The music festival sector globally has made a good recovery since the cancellation of most events during the coronavirus pandemic. The industry has seemingly bounced back to levels greater than before COVID, but it has not been an easy route to recovery with ever decreasing margins and a changing economic landscape too.

It's been a tough year for many music festival entities as rising costs and falling ticket sales have created tight margins across the industry. The latest economic data suggests that the situation is unlikely to change soon. What are the key factors organisers should be aware of in their planning process for 2024?

For festival organisers who have just completed their inaugural event they will have built a wealth of knowledge and data for every aspect of the music festival. When contemplating the second year of a new music festival how can they use this data and what are the broader considerations when planning their next event.

Insurance premiums for music festival organising entities still make up a significant cost of putting on an event. Whilst the threat of disruption due the coronavirus pandemic has dissipated there are other factors that are coming into focus particularly with the increase in extreme weather conditions that can cause festivals to be cancelled.

Running and organising a music festival of any size can be a demanding and stressful occupation for most people. Despite various challenges festival organisers generally enjoy what they do and find their work satisfying and rewarding. However, there can come a time when it may make sense to decide to quit the business altogether.

Launching a new music festival can be a daunting yet exciting proposition with numerous opportunities and potential pitfalls to consider. How should organisers mange the planning and timing of announcements for maximum impact yet maintain a sense of reality about what can be achieved by when.

Halfway through the summer 2023 festival season and a quick look at headliners and line-ups appearing at music festivals in the UK would indicate that the same artists keep appearing as part of a regular festival circuit. Whilst this provides an element of consistency how can this be balanced with emerging talent and future festival line-ups.

Music festivals have been around for many years, and it is not unusual for teenagers to view attendance at a festival as some kind of rite of passage. With music festivals likely to be facing an aging festival-goer demographic the industry is taking steps to encourage younger people to attend their first festival. What can organisers do the encourage more first time festival-goers.

Music festivals that take place in temperate climates can be subject to changeable weather despite being scheduled for the summer months. This can be incredibly frustrating for organisers and festival-goers alike. What steps can be taken to ensure that events go ahead despite a weather forecast that predicts inclement weather for scheduled festival dates.  

After many months of planning there comes a time when a music festival organising crew must get on–site as their live dates approach. This can be an incredibly stressful time for organisers and their staff so what strategies can they employ to minimise the impact of unexpected emergencies and issues that are often encountered on-site.

Almost all festivals rely on volunteers to make their events happen every year and keeping them well watered and fed during an event is an essential part of managing them. The provision of regular meals is expected by volunteers, and this can be a major headache for organisers to ensure there are sufficient quantities of the right food available at the right time.

This year is proving particularly challenging for some music festival organisers in generating sufficient ticket sales revenue to cover their running costs. With tight deadlines and limited resources festival organisers can attempt to boost their ticket sales in the final few weeks before their live dates but what realistic options are open to them.  

Music festivals are often referred to by their size or genre but a big festival can mean very different things to different people. What are the common factors and metrics used to determine the size of a music festival and why is this important when selling the event to potential sponsors and vendors.

Performance artists and session musicians can make a liveable income by touring but what are the challenges in pursuing this route. Very few artists earn money from recording their own material but if they can build up a loyal following from playing live on a tour it may provide a steady reliable income source.   

The entire events industry suffered during the coronavirus pandemic and business conferences and exhibitions were no exception to this. Are these events starting to make a comeback? how are business event organisers managing the current environment and what changes have they had to make to ensure future success.

Musicians and artists often start out doing small scale live gigs in clubs and pubs in front of small local audiences. These small environments are easily manageable and even allow some musicians to simply turn up and play. Getting curated for a music festival performance represents new hurdles for any up-and-coming artist.

For some performance artists making the jump to performing on a large music festival stage can be a great leap for their career prospects but for others it can be daunting. What are the typical challenges faced by musicians who regularly perform in small venues in stepping up to a large outdoors music festival stage.

This year has seen turbulent times for music festivals faced with rising costs, low ticket sales and sustainability challenges. Some organisers will have to make some tough decisions in the coming months to ensure their survival but what realistic options are open to them that minimises the financial impact on staff, suppliers and festival-goers.

Creating media ‘buzz' around a music festival can increase awareness amongst potential ticket buyers and supports decisions made by stakeholders investing in the event like sponsors and vendors. What is the process involved in creating engaging content and getting it widely published in the media.

Depending on the location of a music festival organisers have may have multiple options when considering accommodation for festival-goers, artists, crew and volunteers. What are the potential solutions for obtaining a variety of accommodation options that suit differing budgets and requirements.

Much planning goes into getting a music festival up and running but a significant amount of planning is also required for the site breakdown load out process. What are the key aspects that festival organisers need to be aware of when planning their site breakdown for an efficient and effective process.

Some music festivals can be overwhelming experiences for festival-goers with hundreds of artists to see and plenty of other activities to do spread over several days on a large festival site. What can organisers do to make their experience easier to plan and less daunting, especially for those new to the festival scene.

Take a look at any music festival website and there will invariably always be a section dedicated to detailing previous events and the festival's history. What are the benefits to festival organisers in investing time and effort in creating and publishing a detailed history of previous festivals.

Running a food pitch at a music festival can be daunting, challenging and rewarding but how can a new food vendor get started in this business. Vendor pitch space fees provide much needed revenue to organisers and vendor applications are usually oversubscribed. How can a new vendor secure a pitch at a music festival in this competitive environment?

The revenue generated from sponsorship is a key element of any music festival’s overall income and many couldn’t exist without it. There are a number of factors currently impacting on music festival sponsorship, what should organisers focus on to secure this vital revenue stream this year and beyond.

The use of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, by teenagers and younger people has been gaining much traction in the media recently. What should be the stance of music festival organisers of this rising trend and what are the legal implications for possession and use of nitrous oxide.

A large-scale music festival planned for a remote location with no infrastructure requires all equipment and supplies to be transported to the site. The planning required for the load-in transport logistics needs to take place well in advance of the festival dates, what are the key elements of this process that organisers should consider.

Music festivals in remote locations rely on a variety of electronic equipment which can be sensitive to extreme temperatures both hot and cold. What factors do festival organisers need to consider when arranging for the supply of electronic equipment and what steps can they take to ensure there are no failures.

Music festival entrance gates require meticulous planning to ensure the safety and security of an outdoor event. Good planning and management can avoid unnecessary queuing and overcrowding at festival entrances. The entrance gate experience for festival-goers is often their first impression of the organisation so it is essential to get it right.   

Festival and event organisers operate business activities that regularly engage with multiple audiences including other organisations, the media and members of the public. Media training for public facing event organisers will help to deliver consistent messages in a confident and empathetic manner which can build a positive attitude towards the festival or event entity.