Skip to main content
  • Call Now
  • Request Info
  • Menu

Search form

  • JWU Main Site
  • jwuLink
  • Apply Now
  • Hide nav
  • Request Info
  • 1.855.598.1881

JWU College of Professional Studies

  • Academics
    Academics
    Academics Home Academic Calendar Online Catalog and Student Handbook On-Campus Programs
    • On Campus
    • Online
    • Business
      • BA - Communication
      • BS – Accounting
      • BS – Advertising & Marketing Communications
      • Doctor of Business Administration
      • BS – Business Studies
      • BS – Digital Marketing & Social Media
      • BS – Fashion Merchandising & Retailing
      • BS – Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
      • BS - Marketing
      • BSBA – Business Administration
      • BSBA – Entrepreneurship
      • BSBA – Human Resource Management
      • BSBA – International Business
      • BSBA – Management
      • BSBA – Operations & Supply Chain Management
      • BSBA – Enterprise Risk Management
      • MS – Global Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development
      • MS - Finance
      • BSBA - Leadership Studies
      • AS – Business Administration
      • BS – Finance
      • Graduate Micro Certificate - Operations & Supply Chain Management
      • MS – Operations & Project Management
      • Undergraduate Micro Certificate - Business Communication
      • Undergraduate Micro Certificate - Communication for Change
      • Undergraduate Micro Certificate - Foundational Operations & Supply Chain Management
      • Undergraduate Micro Certificate - Technical Writing & Editing
      • Undergraduate Micro-Certificate - Accounting
    • Nonprofit Management
      • Graduate Certificate - Nonprofit Management
      • MS – Nonprofit Management
      • MPA – Nonprofit Management
      • MBA - Nonprofit Managment
    • Criminal Justice
      • MS – Criminal Justice
      • MPA – Criminal Justice
    • Political Science
      • BS - Political Science
    • Culinary Management
      • BS – Baking & Pastry Arts & Food Service Management
      • MS – Food Safety
      • BS – Culinary Arts & Food Service Management
      • Professional Certificate - Professional Craft Brewing
      • BS – Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
      • BS – Food Industry Compliance Management
      • Bever<u>a</u>ge Service Manag<u>e</u>ment
    • Psychology
      • BS – Psychology
      • MBA – Organizational Psychology
      • MS – Organizational Psychology
    • Health Science
      • BS – Healthcare Administration
      • BS – Public Health
      • MS - Nutrition
      • Graduate Micro Certificate - Sports Nutrition
      • Undergraduate Micro Certificate - Public Health
    • Public Administration
      • MPA – General
      • MPA – Criminal Justice
      • MPA – Nonprofit Management
      • MPA – Homeland Security
      • MPA – Human Resource Management
    • Hospitality
      • BS – Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
      • BS – Food Industry Compliance Management
      • BS – Hospitality Management
      • BS – Hotel & Lodging Management
      • BS – Sports, Entertainment, Event – Management
      • BS – Tourism & Hospitality Management
      • MBA – Hospitality
      • MS - Hospitality Management
      • MS – Global Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development
      • Graduate Certificate - Hospitality
      • Undergraduate Micro Certificate - Food Compliance
      • Undergraduate Micro Certificate - Quality Assurance in Hospitality
    • Sociology
      • BA - Sociology
    • HR Management
      • BSBA - Human Resource Management
      • MBA - Human Resource Management
      • MS – Human Resource Management
    • Sport Administration
      • BS – Sports, Entertainment, Event — Management
      • MBA – Sport Leadership
    • Liberal Studies
      • BS – Liberal Studies
    • Technology
      • BS – Computer Science
      • BS – Digital Marketing & Social Media
      • MBA – Information Security/Assurance
      • MS - Data Analytics
      • MS – Instructional Design & Technology
    • MBA
      • MBA - Event Leadership
      • MBA-Executive Communication
      • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
      • MBA – Finance
      • MBA – Hospitality
      • MBA – International Beverage Management
      • MBA – Human Resource Management
      • MBA – Information Security/Assurance
      • MBA – Organizational Psychology
      • MBA — Marketing
      • MBA – Operations & Supply Chain Management
      • MBA – Organizational Leadership
      • MBA – Nonprofit Management
      • MBA – Sport Leadership
      • MBA – General (One Year)
      • MBA – Global Fashion Merchandising Management
      • MBA – Project Management
  • Admissions
    Admissions
    JWU Admissions
    • Admissions Home
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Apply Online
    • Graduate Admissions
    • Transfer Students
    • Doctoral Admissions
    • On-Campus Admissions
    • International Admissions
    • Career Coach
    • Returning Students
    • Tuition and Fees
    • JWU Military
  • Financial Aid
    Financial Aid
    JWU Financial Aid
    • Financial Aid Home
    • Tuition and Fees
    • Scholarships and Grants
    • Military Benefits
  • Student Services
    Student Services
    JWU Student Services
    • Student Services Home
    • Academic Calendar
    • Career Resources
    • Academic Resources
    • Commencement
    • Technical Resources
  • Corporate Partnerships
    Corporate Partnerships
  • Blog
    Blog
  • About
    About
    About JWU
    • About JWU Professional Home
    • Read Student Testimonials
    • Tour an Online Classroom
    • Two JWU Grads, One MBA Journey
    • Learn from Experienced Faculty
    • Meet Our Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Discover the JWU Difference
    • Online Student Consumer Information
    • Priorities Survey for Online Learners
  • Apply Now
    Apply Now
  • jwuLink
    jwuLink
  • JWU Main Site
    JWU Main Site

