cancelled. Aside from the financial pressures of cancelling events try and look for the opportunities and positive steps you can make as an event organiser to plan for the future.  

It doesn’t really matter if your event is a music festival, comedy show or business conference managing travel and accommodation for artists and speakers is one of the biggest challenges in event organisation. Careful planning is key to avoiding the many pitfalls that may beset you in managing these aspects of your event.  

No matter how you do your accounting it makes sense to simplify your accounting processes to streamline how everything is recorded specific to the events industry. The way accounting is done can vary from pen and paper to sophisticated accounting software but how can you make sure it works well with specific events requirements?   

The impact of the current pandemic has had a dramatic effect on global business and economies but particularly badly hit is the events industry. Not only are there strict government guidelines to follow for events involving the gathering of people, but as an event organiser you have a social responsibility to your customers to consider too. 

With so many factors to manage in any event working closely with all parties involved is crucial to success. Communication and collaboration between event staff, artists, vendors, sponsors, venues and third-party contractors is vital to staying in control and ensuring everyone is fully informed.  

Key to successful event planning is building and maintaining accurate schedules for a multitude of factors. The schedules you put together must be dynamic enough to allow for constant changes and modifications to ensure everything happens as and when it should. What steps can you take to ensure your scheduling stays on track? 

The world of the business conference and exhibition is a whole industry in itself within the wider events sector. Although organising any type of event will generally follow the same key principles there are some significant differences in organising and running a business focussed event.

You have to start somewhere but it's important to remember that no matter how small or large an event is the panning and organising have broadly the same principles. The only differences are the scale and size that relates to venues, number of customers, vendors, sponsors and the number of staff involved.  

There are so many elements that make up any event it makes sense to have a contingency plan for any unforeseen problems. Aside from the current issues being caused by the Covid-19 pandemic you should always have a disaster recovery plan in place and ensure that everyone involved is aware of its contents.  

You have a great idea for an event and have chanced an enthusiastic venue owner or built a close relationship with an artist or two. Although most events are organised and run by big corporations there are still a large number of independently run and funded events. Even with no funds of your own it may be possible to get your event funded with a little creativity.  

Part of any event planning will include getting vendors to your event as this is a key source of revenue for you. Vendors are also providing a service that is seen as essential by your customers as part of the whole event experience. Choose your vendors wisely for a trouble-free event and satisfied customers.   

You have negotiated with artists and their managers or agents and they agree to perform at your event for an agreed sum. Once you get agreement in principle from all parties involved you should nail everything in place with a signed contract or agreement. Having a contract in place with all parties will let you concentrate on other aspects of your event.

If you are an event organiser you should always be aware of the latest trends to keep your customers satisfied and loyal. Even if you run a successful recurring event do not rest on your laurels and do your research and be prepared to meet changing customer expectations for your future events.  

An often-neglected aspect of managing your event is the collection of ticket sales revenue. Perhaps it’s a subject considered too complex with too much choice to think about so it often gets ignored. Selecting the right payment method can save you a fortune in fees and charges and provide additional service that will enhance customer satisfaction.

Most of the same event management principles apply in putting on a successful comedy event as a music event but there are a few differences to consider. With a music event you just book your artists, venue and date and go from there whereas a comedy event will be smaller, more intimate and probably more frequent.

With so many elements to manage in putting a successful event together don’t get tripped up by inadvertently breaking the law or allowing illegal activities. Obviously applicable laws vary from country to country so make sure you are familiar with your legal obligations as organiser of your event in a specific location.

Engaging with your event customers can boost your ticket sales revenue and produce a loyal following for future events. Your most effective sales tool can be your existing customer base so treat them well and make them feel special. Include customer engagement as part of your event marketing plans to generate ticket sales.   

With such a competitive environment for events it’s really important to differentiate your event from the plethora of other events out there. From small venue events to ambitious music festivals it is super important that you stand out from the rest if you are going to maximise you ticket sales. 

For any event to work you need to secure the best talent you can afford, irrespective of it being a music, comedy or other performance related event. Assuming you are in business to make a profit, you will need to figure out the metrics that make it work by considering anticipated audience numbers and the ticket prices you will charge.  

Any event is an opportunity to generate additional revenue with merchandise sales. Not to be confused with artist merchandise, they will organise their own distribution channels, this is a chance to promote and brand your event and it works for any size event. 

Currently most event ticket sales are made online and fulfilled with an electronic QR or bar code that the customer shows for scanning on entrance to the event. It’s a far cry from just ten years ago when paper tickets were still commonplace. What are the next trends to watch for in this rapidly moving technology for ticket sales?  

Very rarely do you see any event that does not have some form of sponsor support. This is particularly crucial for non-profit festivals but equally having sponsors can help you cover the cost of running just about any event too. 

It is not unusual to see VIP packages available at most events and festivals. Aside from bringing in additional revenue to event organisers providing VIP deals has become part and parcel of the customer experience when going through the event ticket buying process 

Many events and particularly music festivals have always relied on an army of volunteers to run successfully. Recruiting volunteers to help run your event will reduce your costs whilst providing a unique experience for volunteers themselves. 

Running an event may entail numerous licensing factors depending on the nature of your event. Major considerations will be the audience size, type of venue and even the time of day or night. Are your artists licensed for their performance and will you be selling alcohol? 

In this time of uncertainty, it pays to have all your bases covered and having your event insured has become vital in light of the number of cancellations taking place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Your event planning has been impeccable and the first day of your event arrives but this is not time to sit back and rest on your laurels. Make sure you are prepared for any eventuality and expect the unexpected. What exactly can you do to mitigate potential disasters? 

Depending on the size of your event you undoubtedly will have a team of people helping you out. From your full time events staff to volunteers you could be managing a variety of staff with varying degrees of experience and skills. You can negate any problems by careful planning to make sure everyone knows what they need to do and when and where they need to be.

It’s a competitive world out there particularly in the events business. Whether you are running a music festival, comedy show, arts show or business conference the same basic marketing principles apply. Get on top of your event marketing to maximise ticket sales and attendance.

As more and more live events get re-scheduled for later in the year or cancelled altogether hoping to return in 2021 there is a movement towards online events. All is not lost and it’s really important to stay engaged with your customers and target audience during this difficult time.

Running a successful regular event is only possible if you continue to make improvements to enhance the customer experience. A successful event will also help attract top talent and higher audience attendance in the future, the best way to make continual improvement is by getting feedback on every event.

For any event you should consider vendor suppliers as an additional profit centre that contributes to your overall revenue stream. You are also providing an essential service to customers attending your event from alcohol sales to the provision of food and catering.