Music Festival Staffing Update 2022.

With many economies in turmoil combined with an uncertain political environment is the music festival sector still experiencing a staffing dilemma? The coronavirus pandemic forced many experienced festival staff to switch careers making it challenging for organisers to recruit experienced personnel in 2022, how has this situation developed in the final quarter of 2022.

When music festivals resumed their operations at the beginning of the year post pandemic there was much coverage in the media about a dire shortage of skilled festival and events staff. Many of those valuable experienced festival staff had found alternative higher paying jobs making them reluctant to return to an industry known for its unsocial long working hours and poor pay. Festival organisers have had to adapt their recruitment strategies and employment terms to get the right people back into the industry. However, now organisers are getting hit with rising costs that are impacting on their entire operations.

Staff Availability.
Despite many music festival industry spokespeople being vocal about the difficulties in finding staff the number of experienced and qualified people available remains high with supply outstripping demand. Businesses in many sectors have been voicing the same concerns, however, the root cause is more likely due to antiquated recruitment processes, a lack of inclusiveness and restrictive requirements. There are great experienced people available, festival organisers just need to adapt and update their recruitment processes to find them.

Cost Of Living Crisis. 
Rising prices have impacted on both individuals and businesses alike and the music festival sector has not escaped this crisis. Energy and household shopping bills have increased at an alarming rate and official inflation levels are set to continue. This is putting pressure on staff to ask for higher salaries, at the same time festival organisers are being hit with rising supplier costs, increased fuel costs and rising artist fees. 

Attracting the Right People. 
Changing recruitment processes can help find a wider range of available candidates for open positions and robust DEI (Diversity Equity & Inclusion) polices can have a positive impact on recruitment and retention of staff. Festival organisers may struggle to meet the salary demands of staff but there are other benefits than can help alleviate any financial burden. Encouraging remote working and flexible hours with longer holidays can outweigh a lower salary. Festival staff can work in ways that allow them to minimise personal expenditure related to their employment. Some festival organisers are even offering their staff financial incentive contributions towards winter energy bills.

The remaining concern for many festival organisers is the recruitment of contract and temporary staff who are questioning whether it's even worthwhile working if the pay is too low. The same sentiment is becoming evident among performance artists too who are demanding ever higher fees and cancelling tours and festival appearances if they cannot turn a profit.

For festival organisers planning their events using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko via Pexels

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