You are here

JWU Professional > Blog > Event Management: 15 Tips for Producing a Memorable Concert
Career Catalyst

Welcome to Career Catalyst, our blog featuring helpful continuing education and career-related articles written by our faculty and staff. From study and motivation tips to career planning and interview techniques, we cover it all. Make sure to check back regularly, because we’re always posting new articles designed to help you get more out of your education and career.

Follow Us
  • RSS
  • Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • PinInterest

Event Management: 15 Tips for Producing a Memorable Concert

search_icon

Search

mail_icon

Subscribe

 

Event Management: 15 Tips for Producing a Memorable Concert

May 11th, 2022
by JWU
fans attending concert
fans attending concert

Event planning for a memorable concert might seem like a job filled with non-stop excitement if you only consider the stunning end product. However, there is a lot more to concert production than most people might imagine.

If you are a people person with excellent communication skills, a flair for organization, a love for making people happy, and a vision for creating special moments, you are probably capable of tackling the most elaborate and detailed events.

Whether you are an up-and-coming event planner or an aspiring promoter still studying event management in college, dreaming of creating memorable concerts on a moderate to large scale, you need to know what it entails.

Drawing on inspiration from Johnson & Wales University's Sports, Entertainment, Event Management Program, here are 15 tips and strategies to keep in mind as you take on the task of planning a unique live music concert experience for the guests, performers, and stakeholders.

1. Determine the target audience

Booking a live music event starts by determining the target audience for attendance to ensure peak enjoyment for everyone. You don't want to plan a performance for fans of classic rock when the musical artist or band is more likely to attract country or rap artists. Each type of concert will feature its own style and aesthetic that will cultivate a specific mood for the concertgoers.

Determining the target audience means you will need to do some research about the artist or artists you plan to include on your concert roster and, more importantly, their fan base. You should get a solid grasp of the following pieces of information about probable concert attendees:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Hobbies
  • Marital status
  • Income level
  • Education level
  • Geographic location
  • Preferred musical genre

You can find some of this information by doing the following:

  • Scan attendance lists of previous concerts by similar artists.
  • Read articles and information about the artists and the audience members who consider themselves fans.
  • Visit competitors' websites often to get an idea of the target audience. You can draw conclusions from the information based on tone, style of writing, imagery, and engagement in the comments.
  • Talk to colleagues in the industry or reach out to peers or professors at your university to come up with new ideas.

2. Establish goals

Whether the concert is intended for pure entertainment or there is a charitable aspect to it, you need to ensure that the purpose is clear to everyone involved.

Further, you should establish goals for what you want to achieve and what you want others to get out of the concert. Here are some ideas as far as goals you might aim to achieve as a new concert promoter:

  • Host a three-day country music event featuring regional food and art.
  • Book the top R&B artist and two up-and-coming artists who appeal to the same audience.
  • Support the main act's goals of increasing album sales by a certain budget.
  • Introduce new fans to classic artists.
  • Achieve a certain profit or number of ticket sales.
  • Raise a certain amount of money for a chosen charity.

