Research | Kacey Turner year 2

Research:

Risk assessments and health & safety:

Why is health and safety important when running a gig?

Health and safety is important when hosting a gig as it helps prevent any injuries or hazards arising within the audience. When looking at health and safety when hosting a gig there are laws, we must pay attention to such as The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and The Noise at work Regulations 2005.

What is a risk assessment?

A risk assessment is a process of identifying what hazards currently exist or may appear within the day of the gig. A risk assessment defines which workplace hazards are likely to cause harm to the performers and also the people in the audience.

Why do we need a risk assessment?

Venues and agencies tend to ask musicians to fill out a risk assessment as there is a lot of equipment being used which will increase the risk of things such as electrical fires and tripping hazards. By doing this it will show some professionalism in the musicians.

Event Details:

When writing a risk assessment, it is crucial to write details about the event and what you are evaluating. Having this information before writing your assessment ensures consistency in the process.

Fire Risks and Evacuation Procedures:

Fire risks and evacuation procedure are essential when hosting a gig. This is because not only will you be working with electrical equipment but also a mass number of people which can become very dangerous quickly. One thing that is important is becoming aware of all the fire exits that are within the venue you are holding your gig at.

Promotion Research:

Posters:

What are some good apps to use when creating a poster?

Piktochart: Piktochart is a user-friendly online tool that simplifies poster making for beginners and experienced designers. It is also good if you want to create professional posters. The quality of images that Piktochart produces is high, meaning that your posters will look sharp whether you’re planning to print them or share them online.

Adobe Express- If you’re not experienced with design, you’ll find Adobe Express easy to work with. It offers a wide selection of stock images to make your posters stand out, or you can use your own photos to add a personal touch. The free version gives you basic photo editing tools and some design assets. However, if you need more advanced features (e.g. an image transparency tool) there is an option to upgrade for full access to all the premium features.

Canva- This software is a great starting point for those who are new to design. It has a simple interface and provides numerous templates that make it easy to begin creating posters. Many people prefer Canva because it is easier to learn from compared to more complex design software. For most users, the free plan will be enough if you need to create the odd poster. However, if you’re planning to make several you may have to consider upgrading to the pro plan for £10.

What are some pros of using posters when promoting a gig?

One of the pros of posters is that it is a cheaper way to promote a gig and only involves a few people if necessary and a printer. Posters are also easily visible, meaning that you are more likely to find your target audience.

What things should you consider when creating a gig poster?

Promotion for a gig is important as this is what drives ticket sales for your show. By adding a personal touch to your posters, it helps build a stronger connection with your target audience. Some things to consider when creating a poster are sizing, print quality, paper material and paper finish.

Print quality- Save your designs in a high-resolution format.

Paper Material- The weight of paper affects the durability of the poster. For example, Standard weigh paper (120-150 GSM) is more suitable for posters that will be displayed indoors and for a short period of time and heavy weight paper (200-300 GSM) is used for when you want to display the poster outside and for longer periods of time.

Paper finish- usually posters are printed using 1 in 3 paper finishes:

Glossy- This allows vibrant colours to stand out more and leaves the poster with a shiny finish allowing it to stand out. The one problem with a glossy finish is that there may be glare issues under certain lighting so this is one thing that you will have to look out for.

Matte- This offers a non-reflective finish, giving a more sophisticated look with no glare. This style is better for more detailed designs and text readability.

Satin/ semi-gloss- This is a middle ground between glossy and matte. This style is good because it still provides some shine to your posters without too much glare.

A great tip for any posters is to add a QR code, linking directly to ticket sales, making it easy for potential attendees to buy tickets on-the-go.

Social Media:

How can social media help with gig promotion?

Social media helps with gig promotion as it helps let people who may not be in your local area know about the gig. It is also achieving a target audience which will then allow you to sell more tickets.

What are some strategies for promoting a gig?

Start early- Promotion is most effective when you start prep in advance. Begin your promotional efforts as soon as your gig is confirmed.

Highlight what makes your show special- Identify what sets your gig apart and emphasizes that in your promotion. Talk about what you are promoting (playing in a new town or showcasing a new line-up) and use these points to draw the attention and build excitement around the show.

