module specification

The live entertainment sector is the fastest growing part of the entertainment industries at present, and this trend is set to continue in the foreseeable future. As one of the world’s entertainment industry capitals, London has a lot to offer students willing to embark on the practical training and learning in this area. To boost employability and enhance student experience this module seeks to enable students to connect theory and practice in live and blended events environment within the live entertainment sector and beyond.

This module contains significant practice and teamwork will be at the centre of setting up real life events to network and present work to real industry clients, panels and investors with the aim of honing your skills to professional level and testing them in a market environment.

We attained considerable synergies already through partnerships with industry partners such as Club Fandango, Concert Live and MMF, enhancing employability and skills. We are set to continue broadening this collaborative approach that benefits students.

Module aims:

1. To explore the live sector as a growth area of the international entertainment industry and place it within the context of the music, events and related creative and other businesses.
2. To enable students to apply knowledge of event planning and management, venue management practices, live promotion, ticketing and booking methods (as appropriate) in real world contexts and gain hands-on experience.
3. To develop student ability to assess budgetary and marketing priorities in event management and promotion well as PR and other implications (merchandising, sponsorship, branding and the likes)
4. To examine the practical challenges of providing and evaluating successful events
5. Empower students to relate academic learning to industry practice in specific contexts and identify their own competencies in a real-life live events environment.

The syllabus will examine the live events and live entertainment sectors in terms of its characteristics, functions, structure, issues and trends and so on and in relation to music, events and related creative industries and other relevant sectors. LO1-LO2

It will then centre on reviewing the core functions, principles and practices of live events management with the domains of Budgets, Marketing, Operations, and Event Design to facilitate students planning of the real-life events. LO1-LO4

Technical Matters and Legal Procedures in Health and Safety, Venue Licensing, Live Performance Agreements will then be considered. Furthermore, Venue Management, Sponsorship, Merchandising and Touring will be explored. LO1 & LO3

Additional topics will include Live Streaming and Online Ticketing; Stage Management and Design; Audio Visual content in live entertainment etc.

This work-related, business/practice-orientation module will be delivered through a combination workshops, tutorials, peer- and team-study, group work task a substantial component of practical and fieldwork required for the planning and implementation of real-life events.

Inclusive, active and collaborative learning will form the pivotal tactics for learning on this module which relies on peer-moderated study and teamwork. Student-centred learning activities will include class interaction, problem-solving tasks and role-play; uploading and reviewing team-based materials in ungraded formative tasks which will facilitate further class-collaboration among students. Inquiry- and practice-focused learning will form the central part of student-focused activities in class and in independent study and will be entered on event-oriented task focusing on planning and delivery of service to complete in class as well as independently and in groups between workshops on a weekly basis as appropriate.  Students will be able to utilise VLE such as WebLearn and interact through digital media supplied this way, to facilitate independent guided learning and inquiry.

Reflective learning will focus on both formative and summative assessment. Students will be encouraged to write reflective accounts regarding any aspect of collaborative work and assessment planning. Authentic practical assessment plays a pivotal role in Learning for this work-related module. Where possible, mentoring, feedback, feedforward from Industry Experts, VPs, Clients and Partners will enable students to attain practical evaluation and advanced application and reflection on their work.

Employability will be enhanced through 1) in-depth understanding by means of practical application of the key skills in the context of real life industry tasks; 2) specific activities geared towards the application of reflective practice in individual and group work; 3) assessment requirements are directly connected to the impact which is made on the practical study task involving real life events and industry clients (where possible) (formative/summative assessment).

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Integrate relevant management and regulatory concepts, as well as industry best practice, into the delivery of live events (LO1).
2. Construct and evaluate appropriate marketing, budgeting and other relevant plans for a real-life event enterprise (LO2).
3. Produce a live event observing budgetary and other constraints in response to a brief (LO3).
4. Communicate and present findings to seek partners and investors and to evaluate events plans and their execution (LO4).

The module assessment strategy comprises of one summative component and one formative assessment task.

Formatively and in order to receive feedback and approval for their event ideas students will prepare a Group Event Management Plan (max 1500 words) consisting of a proposal for the planning and implementation of a real event to demonstrate that they have developed a viable event concept and in order to  enable them to manage their group effort effectively and (where appropriate) present their work to potential partners/investors.

The summative component will consist of an Event Debriefing on their real-life live events/venue/proposal where students critically analyse their plans and evaluate the success of their event, key strengths and weaknesses of the project, areas of improvements, lessons learned and provide recommendations for future events.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/CF4F0F13-7463-C597-4015-38C6785446A1.html?lang=en-GB

Core textbooks:
Fox, D, Gouthro, M B, Morakabati, Y and Brackstone, J (2014) Doing Events Research: From Theory to Practice. Routledge
Shaun, A. And Perry, B. (2013) Succesful Event Management: a practical handbook

Additional:
Bowdin, G., McDonnell, I., Allen, J. and O’Toole, W. (2011) Events Management, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann

Couldry, N., Hepp, A., & Krotz, F. (Eds.). (2009). Media events in a global age. Routledge.
Kemp, C (2010) Case Studies in Crowd Management, Security and Business Continuity, Entertainment Technology Press

Lunt, T. And Nicotra, E. (2019) Event Sponsorship and Fundraising: An Advanced Guide, Kogan Page, London.

Maylor, H. (2010) Project Management, 4th Ed. Financial Times Prentice Hall, Harlow.

Music Managers Forum (MMF), (2016), The Music Management Bible, SMT, London

Pallin, G (2010) Stage Management: The Essential Handbook. Nick Hern Books

Rutherford-Silvers, J. (2012) Professional Event Coordination, Routledge

Rutherford-Silvers, J. (2008) Risk Management for Meetings and Events, Routledge

Rutter, P (2016) The Music Industry Handbook, Routledge
Shegan, R. (2001), Booking and Tour Management for the Performing Arts, Allworth Press, New York

Todorovic, M, A (2016) Rethinking Strategy for Creative Industries: Innovation and Interaction, London/NY: Routledge

Walmsley (Ed) (2011) Key Issues in the Arts and Entertainment Industry, Oxford: Goodfellow

Journals:
Events Management, International Events and Festivals Management, Ingenta

Websites:
www.musicweek.com
www.musicjournal.org
www.dotmusic.com
www.ft.com
www.guardian.com/uk
www.europemedia.net
www.screendaily.com
www.access-aa.co.uk

Electronic Databases: Mintel, Statista