You can access the powerpoint slides from this page. The audio component is also available for downloading here. Under each lecture theme you can add a comment – this should start our discussions off and I will come back in with commentary where possible. Let’s start off by listening to the audio lecture, Professionalisation and the Events Industry.
The purpose of this lecture is to provide students with an introduction to the professionalisation within the events industry and to explore the implications of this concept upon management within the sector.
The following readings will help to contextualise the audio file:
E= Essential
R = Recommended
(E) Goldblatt, J.J. (2000) A Future for Event Management: the analysis of major trends impacting the emerging profession. In J.H. Allen, L.R. Jago & A.J. Veal (2000) (Eds) Events Beyond 2000: setting the agenda – Australian event evaluation, research and education conference. University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
(E) Harris, V. (2004) Event Management: a new profession? Event Management, Vol. 9, pp. 103-109.
(R) Bowdin, G.A.J., McPherson, G. & Flinn, J. (2006) Identifying and Analysing Existing Research Undertaken in the Events Industry: a literature review for People1st. Uxbridge: People1st.
(R) Henry, I.P. (1993) The Politics of Leisure Policy. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Chapter 5: The Leisure Professionals.
Once you have listened to the lecture and completed the readings we would like to hear your thoughts on whether you feel that the events industry has professionalised in recent years and how this has/hasn’t impacted upon your own practice within the industry. Leave your comments below.
October 13th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Ha, interesting discussion topic Jenny / Aaron – sure this topic brought about a fairly heated debate in last years Producing Events module!
For what its worth, I think there are clear indicators from both industry and educational sectors that indicate event management / events is fast becoming an emerging profession. Just look at our course in terms of the educational aspect! Also, looking at modern events, they are so complex, evolving at a rapid rate, and are in fierce competition with other events that specialist personnel are hired to bid for, manage and produce events. I vaguely remember reading Goldblatt (?)last year who discussed this topic in some depth, drawing on evidence such as continuing education in the sector too.
Anyway. I personally think that if events are going to continue to capture people’s imagination, provide entertainment and be world spectacles, the further professionalisation of the industry is virtually inevitable, especially in the current climate of regulations, guidelines etc, and even more so for the large scale events where there is such a high price put on hosting e.g. Olympics. Just my thoughts though!!
Looking forward to seeing you all at the weekend.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:28 am
Mark, thank you for being the only person to post a comment so far!!
October 25th, 2010 at 7:20 am
Hey guys – interesting how these guys are saying an events management degree is desirable….thought it linked in quite weill with our discussions on professionalisation!
http://www.silverstone.co.uk/jobs/Experiential-Event-Team-Manager-/