3. Create a budget

Your budget helps set the tone for how you proceed with your project. It will guide decisions about the artists you can attract to participate, as well as the venue, marketing and promotion strategy, and merchandise. It's crucial that you create a realistic budget and stick to it to ensure success without risking running out of money or having to cut corners in important areas, such as ensuring comfort and good treatment for the artists on the roster.

Use a spreadsheet tool like Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel to determine factors such as:

  • How many people are likely to attend? Refer to previous concert records of the artists to learn this information.
  • Will the concert have sponsors, investors, or stakeholders?
  • What is a realistic price for tickets? Consider whether the artist is a national, regional, or local act and what fans have paid to see the artist or band before.
  • How much will the marketing and social media campaign cost?
  • What will the revenue be? For this, take the number of people times the ticket price, plus sponsor revenue, and you will come to your overall potential revenue number.

If you go through this list and realize you can't afford to host the concert as it stands, reevaluate to determine which factors you can adjust to stick to your budget.

4. Pick a venue

The venue is almost as important to the concert as the artists themselves because you want to create the right ambiance that complements their genre and overall style. The right venue should create an unforgettable mood for your audience. Here are some things to keep in mind as you consider the right venue:

  • How many people do you want to attend?
  • Do you want an indoor or outdoor venue?
  • Can you help facilitate accommodation for those traveling far for your concert? That might mean something as simple as providing website details about local hotels and campsites on your website. You might also work with local hotels and Airbnb to provide sponsorships in exchange for promoting their business.

5. Get the right equipment

The artist or band likely supplies all of their own musical instruments and amplifiers, but you will probably need to supply some equipment. Work with the artist's management to determine what you might need to obtain for the concert, such as:

  • Microphones
  • Microphone stands
  • Monitors
  • Amplifiers
  • Sound system
  • Mixing boards
  • Cables for sound equipment
  • Live mixing digital audio workstations (DAWs)

6. Hire an experienced team

Hiring an experienced team is especially important if you are new to organizing concerts. The right team can help you work out complex ideas and carry them out in a snap. Putting on a concert is a complicated task, and while you might be able to do it alone, you shouldn't try. The chances are you'll exhaust yourself or fail at several of your goals, so hiring people who know what to do and are willing to help you achieve your vision is critical.

7. Apply for permits and insurance

Check with the venue's local city office to determine what types of permits and insurance you need to host the concert safely and legally. With all of the lights and electrical equipment, you can never rule out the possibility of a fire, and you can't afford to be liable for injury, death, or even the fear that such a scenario could cause. You can find professional resources that help you sort through these matters quickly and easily.

8. Plan the logistics

Concert logistics are crucial in making the event easily accessible, both coming and going and everything in-between. Here are some logistical matters to consider:

  • Learn about the venue's parking situation, such as whether it has its own lot or has an arrangement with a nearby parking garage.
  • Work with local law enforcement to provide off-duty personnel to direct traffic if the event is large enough to disrupt the standard flow. Additionally, ensure you also have personnel to help at the closing of the event to make sure everyone leaves the venue safely.
  • Hire ushers to guide attendees from the parking area into the concert area, whether an outdoor space or an indoor arena. If there is seating, ensure that there are special ushers to check tickets to help attendees to their seats.

9. Put safety measures in place

When you select your venue, work with the owners to determine the standard safety measures required for the space. Additionally, create a checklist of your own safety measures you want to consider: Some examples include::

  • Require clear bags, small bags, or no bags at all in order to avoid guests bringing in unwanted items.
  • Ask ticket holders to consider avoiding attending the concert if they feel ill.
  • Request that families bringing children create a plan to keep everyone together, but you might also provide kiosks to help people reconnect if separated.

10. Choose your Artist(s)

One of the most exciting parts of planning a concert is choosing the right artists that appeal to your sensibility, whether you like them personally or you feel that they have the best chance of helping you achieve your goals. Therefore, wait until you determine your goals and review your budget to start narrowing down your list of desired artists. You need to have the budget to make it worth the artist's time to show up, and you need to make sure you can cast them in the best light for their reputation and their fans' expectations.

11. Pick a Ticketing Partner

Decades ago, Ticketmaster was the ticket sales giant. Today, there are more options for ticketing your event, such as Eventbrite, TicketSmarter, SeatGeek, and venue-specific box office ticket sellers. If you can use a seller for multiple venues, you can gain more exposure for your artist when people visit the respective website, potentially netting more attendees.

