Advanced Certificate in Festivals, Music and Live Entertainment-London Thursdays

This Festivals, Music and Live Entertainment course is ideal for those who:

• Work in events and want to develop specialist knowledge of festivals, concerts and live entertainment.

• Plan entertainment events for a venue, organisation or community and want a more structured approach.

• Hold junior event, venue or production roles and wish to strengthen their knowledge to support career progression.

• Are moving into live events from a related creative, hospitality, marketing or operational role.

• Have overseas event experience or qualifications and wish to add a London-based professional development course to their portfolio.

Students studying the Advanced Certificate in Festivals, Music and Live Entertainment will benefit from:

 

• Face-to-face learning with opportunities for discussion, questions and direct feedback.

• Expert tuition from event industry professionals.

• Small-group learning with opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences.

• Practical exploration of the relationship between creative programming and operational delivery.

• Venue and location visits that connect classroom learning with event environments, subject to availability.

• Alumni community membership, with updates on volunteering, work experience and employment opportunities.

• Studying in London, a city with a diverse festival, music and live entertainment scene.

The Festivals, Music and Live Entertainment Industry

• Types of festivals, concerts and live entertainment events

• The roles of event organisers, promoters, producers and venues

• Key industry relationships and responsibilities

• Trends, audience expectations and commercial challenges

Event Concepts, Programming and Feasibility

• Developing an event concept and identity

• Understanding audiences and selecting suitable event formats

• Establishing objectives and measures of success

• Building a programme of artists, performances and activities

• Assessing operational and financial feasibility

Event Planning and Coordination

• Responsibilities before, during and after the event

• Selecting dates and developing planning timelines

• Coordinating suppliers, performers and operational teams

• Creating event plans, checklists and production schedules

• Preparing running orders, briefing documents and event information

Artist and Performer Coordination

• Sourcing artists, performers and entertainment

• Working with agents, managers and artist representatives

• Understanding artist contracts and performance requirements

• Coordinating technical and hospitality riders

• Managing arrivals, rehearsals, soundchecks and performance timings

• Artist liaison, backstage access and dressing-room arrangements

Venues, Sites and Temporary Event Environments

• Researching and selecting indoor and outdoor locations

• Conducting venue and site inspections

• Developing site layouts and event footprints

• Planning stages, audience areas and backstage zones

• Temporary structures, utilities and welfare facilities

• Access for audiences, artists, suppliers and production teams

• Planning build, event and breakdown activity

Staging and Technical Production

• The main elements of live event production

• Staging, sound, lighting, audiovisual and power requirements

• Working with production specialists and technical suppliers

• Coordinating equipment installation and technical checks

• Scheduling rehearsals, changeovers and performances

• Communication between event, stage and technical teams

Licensing, Safety and Contingency Planning

• Identifying licensing, permissions and approval requirements

• Understanding the organiser’s safety responsibilities

• Identifying hazards and contributing to risk assessments

• Coordinating security, stewarding and medical provision

• Planning for adverse weather and operational disruption

• Emergency communication and incident response

• Considering noise and the impact on neighbouring communities

Ticketing, Audience Management and Experience

• Ticketing options, pricing structures and capacity considerations

• Coordinating entry, accreditation and access control

• Planning queues, circulation and audience movement

• Supporting crowd safety and audience welfare

• Accessibility and inclusive audience experiences

• Audience information, signage and facilities

• Managing departures and post-event dispersal

Suppliers, Teams and Backstage Operations

• Sourcing and selecting specialist suppliers

• Defining responsibilities and service requirements

• Coordinating staff, contractors and volunteers

• Preparing team briefings and communication plans

• Managing backstage activity and restricted areas

• Coordinating artist, crew and VIP requirements

Marketing and Commercial Planning

• Positioning an event for its intended audience

• Promoting festivals, concerts and entertainment programmes

• Digital marketing, social media and artist-led promotion

• Developing budgets and monitoring costs

• Revenue from ticket sales, sponsorship, concessions and other sources

• Understanding the relationship between programming, production costs and commercial viability

Community Impact and Responsible Delivery

• Communicating with local stakeholders and communities

• Considering transport, noise, waste and environmental impact

• Supporting accessibility and participation

• Balancing audience enjoyment with local needs

• Building positive relationships with venues, partners and residents

Event Evaluation

• Reviewing performance against event objectives

• Gathering audience, artist, supplier and team feedback

• Assessing operational delivery and financial outcomes

• Identifying improvements for future events

 

Your Festival and Cultural Event Management London Course fees include:

 

• Expert tuition
   
• Venue/location site visits (subject to availability)
   
• Alumni community membership - with volunteering and employment updates and opportunities
   
• Digital course resources and materials 
   
• An Advanced Certificate in Festivals, Music and Live Entertainment awarded by The Event School London.

The following entry requirements apply:

 

• Minimum age: 18

• Competent English language skills, including comprehension and spoken communication.

Venue and location visits provide an opportunity to connect your learning with the practical demands of delivering live events.

Explore how event spaces accommodate audiences, performers, production teams and operational activity, while considering access, layout, facilities and the overall event experience.

Visits may include indoor venues, outdoor locations or multipurpose event spaces. Locations are selected according to availability and their relevance to the course.