ABSTRACT
The promoters of music festivals form part of an under-researched and somewhat neglected topic in the academic literature. Focus on events has largely centered on the needs and motivations of audiences, and on the consumption of festivals within a participatory culture. This chapter, therefore, redresses the balance by capturing the voices of those behind-the-scenes promoters who organize and implement these social, cultural, and economically important events. Drawn from a study of the promoters of independent UK music festivals, the chapter looks first at their particular motivations and individual goals and ambitions, before considering the training and experience that underpin their working practices. Finally, the chapter questions the effects of working within the precariousness of a creative labor industry and the costs of implementing events on the promoters’ mental health and well-being.
