What does a Festival Manager do?

A festival manager (sometimes called a festival operations manager) is the person who runs a festival's operations, managing the budget, site, suppliers, staff and safety plans from early planning through the live days and wrap-up. At smaller festivals they may also handle programming and marketing.

What a festival manager does through the year

The role follows the festival's yearly cycle:

  1. 12–9 months out: set the budget, confirm the site and dates, and start the licence application.
  2. 9–6 months out: contract key suppliers such as staging, power, toilets and security, and agree sponsorship.
  3. 6–1 months out: finalise the site map, safety plans and permits, and recruit staff and volunteers.
  4. Build and live days: lead the site team, solve problems and work with safety, production and artist teams.
  5. After the event: settle supplier invoices, run debriefs and report to the owners or board.

Keeping a year of deadlines on track across several teams is easier when they all work from one festival timeline in Crescat.

Festival manager vs festival director

A festival director usually sets the artistic vision and leads the programme. A festival manager makes it happen, running the budget, site and operations. At many festivals one person holds both roles.

Skills a festival manager needs

  • Budget and contract management
  • Knowledge of licensing, health and safety and the Purple Guide
  • Leading large teams of staff, contractors and volunteers
  • Negotiation with suppliers, sponsors and landowners
  • Calm decision-making during the live days

Frequently asked questions

How do you become a festival manager?

Most festival managers start in junior roles such as site crew, volunteer coordination or production assistant, then work up over several seasons. Experience across different festivals matters more than any one qualification.

Is festival management a year-round job?

For larger festivals, yes. Planning for the next edition usually starts soon after the current one ends. At smaller festivals the role may be seasonal or combined with other events.

How big is a festival management team?

A small festival may have a core team of two or three people, scaling up to hundreds of staff and volunteers on the day. Large festivals have permanent teams covering production, operations, artists, marketing and finance.

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