Create eye-catching visuals- Design social media posts and stories that are visually cohesive and engaging. Remember humans are visual creatures and in fact 90% of all communication is visual, so it's important to keep all the relevant information, date, time, venue, ticket price and any age restrictions clearly visible.

Plan and execute a social media campaign- social media is a powerful tool for gig promotion. Plan a social media calendar and post regularly leading up to the event. Start by announcing the gig, then gradually release more details.

Finances for Promotion:

On average it will cost £10.68 for 15 A3 indoor posters.

On average the cost of 5 A3 outdoor waterproof posters will cost £5.52.

Annotated Bibliography:

05/03/25

Eco online. 2021. Health and safety in the music events industry. [online]. Available at:https://www.ecoonline.com/blog/health-and-safety-in-the-music-events-industry/

(Accessed on 5th March 2025).

Health and Safety.

Risk assessments.

When looking at health and safety when hosting a gig there are laws, we must pay attention to such as The Health and Safety at Work act 1974 and The Noise at work Regulations 2005.

05/03/25

StaffConnect. 2024. 6- Step guide to creating event risk assessment. [online]. Available at: https://www.staffconnect-app.com/blog-posts/6-step-guide-to-creating-event-risk-assessment#:~:text=When%20writing%20an%20event%20risk%20assessment%2C%20describing%20the,type%20of%20event%2C%20venue%2C%20and%20the%20activities%20planned. (Accessed on 5th March 2025).

Health and safety.

Risk assessments.

Event details.

When writing a risk assessment, it is crucial to write details about the event and what you are evaluating. Having this information before writing your assessment ensure consistency in the process.

05/03/25

Clarke, A. 2024. How to carry out an event risk assessment. [online]. Available at: https://praxis42.com/resources/health-and-safety/how-to-conduct-event-risk-assessment/ (Accessed on 5th March 2025).

Health and safety.

Risk assessment.

Fire risks.

19/03/25

Wong, V. 2025. 9 best poster making software in 2025. [online]. Available at: https://piktochart.com/blog/poster-making-software/ (Accessed on 19th March 2025).

Poster making software.

Photo editing software.

I have learnt the pros and cons of a range of poster making software. This was useful because it allowed me to find which software would fit more with what I am needing and to also fit with my skills with poster creating.

21/03/25

CambrianPrinters. 2015. The advantages of posters for promotion. [online]. Available at: https://www.cambrian-printers.co.uk/the-advantages-of-posters-for-promotion/ (accessed on 21st March 2025).

Posters for gigs.

How are posters useful for promotion.

21/03/25

Doncas, M. 2025. How to design band posters for your next gig. [online]. Available at: https://www.befunky.com/learn/design-band-posters/#:~:text=Well-designed%20band%20posters%20are%20a%20powerful%20marketing%20tool%2C,to%20build%20a%20stronger%20connection%20with%20your%20audience. (Accessed on 21st March 2025).

Posters for gigs.

What should you consider for a gig poster?

I have learnt what things I should consider when creating my gig poster. I have also learnt about what types of paper will be best for my posters depending on what I where I will be using them.

26/03/25

Howarth, E. 2024. How to promote your gig: 6 tips for success. [online]. Available at: How to promote your gig: 6 Tips for success - RouteNote Blog. (Accessed on 26th March 2025).

Social media

Tips on promoting a gig using social media.

I have learnt ways to promote my gig using social media. I have also learnt in more detail how improve my posters by adding things like a QR code to a link of the ticket website.

04/04/25

TradePrints. 2025. Waterproof Posters|Tradeprint.[online]. Available at: Waterproof Posters | Tradeprint (Accessed on 4th April 2025).

Posters

outdoors

By using this website, I have learnt how much it would cost me for posters indoors and outdoors.

12/05/25

Phelvin-Hartley, H. 2022. How much does it cost to rent a venue? [online]. Available at: How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Venue? | Eventbrite. (Accessed on 12th May 2025).

Venue

Cost

This website helped me find an average price for the type of venue I will be using for my gig.