How to host your own music festival

Maybe you’ve found yourself in a festival loo queue this year, slowly sinking into the mire, muttering “I could do better than this”. Or perhaps you’ve watched highlights on TV and wondered how you could get involved with throwing that kind of party. Either way, a Masters in events- management could set you on the path to your own festival glory.

Although you’ll usually require an undergraduate degree, you don’t need previous experience of the subject to enrol: universities report that students come from backgrounds including management, marketing, tourism and hospitality, the arts and even engineering.

“Previous experience in the events industry is not necessary,” confirms Dr Miguel Moital, principal academic in events management at Bournemouth University. “In fact, many students do the Masters in order to facilitate gaining their first job in the industry.”

What you will need is the right attitude, which goes beyond a love of tents and organised chaos. “Individuals tend to be self-motivated, very energetic and have good interpersonal skills,” says Moital. “Without them it is difficult to survive in this fast-paced and networked industry.”

Once you’re on a course you can expect a different experience to undergraduate study, as programmes are shorter, more focused and go into more depth. “A Masters course offers candidates the opportunity to specialise,” says Claudia Sima, events management MSc course lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire. “The course will build on skills and knowledge gained in earlier study, and develop them by encouraging entrepreneurial thinking.”

Courses blend theory, in areas such as finance and operations, with practical experience. This usually incorporates the chance to run your own event - a boutique festival in the case of some Bedfordshire students, for example - alongside work placements, field visits, industry talks and dissertations.

It results in a broad set of skills, says Dr Dan Knox, senior lecturer in tourism and events management and programme leader for the MSc at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). “While there are some skills and knowledge that are specific to festivals, there is also a core of skills and knowledge that applies across multiple events sectors.”

Jamie Greatorex, an MSc events-management student at the University of Derby, adds that industry exposure is a further benefit. “The lecturers have excellent contacts, which provide students with brilliant networking opportunities. The highlight for me so far was being given the chance to present some of my work to industry professionals and to hear their feedback.”

Finally – maybe most importantly – you get to have fun, professionally. UWE student Dimitra Dimitriadou says her course has given her more confidence, along with significant insight and knowledge in events. The practical side wasn’t bad, either. “Completing my work placement at Glastonbury was probably the best part of the course. I met some wonderful people and made some useful connections too!”