Project Management in the Concert Industry

I’ve often said that most concert professionals wound up in the industry by accident. They blindly answer a job posting, or deliver a package to the right person, and BAM! - they’re taken under someone’s wing and the die is cast. Although this might be a romantic notion (and in the above cases, actually true), I must admit it’s a slight exaggeration. Yes, most of us began our professional lives in the corporate world, the service industry, or in the trades. But our entry into the concert industry is usually the calculated result of hard work, effort and a fair amount of luck.

Unlike many other industries, there’s no “fast-track” way into the concert industry. Although most professionals in the field today have some form of advanced degree, few went to school specifically to learn the craft. We’ve had to figure it out as we went along, learning from those who came before us and our own stupid mistakes. As a result, we often pay little mind to the concepts and theories behind what we do. We just do it.

This is not to say that there’s no deeper theory behind our actions. Sometimes it just takes an outside professional to point it out to us.

It’s with this in mind that I point your attention to the following presentation by Susan Dodia, given this past August at the UT Dallas Project Management Symposium. Dodia, a former venue employee and current project manager, addresses how many concepts within professional project management are utilized within the live music industry. It’s a well-researched, informative, and highly enjoyable read, especially if you’ve always wondered whether your skill-set has a larger professional application. I encourage you to check it out (and not just because I'm quoted).

It’s a Long Way to the Top if you Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll: Project Management in the Concert Industry (Presentation from UT Dallas Project Management Symposium August 2011)