12. Find Sponsors/Marketing Partners

Working with a sponsor or marketing partner is the epitome of a mutually beneficial relationship in the concert organizing world. With the right artist and venue, you can attract sponsors who know your artist's audience and want to earn some of their sales as well. They might provide promotional swag items such as tote bags, pens, product samples, key chains, and more. In return for their brand exposure, they invest money into your event, further boosting your budget.

13. Promote Your Concert

Once you have your artist, venue, and sponsors in place, it's time to start your serious concert promotions. Use social media, radio, television, print, and more to let your target audience know you want them to attend your concert. Provide details including the date, time, and location of the event.

14. Create VIP and Other Upsell Opportunities

Everyone wants to feel like a VIP and sit in the box seats. If possible, create opportunities for ardent fans with disposable income to upgrade their tickets to sit in a special area or even meet the band after the show. You can also upsell by adding drinks or after-party options for a higher ticket price and higher overall ticket sales.

15. Prepare for the Unexpected on the Day of the Event

Anything can go wrong at the time of an event. Whether there is a massive snowstorm that makes driving dangerous, a thunderstorm during an outdoor event, a sick artist, or anything else that means the event won't go as originally intended, you need a backup plan.

In some cases, you might be able to come up with contingencies, such as working with the venue owner to plan for a backup day at a later time. In that scenario, you also need to ensure that your artist would be available for the contingency concert. You also have to prepare for the possibility that many fans couldn't make plans in their schedule for a second trip, especially if they are coming from out of town.

Ultimately, you might need to prepare for some losses. In the first year of the pandemic, many ticket buyers lost money because event organizers selected not to refund ticket sales. That is always a judgment call, but if you can afford the loss, it might make it worth it in the long run to show you as a compassionate event organizer.

Johnson & Wales University Will Help You Strengthen Your Event Planning Skills

If you’re interested in planning concerts, music festivals, or any other type of music event, earn your bachelor’s degree in sports, entertainment, and event management from Johnson & Wales University.

For more information about completing your degree online or on-campus, complete the Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881, or email [email protected].

 

Blog Categories: 
Event Management
May 11th, 2022
by JWU
Back to Blog
next
Next Post

Choosing Your Path: 8 Growing Career Options in Healthcare Administration

Read More >
healthcare administration
prev
Previous Post

10 Tips for a Successful MBA School Application

Read More >
woman completing mba application on laptop
Featured Blogs

Choosing the MBA That’s Right for You: One-Year vs. Two-Year Programs

June 30th, 2022 – If you're considering going back to school to earn your Master of Business Administration (MBA), good for... Read More

22 Productivity Tips for College Students

June 30th, 2022 – Your time as a college student is likely one of the most important, exciting, and challenging chapters of... Read More

How College Students Can Improve Their Emotional Intelligence

June 30th, 2022 – Having high emotional intelligence (EI), also known as emotional quotient or EQ, can help college... Read More

10 Supply Chain Management Careers You Should Consider

June 30th, 2022 – Since the pandemic, supply chain issues have been in the news repeatedly. Something most of us took for... Read More

How to Practice Authentic Leadership

June 30th, 2022 – Authentic leadership is a management style in which leaders are genuine, self-aware, and transparent.... Read More

Older Stories
JWU's picture
AuthorJWU
  • Now accepting applications
  • Apply now
  • Admissions

Career Coach

Continue to Career Coach

You are now leaving Johnson & Wales’ (JWU) site and going to a site not operated by us. We are not responsible for the content or availability of any site other than our own.The information provided on the site is provided by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI). EMSI has indicated to us the information provided is fair and reasonable. We do not make any representations or warranties, nor do we accept liability or responsibility, as to the accuracy or use of the information.  Additional links may also be provided, including those relating to employment opportunities. 

You are responsible for performing due diligence, such as ensuring the listings are for actual jobs and that your private and personal information are protected, when using or relying on information from any site.

 

Johnson & Wales University
115 Cedar St.
Providence, RI 02903
855.598.1881

© 2022 Johnson & Wales University
Privacy Policy  Nondiscrimination Policy

 

  • Contact Us
  • Accreditation & Approvals
  • Online Student Consumer Information
  • Catalogs
  • Handbooks
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
Back to top