John Drury is Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Sussex. His research focus is crowds and collective behaviour. He has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, most of which are on crowds. With colleagues Steve Reicher and Clifford Stott, he developed the Elaborated Social Identity Model of crowd conflict. Some of the crowd events he has researched include the Hajj (Mecca), the London bombings of July 7 2005, the Hillsborough disaster, the 2010 Chile earthquake, and the 2011 English riots. Why do people attend music events rather than simply listen to music in the comfort of their own…
Author: Festival Insights
WORLDWIDE: With the continuing spread of COVID-19, all live music professionals are on day-to-day crisis management to address festival cancellations, customer safety, travel bans and a loss in customer confidence. With this in mind, Festicket has launched the ‘FlexTicket’ — an initiative that protects fans in the uncertain times we find ourselves in. During this difficult period, uncertainty surrounding travel and large events continues to grow and Festicket’s analysis of its global festival data displays a considerable drop in customer confidence over recent weeks. Should this continue, it will severely affect festival ticket sales and the wider events industry ecosystem during…
UK: Responding to the UK government’s announcement on March 16 advising that members of the public should avoid social gatherings, Caroline Norbury, CEO of the Creative Industries Federation and Creative England, has issued a statement criticising what many in the sector have deemed a damaging half measure. “The advice issued by government today is a crippling blow to the UK’s creative industries,” said Norbury. “As the social distancing measures announced this afternoon are only advisory, rather than an outright ban, we are deeply concerned that creative organisations and cultural spaces will find they are unable to claim compensation for the…
USA: At the direction of the County of Riverside and local health authorities, Goldenvoice has rescheduled Coachella and Stagecoach festivals due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. The promoter’s public statement read: ‘While this decision comes at a time of universal uncertainty, we take the safety and health of our guests, staff and community very seriously. We urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials.’ Coachella will now take place from October 9 – 11 and October 16 – 18, 2020. Stagecoach will take place from October 23 – 25, 2020. All purchases for the…
UK: Download Festival has announced major site improvement plans for its upcoming edition, set to take place from June 12 – 14 in Donington Park, Leicestershire. The festival’s Village area has moved closer to the Arena and will be located on the hard-standing tarmac lake, home to a new festival merch store for weekend campers. Download has become even more sustainable onsite with 100% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil biofuel to be used that will reduce carbon emissions by a dramatic 60%, and vegan options have increased. Alongside new locations for all campsites, walking distances have decreased, and with the new Castle Donington…
Launched in 2017, CrowdCore is an all-in-one event management platform made for organisers, promoters and venues, helping them to build their brand, sell tickets online, and provide a seamless digital experience. Insights spoke with Alex Li, founder and CEO of CrowdCore, about its various services and current technological trends occurring within the industry. Festival Insights: Tell us about your professional background and how it led to becoming the CEO of CrowdCore. Alex Li: I have a background in computer science and I’m obsessed with building exciting new technologies. I am a serial entrepreneur and have launched several startups, ultimately selling two of…
UK: Boomtown will introduce a new district to its site this year, entitled Forgotten Valley, that ‘brings together ancient spiritual ways mixed in with modern-day aspirations’. Positioned in the centre of the festival, adjacent to the family-friendly Kidztown, the area will comprise workshops, crafts, and music. Central to Forgotten Valley’s theme of blending the past with the present is Ancient Futures, a space dedicated to the importance of building new and sustainable futures. It will host various speakers, workshops and artists, with hundreds of additional expert-led workshops taking place in the surrounding area that span circus and dance, yoga, Tai Chi, and…
USA: Festicket’s cashless RFID POS system, Event Genius Pay, will make its debut on the American continent with back-to-back music festivals in March 2020. Fans at SXM Festival, Saint Martin and Afro Nation Puerto Rico will enjoy the benefits of Event Genius Pay’s cashless tech, including shorter, faster-moving queues at bars and vendors, as well as reduced theft and fraud with less cash in circulation onsite. Organisers will benefit from rich insights into customer spending habits and behaviours. “It’s a big decision for the festival to go cashless,” said Harry Feigen, Event Director of Afro Nation Puerto Rico. “Bringing technology and processes…
UK: The Green Events & Innovations Conference has revealed the full agenda for its upcoming 12th edition on March 3. Organised by A Greener Festival in partnership with the ILMC, GEI12 delves into challenges surrounding festivals & venues, sponsorship, social impacts and touring, with an overarching objective of enhancing understanding, fostering collaboration and inspiring action. Kicking off with ‘The Circular Economy’ by Harald Fiedl, the morning features panels such as ‘Focus on Festivals – Living Lab of Live’, hosted by A Greener Festival in collaboration with the Green Deal Circular Festivals. Power, plastics and campsites will be discussed with input from top…
UK: The Event Supplier and Services Association’s Future Focus Board has announced the completion of its first round of mental health workshops. Delivered in partnership with Stress Matters – a Mental Health First Aid approved training company – the workshops developed the attendees’ understanding of their own mental health with a combination of reflection, group work and open discussion. Activities included creating a resilience plan, identifying stressors and coping strategies, and learning to track energy levels. Jess Corbett, Future Focus Board chair, commented: “Our series of mental health workshops were a great success, with most places booked up in advance, and…